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(sorry this is long)
DCR,
Thanks for the prompt reply to my inquiry. Let me preface by saying I have no idea what SCCA "Pro" Racing requires and I have never seen their GCR. I raised this issue only for SCCA "Club" Racing T1 class and it's 2001GCR. Judging by page numbers both books might have the same text in many sections.
Have you ever stood in a tech shed during an annual tech at 8am wondering if you will make your qualifying session at 8:30? If you have, then you know how picky these tech inspectors are. Last year I had to replace a perfectly good window net because it did not have any SFI or FIA label at all.
It is very simple with the SCCA. They "physically look at the label on the belt." Does the 01 ACR belt have an SFI 16.1 label or not? See enclosed picture.
NO.
Does it have an FIA 8853/98 label or not? See enclosed picture.
NO.
Just because you say on this forum “The Viper 5 point harness is certified to FIA Standard 8853/98” doesn’t mean that it actually is without a proper label.
Does it have an FIA C-154.T/98 label or not?
YES. See enclosed picture.
Is this belt "as marked FIA C-154.T/98" legal in SCCA Club racing as of my conversation with Sven Pruitt (Chief of SCCA tech 303-694-7222) on 3/15/01 or not?
NO. Sorry no picture.
If you have it, please now turn to page 159 of the 2001Club Racing GCR.
I don't think Mr. Pruitt has any reason to give me the wrong information and I urge you to call him to confirm this. Remember he is the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court of the SCCA tech. As Mr. Pruitt said, the "C" needs to be a "D" in the FIA number. I agree that this C vs. D and 5 vs. 6 doesn't make much sense to me but that's what he said and further I think you will find this quite clear if you finish reading section 20.8 on page 159 which reads "FIA restraint systems with certification "D-###.T/98" are equal to FIA specifications 8853/98 and 8854/98 and are therefore acceptable restraint systems." That's a D not a C. Mr. Pruitt and the GCR are consistent.
I appreciate your FIA website data, but most SCCA tech inspectors don't give two sh#ts if they don't see the correct label...you fail.
To make matters worse, why would you say on this forum that the ACR belts "would be accepted at an SCCA event"...especially after looking at the FIA site (see URL above) and seeing that they are not even FIA legal anymore for SAFETY REASONS! I personally think they are probably ok belts but I didn't update the FIA website yesterday and I didn't put out a press release today.
The bs stops on Mr. Pruitt's desk. Maybe you play golf with him and can say "Hey Sven why don't ya fix that pesky FIA number C and D certification stuff and just publish a blurb in the next technical bulletin that the labels on ACR belts don't matter so our ACRs are ok"…and maybe he will do it. Maybe more FIA data needs to be presented to him and the whole matter reviewed as JonB says but that’s not the issue here and now.
However it turns out, I will keep my order with JonB for new belts with the SFI 16.1 label because I'm sure this recall will be a drawn out process. The best for everybody would be if DC issued the AMERICAN "belts of the moment" Teamtech as replacements.
I mean no disrespect to you and the DC powers that be (don’t want any black Caravan’s with 5 antennas at the end of my driveway) and I do appreciate that you took the time to reply, I just happen to see things differently.
Just my .12 and my Viper is still the Coolest car on the planet!
