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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 08:40 PM
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Default Safety question...

NHRA tech was closed today so I thought I'd bring this question to you guys.

Will a Simpson STD.6 fire jacket do the trick when running better than 11.50?

What is the legal life of these jackets (time - e.g. two years, # of washings, etc.)

Gary
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Last edited by gary brown; Dec 29, 2006 at 08:45 PM. Reason: I erringly post this twice
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 09:13 PM
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I have not heard of any expiration on jackets. Maybe somone else has?
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 09:34 PM
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Gary I don't have the anwer to your question maybe this site will help.
http://www.sfifoundation.com/

On a similiar wave length here. Many of us wear a fire jacket, SA Helmet, even driving shoes Why don't any of us see the importance of fire resistant pants as well as gloves?
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 11:50 AM
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I'm annoyed that our harnesses expire so quickly.
Can anyone explain why?

You don't see people replacing seatbelts in cars every 2 years right?
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 01:10 PM
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Originally Posted by 16Again
Gary I don't have the anwer to your question maybe this site will help.
http://www.sfifoundation.com/

On a similiar wave length here. Many of us wear a fire jacket, SA Helmet, even driving shoes Why don't any of us see the importance of fire resistant pants as well as gloves?
Bob - good point. Maybe some of us are in denial (myself included) about just how much danger is involved at the speeds we reach at the top end. Do any of us honestly think that a crash at 115+ mph at the track is that much less dangerous than on the highway? True, the safety truck guys will be there sooner, but that is AFTER the damage is done to car and driver - fires notwithstanding.

Thanks for this reply. It could save one or more lives.

Gary
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Face
I'm annoyed that our harnesses expire so quickly.
Can anyone explain why?

You don't see people replacing seatbelts in cars every 2 years right?
Hi Mike,

Yep, I am more than a little annoyed that we have to replace the harnesses every two years. I haven't raced in awhile, but when I started inspecting my restraint system, the harnesses looked as good as new even though I had used them on 125 passes with NO EVIDENCE of any level of wear that could have compromised their effectiveness.

I think this was one of those arbitrary decisions that NHRA makes from time to time that just doesn't make sense. The more cynical side of me has darker suspicions as it may relate to the influence of vendors who might benefit from the rule.


Gary
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 02:53 PM
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OK wife gave me her blessing Just ordered a Fire Suit Now I have everything but the gloves, guess i'll start looking for them. You know what they say lead by example.
Also ordered a brand new Dewitts Radiator.
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 05:24 PM
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Originally Posted by 16Again
OK wife gave me her blessing Just ordered a Fire Suit Now I have everything but the gloves, guess i'll start looking for them. You know what they say lead by example.
Also ordered a brand new Dewitts Radiator.
Happy to serve!
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by 16Again
OK wife gave me her blessing Just ordered a Fire Suit Now I have everything but the gloves, guess i'll start looking for them. You know what they say lead by example.
Also ordered a brand new Dewitts Radiator.
Hey, wake up call kid!!! You really you race in Florida? I know it has be a long time for you but gloves? How about the ear muffs and scarf
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 06:38 PM
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Originally Posted by REDGAR
Hey, wake up call kid!!! You really you race in Florida? I know it has be a long time for you but gloves? How about the ear muffs and scarf
Already have the horse collar I like the ear muffs idea. Will it keep me warm when it gets below 75*? 83* freaking Degrees on CHRISTMAS I hate the snow, but man Christmas just aint Christmas when it's in the 80's
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by gary brown
Happy to serve!
Your post for some reason put the safety question in my mind. Since we (Us Challenge Coordinators) promote safety, IMHO it's good for me and will be good for the racers as it will plant the safety seed.
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 05:18 AM
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If your belts are in good shape ,some of the manufactors will redate them and send them back for a small fee.
The real ? is ,why do you have to wear a croch strap .If you crash that is the worst.They say it is to keep you from sliding foward.I think it is just needed to make you hurt more.
I wear a SF-5 jacket gloves and brain bucket here in Hawaii,I am already burning up
Snell Helmet 95 or SFI 41.1A min 13.99 and faster.
Neck collar required 9.99 and faster.
Protective clothing 11.49 and faster.
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 12:42 PM
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Originally Posted by gary brown
Will a Simpson STD.6 fire jacket do the trick when running better than 11.50?

What is the legal life of these jackets (time - e.g. two years, # of washings, etc.)
I don't know what "a Simpson STD.6 fire jacket" is, but if it meets SFI spec# 3.2A/1 (or better), it is good in a non-supercharged car running 10.00 or slower. That spec doesn't expire.



