Anyone have an old firesuit you can loan out?

[mike cummings]

My driver from last Summer bought a new -20 firesuit that was thinner than the tux I wore at my high school reunion.
RG

If I'm not mistaken, lime green crushed velvet is pretty thick....

 

[yoda]

Is this really an "NHRA" thing? I think the lawyers are lighting the torches. Be carefull, though. You don't know who's wearing who's firesuit.

NHRA relies on SFI for the specs. Their rules tell us we must purchase products that are tagged, meaning they are manufactured to the spec issued by SFI and aproved by NHRA.

If a manufacturer decides to produce products inferior to those submitted for testing to SFI and sell them to customers with an SFI label then I think that is between SFI and the manufacturer who has commited the egregious act, and ultimately between the manufacturer and the customer and his or her family when it's time to do some explaining as to why the manufacturer would be so stupid as to risk lives no matter what the rea$on.

When SFI discovers there is a manufacturer who is producing personal safety equipment that is dangerously below specs it is up to SFI to notify the NHRA so NHRA can take appropriate action to stop the use of this product.

I really think the key here is racer responsibilty. If you purchase something that seems like it's less than what it should be you should have no reservations in contacting SFI because it's your life that is assuming the risk.

Like the old saying goes, "If it's too good to be true..." My original firesuit and boots were like wearing a sofa bed. To me, the new generation of lightweight stuff from some manufacturers sure seemed like a miracle had happened when I was asleep or something.

My driver from last Summer bought a new -20 firesuit that was thinner than the tux I wore at my high school reunion. But then again what do I know.

RG

Odd- the most recent information on the SFI page is dated Jan. 27, and its about Canadian Rallycars... So its not like there isn't someone in the office...

 

[none]

There is no way Bill Simpson cut corners on safety in the name of profit. If there is an issue with his stuff I believe that Bill will do whatever it takes to make it right. I also believe that if there is a 1% chance that one of his suits might not be up to snuff, he will recall all of the suits from that "batch" for inspection. Bill has dedicated his life to racing safety and to even suggest that he is purposely shipping defective or unsafe items is ridiculous.

Alan

 

[Mooseman]

Didn't Bill Simpson start Impact because of what happened with that simpson part that failed in the Earnhardt crash ? I remember reading that somewhere and that he was so traumitised by it that he left Simpson and started over with Impact . At least thats what I read , if thats true then that doesnt sound like a guy who would skimp on safety .

 

[Randy]

Didn't Bill Simpson start Impact because of what happened with that simpson part that failed in the Earnhardt crash ? I remember reading that somewhere and that he was so traumitised by it that he left Simpson and started over with Impact . At least thats what I read , if thats true then that doesnt sound like a guy who would skimp on safety .

Simpson sold Simpson with something like a 5 year do-not-compete clause in the contract. After the time period was up he opened Impact.

 

[Mooseman]

Simpson sold Simpson with something like a 5 year do-not-compete clause in the contract. After the time period was up he opened Impact.

What does that mean?

 

[FC Girl]

Be carefull, though. You don't know who's wearing who's firesuit.

OKAY, I'll Double Check Mine

All Kidding aside, you bring up very valid points, thank you RG, I always enjoy reading your posts, they are very informative and a great heads up for us that are really in the thicket of racing.

I really appreciate it!!

I personally don't wear an Impact suit or boots, but I do have Simpson Gloves and I LOVE THEM!!! Way more comfortable. Although DT showed me some at PRI a year ago that were pretty darn good too, I just don't need a new pair yet. I like my dirty, clutch dusted, broken in ones that have no holes or visable wear and tear but are very thick and I feel, very safe.

Nancy

 

[Jenn]

I don't think she drives a mo-ped...

My 500 CC Rubicon eats mo-peds for breakfast

 

[Jenn]

Is that the voice of experience I'm hearing??

just done this long enough to know that 'mo-ing' people down tends to start things off on a bad foot.

But asking nice helps

 

[Jenn]

What does that mean?

Just that he entered a legally binding contract not to open another business in the same industry within 5 years. Most people went over to Impact! pretty quickly after Bill Simpson opened it up, and that would have been a huge drain on Simpson the company. I read somewhere that the styling had to be markedly different in his products.

Simpson left, if I'm not mistaken, because he was getting death threats against him and his family from those crazy Nascar fans.

I believe Impacts are made in America, where Simpsons are now made in China.

 

[sdwarf36]

Didn't Bill Simpson start Impact because of what happened with that simpson part that failed in the Earnhardt crash ? I remember reading that somewhere and that he was so traumitised by it that he left Simpson and started over with Impact . At least thats what I read , if thats true then that doesnt sound like a guy who would skimp on safety .

Bill Simpson got the biggest royal shaft job in the history of racing from nascar. (calling up the France family screaming "you killed superman!" after Dale died probably didnt help.) He invented most of the safety gear that the entire field wore. He was a hunting buddy + good friends with Dale. Even made 5 prototype full face helmets trying to get him to wear one. After Dales accident, you would think the very 1st thing nascar would have done was send the belts back to Simpson for testing--but for some reason, nascar quickly announced that a "belt failure" is what killed him--and then the belts "disappered"--Simpson Inc.(or anyone else for that matter) never saw them. Bill S. sued Nascar for slander-nastyness broke out on both sides-blah blah blah--the best thing to do was for him to step down from the company to save it. Of couse--report something bad on page 1 and thats what sticks in peoples head--not the final outcome.
From the day Impact started, anytime I was needing to update my gear it was (and will continue to be) with Impact. Even though I dont need the level of gear you need for a F/C-I find in nearly impossible to believe that Impact would skimp on anything. Ask Bill to put the suit on + test it in a fire--hes done that in the past!

 

[Randy]

Bill Simpson got the biggest royal shaft job in the history of racing from nascar. (calling up the France family screaming "you killed superman!" after Dale died probably didnt help.) He invented most of the safety gear that the entire field wore. He was a hunting buddy + good friends with Dale. Even made 5 prototype full face helmets trying to get him to wear one. After Dales accident, you would think the very 1st thing nascar would have done was send the belts back to Simpson for testing--but for some reason, nascar quickly announced that a "belt failure" is what killed him--and then the belts "disappered"--Simpson Inc.(or anyone else for that matter) never saw them. Bill S. sued Nascar for slander-nastyness broke out on both sides-blah blah blah--the best thing to do was for him to step down from the company to save it. Of couse--report something bad on page 1 and thats what sticks in peoples head--not the final outcome.
From the day Impact started, anytime I was needing to update my gear it was (and will continue to be) with Impact. Even though I dont need the level of gear you need for a F/C-I find in nearly impossible to believe that Impact would skimp on anything. Ask Bill to put the suit on + test it in a fire--hes done that in the past!

We were talking about that wreck the other day. One of us commented on how Dale's hit looked like it wasn't even hard enough to spill his coffee compared to some of the wrecks he had over his career. Then when I heard it killed him I thought they were joking.

Sad deal.

 

[Buzzz Miller]

If you really need a fire suit, call me. I have one that will actually fit you and does cert for real.