Seatbelt Re-certification

I was informed last night that NHRA is the only form of auto racing that requires the belts to be re-certified every 2 years. Why is this?

;)

So does IHRA.

I'm going to need new belts for next year. I don't mind being safe, but it does seem a bit excessive.

Originally posted by tnthub
So does IHRA.

I'm going to need new belts for next year. I don't mind being safe, but it does seem a bit excessive.

I think I'm going to send NHRA an email.

I'm definitely one for safety also, but look at NASCAR... they don't have expiration dates on their belts.

;)

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ :(

I think the belts should be inspected. The date thing I do not understand. How come I can run a 12.00 car with 20 year old stock seatbelts, but a 12.00 car with a 5 point harness can't have belts more than 2 years old. It simply doesn't make sense.

Originally posted by kazman
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ :(

But Jim, it's not NHRA that's making the money, it's Summit and whoever else manufactures them. Some things just don't make sense...

I emailed NHRA. I'll let you know what they say. They have responded to my emails in the past.

;)

The response:

Jackie,
This requirement is actually an SFI safety requirement, not an NHRA or IHRA requirement. In sort seatbelts are designed to stretch during a crash. SFI says that after the belts have been subjected to UV Rays from the sun it loses it's ability to properly secure the driver. If you like you can contact SFI at (858) 451-8868 or at www.sfifoundation.com.

Pat
NHRA Technical Services

He really dodged the question. NASCAR racecars are out in the sun a heck of a lot longer than drag cars are. :confused:

;)

I've heard the belts can be "rewebbed", perhaps for 1/2 the cost of new belts. Anyone know specifically where/how to get a Simpson harness rewebbed? I have sent e-mails to Simpson in the past, and they didn't respond.

I have one Camlock that expired last year (on the passenger seat now), and another that expires next month. I can't afford to keep buying new Camlocks.... now I know why people buy the less expensive latch styles.

Originally posted by Injuneer
I've heard the belts can be "rewebbed", perhaps for 1/2 the cost of new belts. Anyone know specifically where/how to get a Simpson harness rewebbed? I have sent e-mails to Simpson in the past, and they didn't respond.

I have one Camlock that expired last year (on the passenger seat now), and another that expires next month. I can't afford to keep buying new Camlocks.... now I know why people buy the less expensive latch styles.

I can find out about Simpson's for you. We were just talking about it last night. One of the companies (I forget the name) won't even re-web them anymore - since Dale Sr's crash.

;)

I believe Simpson stopped rewebbing as well. I'm sure liability is a huge issue.

Simpson no longer re-webs their belts. You can send in your old ones, and they'll give you 15% off a new set. (at racer price $$$$) I just went through this about 2 weeks ago. My cam lock belts were outdated, but never used, as my car has been a very long term project. They allowed me to send them in for inspection. After they were satisfied that they were unused, they retagged them for $5 per set. :D

Dale was waring Simpson belts and after being falsely accused of having been at fault, they took a huge hit on sales, and I believe had to reorg. under bankruptcy. That's why they don't reweb any more. It used to be that the belts were good for two years and the hardware was good for five. You just sent them back to the manufacturer and had them rewebbed.
I've always thought this was a really bad requirement, as it incourages people to go out and buy the cheapest belts not the best.

I was wrong. It's Simpson that won't re-web them. There is another company that still re-webs - B&R? or B&M? I can't remember which it is.

I just emailed SFI since Pat from NHRA dodged the question.

;)

Yet another reason to stick with 1/8 mile passes once you become quick. Although, I guess this really only applies to NHRA/IHRA sanctioned events...

Not TnT :).

Ryan

Expiration dates on belts have been an argument with drag racers for years and NHRA/IHRA will probably never change the rule.

People who live in warmer climates and can race 12 months of the year should really look at their belts after 2 years. Constant pulling on them makes them start to wear at the hardware. People like me who only have a short 5 month (if we're lucky) season, have belts that still look like new after 2 years. Personally I think the rule should be rewritten to say "2 years or if the webbing or hardware show any signs of wear". That way belts that get little use could still be used.

I'm lucky in that there is a local distributor who has an SFI rating to make belts. I just take the old belts (only his) to him and they get rewebbed. No other manufacturer will reweb someone elses belts. As mentioned above there's a liability issue.

In the past when my belts expired I just sell them to local stock car, mud bog racers for $50 and buy a new set for $80-$100.

tnthub: A 12.00 car can use 30 year old belts if they are still in good condition. A 12.00 car with a roll bar can use an outdated 5 point harness because by the rulebook, the harness is not manditory in the 12.00 and slower classes (not including convertibles).

The same goes for my car. Currently I only need a roll bar. If I decide to put a full cage in the car I don't need to use a window net because by the rulebook a full rollcage is not manditory for the speeds I'm running. There's always a line in the rules that says "when required"

Many more things are becoming dated and racers are having to spend more money. All tranny shields now have a 5 year date. After 5 years the shield should still be in "like new" condition however it either needs to be replaced or sent away for recertification. Window nets are only 2 years. Flexplates are 3 years. But these are all "when required". If you run slow enough that you don't require these items but choose to use them anyway, outdated components can't be rejected.

Thanks for the great information Stephen. I received a response from SFI which I am satisfied with, however, it still goes back to the NHRA rulebook and they shoved me off onto SFI. :rolleyes:


Hi Jackie,

Thank you for your email. The 2-year recertification is actually a
requirement found within the SFI Spec 16.1 for Driver Restraint
Assemblies itself. If a sanctioning body requires Spec 16.1 in their
rulebook, then the 2-year rule is in effect through our spec, not
necessarily as a rule of their own. Therefore, it is not only drag
racing that has the 2-year recertification rule, but any sanctioning
body using the SFI seatbelt spec.

For your reference, here is the paragraph from SFI Spec 16.1 regarding the 2-year recertification:

"2.12 The useful life of the webbing in the straps shall not exceed
two years and they must be replaced at or before that time. Only the original manufacturer can re-web an assembly prior to re-certifying."

I hope this helps answer your question. If I may be of any further
assistance, please let me know.

Thank you,
Jennifer Faye
Program Manager
SFI Foundation, Inc.


;)

Anyone know if R.J.S. re-webs their belts? I have recently purchased some camlocks of theirs, and I'll be damned if I have to pay $260 every two years. :(

Local tech inspectors check for dates on belts. When mine get toward the end of the date usually they will inform me that I need to have them re-done. They don't ask how quick I run, just that if I choose to use the belts they need to be within the date limit. It would be a bummer to tow 10 hours and be told I couldn't run because of the belts being out of date even if I kept it above 12.00.

I'm not disagreeing with you Stephen, just commenting that intelligence doesn't always filter down to a local level and I have not done enough research on my own to be totally confident of the answer.

Originally posted by Injuneer
I have one Camlock that expired last year (on the passenger seat now), and another that expires next month. I can't afford to keep buying new Camlocks.... now I know why people buy the less expensive latch styles.
But do the latches ever suck. :(

Mine G-Force latch style expires next June; I'll be moving that over to the passenger seat and upgrading to a Camlock. The Camlock are definately a LOT more expensive (over twice the price), but the latches get annoying very quickly.

You know, you could always just sell your outdated harness to rice boys who just want them for show anyway. Why anyone would want to go through the PITA of putting the on/off on a car that doesn't need them is beyond me, but it there's a market. ;)