Originally Posted by gary brown
Yep, I am more than a little annoyed that we have to replace the harnesses every two years.
They don't have to be replaced. If you don't want to send it to me, send them back to the manufacturer for whatever repairs are needed and a recertification.
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 03:25 PM
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Originally Posted by REDC4CORVETTE
If your belts are in good shape, some of the manufactors will redate them and send them back for a small fee.
It's been a few years since I read-up on the rules (CFI-EFI will probably come-along and straighten me out soon-enough..... ), but I believe many name-brand manufacturers (Simpson, Impact, etc. ) don't simply 'redate' the belts:
they will inspect the entire system (including all hardware and latch-components ), and if the belt-material themselves are in good-condition, they will re-stitch (re-web? ) the hardware into each end of the belt-material (I understood the stitching may be prone to dry-rotting ), and a-fix a new 2-year date-patch.

A smart thing to do would be buy new belts when the existing sticker runs-out and install them, then have your current belts re-webbed/re-certified a few months before your new belts expire, ensuring that you'll ALWAYS have currently-dated belts, especially if you race year-round, like in the deep-South or West Coast:
if the manufacturer has a long back-log, you could be without belts for several weeks, or even months, until you old belts are re-done.
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 03:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Face
I'm annoyed that our harnesses expire so quickly.
Can anyone explain why?

You don't see people replacing seatbelts in cars every 2 years right?
it's called a cash cow. they always through that saftey issue in your face , that's what tech inspectors are supposed to be for. all the track's i go to the tech people go straight for the date, never pay attention to the condition or installation of the belt's, . you ever pay attention to belt's on most airplanes(commercial) filthy usually, i wouldn't trust those on a garden tractor. ask around if #3's (Earnhart) tag was current? it was. dosen't matter if they weren't installed properly. there is way more to that whole deal, but on the subject of belt's the tech should have paid more attention to the install rather than date's alone. from what i've been told the circle guy's are on that program pretty good now. the drag people...well we all know the answer to that
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 04:14 PM
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Originally Posted by flyin ryan
..... ask around if #3's (Earnhart) tag was current? it was. dosen't matter if they weren't installed properly. there is way more to that whole deal.....
I believe the belts Earnhardt wore in Daytona on 18 February '01 were dated either Oct/Nov of '00, when that car was built & finished @ RCR, and I have heard that quite-possibly, 'installation' was the problem, not Bill Simpson's product:
a buddy, with friends inside circle-track racing, told me that immediately after that accident, NASCAR became very-particular 'how' the belts were routed through the aluminum/carbon-fiber seats, something NHRA had been checking on bracket-cars for many years.
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 06:14 PM
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Restitching costs almost as much as purchasing new belts from some manufactures.
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 11:56 PM
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Originally Posted by C4Techie
I don't know what "a Simpson STD.6 fire jacket" is, but if it meets SFI spec# 3.2A/1 (or better), it is good in a non-supercharged car running 10.00 or slower. That spec doesn't expire.
Thankis C4 for the clarification. The above jacket does meet SFI Spec # 3.2/1 and it sounds like you are saying that a jacket meeting this spec doesn't have an expiration date. Did I get that right?
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 11:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Glensgages
It's been a few years since I read-up on the rules (CFI-EFI will probably come-along and straighten me out soon-enough..... ), but I believe many name-brand manufacturers (Simpson, Impact, etc. ) don't simply 'redate' the belts:
they will inspect the entire system (including all hardware and latch-components ), and if the belt-material themselves are in good-condition, they will re-stitch (re-web? ) the hardware into each end of the belt-material (I understood the stitching may be prone to dry-rotting ), and a-fix a new 2-year date-patch.

A smart thing to do would be buy new belts when the existing sticker runs-out and install them, then have your current belts re-webbed/re-certified a few months before your new belts expire, ensuring that you'll ALWAYS have currently-dated belts, especially if you race year-round, like in the deep-South or West Coast:
if the manufacturer has a long back-log, you could be without belts for several weeks, or even months, until you old belts are re-done.
Glen - thanks to you as well for your detailed response. I think that all of this information is good for us to know...and I REALLY like your idea about having a second set of belts for the reasons you mentioned!
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Old Jan 1, 2007 | 02:46 AM
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Jacket and pants or suit 3.2A/15 3.2A/20 Drivers suit ,
Expriation period 5 years.
3.2A/1 showes no expire date at this time.
Common sense will apply to all situations in life.Somethings can be done with minum inspection .You have to step up to the plate and figure some things out for yourself in life.
I have 3 sets of belts I use and send to Simpson to get dated and only one set has not made it in the last 6 years.The fuels and harsh sunlight
fade the belt and weaken the material.
When I got my seat belt ticket they said the belts were not suficant,I told the cop these have to be replaced every 2 years and you would rather see me using a 12 year old unproven belt 2 inches wide than a 3 inch belt with an air bag?
If you ship (regular mail) it makes it a little cheaper ,but they will always send them back the most expensive way.
You also need to keep in mind that NHRA is thinking about making you have all your safety stickers in one place in the car so they can be inspected easier.
I hope Mike Rice can kill that idea.
The 2007 NHRA rule book, I think could have a better picture of the Summit pro stock car on it.I think side views are better.
Yes I hate spending money on something that doesn't make the car go faster.

Last edited by REDC4CORVETTE; Jan 1, 2007 at 03:10 AM.
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