In a stunning announcement, SFI (Safety Foundation Inc.) announced that all products made by Bill Simpson’s Impact Racing, will be decertified by the organization as of April 27,2010. The announcement alleges that Impact was producing fake SFI tags and attaching them to their products. This move effects thousands, and perhaps tens of thousands of people who have bought Impact helmets, gloves, fire suits, boots, etc.
Quoting directly from the SFI announcement, “Evidence obtained by SFI shows that over a period of years Impact Racing has engaged in the production and use of counterfeit SFI conformance labels and patches, and affixed them to Impact products for use in motorsports. Under the Contracts of Participation between SFI and Impact, SFI conformance labels and patches may only be obtained from SFI and no other source. Evidence shows that Impact had counterfeit SFI labels and patches made in Asia and then affixed them to Impact products it distributed to members of the racing community.”
These allegations and the announcement that all of the products will no longer be recognized as valid SFI approved safety gear amount to a massive black eye for Bill Simpson. Impact has had some of their equipment recalled in the past but the fact that everything they have produced for years is being questioned is almost beyond belief.
If you are using Impact Racing equipment, you’ll need to replace it by the April deadline or risk not being able to race at tracks who perform detailed and proper tech inspections.
Click the link below for the full SFI announcement:
