Used components for Spec7
 

I'm aware of some sort of date where harness components are unsafe or unusable. Can anyone confirm this?

This'd make it impractical to get used 5 point harness from someone.

What else has expiration dates?

helmets,gloves,suit,shoes, and seats

Seat. Okay. that was my major concern. How long do those last? What should I look for as far as date code goes?

And Harnesses...

Would it even be economical to get those used?

Helmet and clothing were going to be new.

The answers to all your questions are in here: http://scca.com/_FileLibrary/File/updatedGCR.pdf

READ IT!

Don't qote me on this, but I'm pretty sure this is how it breaks down...

Don't worry about seats, as long as you have a brace tied from the back of the seat into the chassis or roll cage you can use just about anything. If the seat conforms to a certain FIA spec (it's in the GCR) you don't have to have a back brace.

Harnesses do expire after 5 years. NEVER buy a used harness and use it for racing, you're just asking for trouble. Harnesses are designed to stretch to help absorb impact from a crash. Once they've stretched they're trash. How can you be sure if you buy a used harness?

Helmets last 10 years, but again, spend some money on a good quality well-fitting helmet. Don't buy used.

Gloves, shoes, and suits don't expire, they just have to meet a minimum spec (check the GCR). They should be in good condition (no holes).

Window nets also need to meet a minimum SFI spec, but don't expire.

"Gloves,shoes,suits dont expire"...

Are you sure?

yes, it's all in the GCR:

Driving suits that effectively cover the body from the neck to the
ankles and wrists, manufactured of fire resistant material, worn with
underwear of a fire resistant material. One piece suits are highly
recommended. All suits and underwear shall be made of the following
accepted fire resistant materials: Nomex, Kynol, FPT, IWS (wool),
Fiberglass, Firewear™, Durette, Fypro, PBI, Kevlar, NASAFIL, or any
suit carrying an SFI 3-2A/1 or higher certification patch. Underwear
of PROBAN is approved. The following specific manufacturer(s)
material combinations are also recognized: Simpson Heat Shield,
Leston Super Protex, FPT Linea Sport, Carbon X, and Durette X-400.
Underwear is not required with three-layer suits or with suits carrying
FIA standards of 8856-1986 or 8856-2000 or SFI 3-2A/5 or higher
(e.g., /10, /15, /20) Certification Patch. FIA homologated driving
suits and underwear are recommended.

Gloves made of leather and/or accepted fire resistant material
containing no holes.

Shoes, with uppers of leather and/or nonflammable material
that at a minimum cover the instep. Ventilation pinholes by the
manufacturer are allowed.

Harness expires in two years, unless it is FIA rated.

See, they never included the GCR with the Spec7 rules...

They need to have like a Noob section overthere...

I'm gonna get on the track and hit everything... I mean EVERYTHING. :(

There is a driver's school at Summit Point next weekend. You should come check it out if you are serious about Spec7. Good opportunity to look at some cars and get information from the horse's mouth. I'll be there crewing for a guy....pm me if you want more info.

IIRC, there was talk on the Spec-7 list that there will be several Spec-7's up at the Summit Point school.

Clarification on harnesses: SFI rated harnesses are good for 2 years, FIA for 5 years. Make sure about the FIA rating when you buy - some vendors have almost identical harnesses where one will be FIA and one will not.

For helmets, it's not 10 years. New Snell ratings come out every 5 years. Helmets must have the current rating or one prior for SCCA Road Racing. Current new helmets have an SA2005 rating and will need to be replaced after about 2015. But if you buy a helmet next year, or anytime before 2010/2011, they will have SA2005 ratings and still have to be replaced by 2015.

If you bought a helmet last year, which means it probably had an SA2000 rating, you will have to replace it in 2010, when the next Snell rating (SA2010) come out.

So, it's 10 years max, often less.

-b

Not 10 years max... Snell 95 expires this coming January, which is 12 years.

Snell doesn't come out with new ratings every 5 years on the mark. The 05 rating didn't come out until January of this year (2006) hence the January 2007 replacement requirement. FYI. That'd be a lost bar bet. ;)

Bar Bets#2
 

Chris! Heres one for you. What was the first race ever won by a Porsche any where in the world?

Do you count the pre-WWII Auto Union race cars designed by Porsche, or only the post WWII cars that were built under the Porsche name?

Leave it to Chris to point out the little exception to my General Rule. ;)

In my defense, the SCCA *did* have to change the GCR when the SA2005 rated helmets got delayed in production.

And if the Snell foundation gets the SA2015 rating approvals out on time, then SA2005 helmets will most likely have had a max lifespan of 9 years.


-b

Bar Bet
 

Post war only, and in a car called a "Porsche"

Now for a downer. The original "Porsche" was nothing more than a VW on steroids. :molepoke:

Poooorsche
 

I though they still were.