I just 'collected' the posts and info that I have, and I just had a pleasant chat w/ MOMO Motorsports manager. Here is my "personal" take......not a VCA take, D-C take, etc. This is a "JonB Take" on the situation.
1) Please do NOT contact Derrick or MOMO....the SCCA post was for buyers of after-market MOMO-Course belts, and NOT the ACR / GT2 belts. MOMO /Derrik has received over 50 E-mails from Viper Owners, as a result of the INCORRECT action post from SCCA. He is NOT a part of the Viper situation, nor is MOMO. (He did agree to keep me in the loop if I promised to post any pertinent info..I agreed.)
2) If you bought after-market MOMO-COURSE belts from a speedshop or supplier, you may take your MOMO harness to any MOMO dealer for exchange. This is NOT how the ACR - GT2 belt is being handled.
3) The vendor of the MOMO belts to Dodge is "Breed Technologies" via their distributor, MOMO-Course, who bought these belts from an Italian manufacturer, "LRF Racing SNC di F Radaelli & Co" of Italy.
4) Per a Chrysler Group press release, "Dodge Viper ACR and GT2 owners will be notified by mail." [ It does not say when ]
5) What is wrong? The webbing/harness? NO! The buckles? NO.
The anchors? NO. The stitching? NO. The belts undergo mandatory FIA testing every 2 years. The adjuster device failed follow-up testing under simulated accident loads, due to what is believed to be insufficient hardness of the adjuster bar.
My opinion is that, in an accident, this adjuster would deform upon initial impact, as it absorbed the contact energy. It could fail at this time. Then, any "rebound" of the occupant against that adjuster would then be potentially unprotected.
Therefore, quoting Chrysler Group: "Breed determined that the [ACR-GT2] belt be considered defective, and asked [ChryslerGroup] to implement a recall to replace those harnesses on Dodge Viper vehicles on their behalf."
6) Closing my opinion, this is NOT a "Fed deal" since the DOT belts are 100% ok. This appears to be a voluntary recall of the belts by BREED, inspired by failed FIA tests, and facilitated by ChryslerGroup.
Would I risk these belts in a track event? Nope. Not knowing and having seen what happens when Viper or other cars crash at speed. Many folks run track events in OEM inertia-reel belts. I personally believe this is MADNESS unless you stay below 70mph. I WOULD run these in autocross, augmented by OEm belts, until a replacement program is in place.
ACR-GT2 aside, I believe that most Viper owners have the means and motivation to provide themselves a GOOD harness for track events. You are driving a plastic car, capable of 150+mph at these events. SHEESH! Be safe out there.....
1) Please do NOT contact Derrick or MOMO....the SCCA post was for buyers of after-market MOMO-Course belts, and NOT the ACR / GT2 belts. MOMO /Derrik has received over 50 E-mails from Viper Owners, as a result of the INCORRECT action post from SCCA. He is NOT a part of the Viper situation, nor is MOMO. (He did agree to keep me in the loop if I promised to post any pertinent info..I agreed.)
2) If you bought after-market MOMO-COURSE belts from a speedshop or supplier, you may take your MOMO harness to any MOMO dealer for exchange. This is NOT how the ACR - GT2 belt is being handled.
3) The vendor of the MOMO belts to Dodge is "Breed Technologies" via their distributor, MOMO-Course, who bought these belts from an Italian manufacturer, "LRF Racing SNC di F Radaelli & Co" of Italy.
4) Per a Chrysler Group press release, "Dodge Viper ACR and GT2 owners will be notified by mail." [ It does not say when ]
5) What is wrong? The webbing/harness? NO! The buckles? NO.
The anchors? NO. The stitching? NO. The belts undergo mandatory FIA testing every 2 years. The adjuster device failed follow-up testing under simulated accident loads, due to what is believed to be insufficient hardness of the adjuster bar.
My opinion is that, in an accident, this adjuster would deform upon initial impact, as it absorbed the contact energy. It could fail at this time. Then, any "rebound" of the occupant against that adjuster would then be potentially unprotected.
Therefore, quoting Chrysler Group: "Breed determined that the [ACR-GT2] belt be considered defective, and asked [ChryslerGroup] to implement a recall to replace those harnesses on Dodge Viper vehicles on their behalf."
6) Closing my opinion, this is NOT a "Fed deal" since the DOT belts are 100% ok. This appears to be a voluntary recall of the belts by BREED, inspired by failed FIA tests, and facilitated by ChryslerGroup.
Would I risk these belts in a track event? Nope. Not knowing and having seen what happens when Viper or other cars crash at speed. Many folks run track events in OEM inertia-reel belts. I personally believe this is MADNESS unless you stay below 70mph. I WOULD run these in autocross, augmented by OEm belts, until a replacement program is in place.
ACR-GT2 aside, I believe that most Viper owners have the means and motivation to provide themselves a GOOD harness for track events. You are driving a plastic car, capable of 150+mph at these events. SHEESH! Be safe out there.....
