2025 is the year I get back in the saddle, most likely in ChampCar but probably local-ish HPDE / track days as well. I need to re-up all my safety gear: suit, longjohns, helmet, HANS, shoes.
Questions: how often do the specs get updated? Is there another update imminent that would make it smarter to wait til 2025 to buy, vs getting new gear for Christmas 2024? Aside from spec updates, do these items have other age-out criteria?
Thanks!
Hans devices are supposed to get inspected and re-webbed every 10 years I think it is. I just put a new strap on mine and no one has ever checked it at an event (available directly from Simpson, grab some new shoulder pads, too!).
The SFI 5 gear (suit, gloves, shoes, etc.) itself doesn't expire, although it's supposed to be retired if it shows visible damage, spoiled, or soaked with oil, etc.
The helmet is the big thing. They update the Snell rating every 5 years, and most organizations need something within the past two cycles, i.e., in the year 2028 the sticker will need to be a Snell 2020 or 25. I'd wait until spring to buy a 25 if you can.
WonkoTheSane said:The SFI 5 gear (suit, gloves, shoes, etc.) itself doesn't expire, although it's supposed to be retired if it shows visible damage, spoiled, or soaked with oil, etc.
The helmet is the big thing. They update the Snell rating every 5 years, and most organizations need something within the past two cycles, i.e., in the year 2028 the sticker will need to be a Snell 2020 or 25. I'd wait until spring to buy a 25 if you can.
My recent suits have had expiration dates printed on them, IIRC it's 10 years. That might be the FIA rating though, since the one I have is both.
Sometimes it takes the manufacturers a while to get the new specs out, I would not count on SA2025s being available in the spring.
2025 helmets don't go on sale until next fall, 2020 helmets are allowed to be sold until spring 2026. So waiting until spring likely makes no difference. The fia helmet standard was updated this year, not exactly sure if that's relevant to anything. Fia/sfi specs for everything else aren't on a regular update schedule, I don't think there's any updates imminent.
Good suits don't typically expire. Nor do gloves, shoes, socks, balaclava, etc.
I believe the head and neck restraints are more frequent than. 10 years to recertification. Check with the manufacturer.
wvumtnbkr said:Good suits don't typically expire.
FIA suits have a 10 year expiration date.
codrus (Forum Supporter) said:WonkoTheSane said:The SFI 5 gear (suit, gloves, shoes, etc.) itself doesn't expire, although it's supposed to be retired if it shows visible damage, spoiled, or soaked with oil, etc.
The helmet is the big thing. They update the Snell rating every 5 years, and most organizations need something within the past two cycles, i.e., in the year 2028 the sticker will need to be a Snell 2020 or 25. I'd wait until spring to buy a 25 if you can.
My recent suits have had expiration dates printed on them, IIRC it's 10 years. That might be the FIA rating though, since the one I have is both.
Sometimes it takes the manufacturers a while to get the new specs out, I would not count on SA2025s being available in the spring.
Yeah, finally had a chance to dig up the specs themselves: SFIFoundation.com
Looks like the suits with a 3.2A/1, 3.2A/3, 3.2A/5 don't have an expiration (Mine is a 3.2A/5, which is why I didn't see anything when I bought it many moons ago). The 3.2A/10, 3.2A/15, 3.2A/20 specs expire in 5 years from the date on the tag.
All other drivers gear (shoes/gloves/socks/etc.) don't seem to have an expiration under SFI.
FIA has a 10 year expiration on possibly everything (suit/shoes/gloves/etc.)? I can't quite tell, FIA stuff always confused me :)
In reply to WonkoTheSane :
FIA harness certification is 5 years, but that's driven by material degradation and not by specification changes.
In reply to Keith Tanner :
Right, sorry, I was specifically talking about drivers gear there, not car safety equipment. I think the SFI stuff is all 2 years for the driver restraint stuff. I'll edit the post to be clearer about that.
Went through this for SCCA this spring, don't know champcar. This biggest advice is CALL THE TECH PEOPLE FOR THE GROUP YOU WILL RUN WITH. I had a few phone calls with the guy for the group I ran with and it helped immensely.
I bought a guys whole operation that hadn't been raced since 2012. A few things are on a clock, but less than you think.
I mean, I wound up just spending money and replacing a bunch as if I couldn't tell the date on it and the guy I got it from was still using a suit from the 80's... Yeah....
codrus (Forum Supporter) said:wvumtnbkr said:Good suits don't typically expire.
FIA suits have a 10 year expiration date.
I should clarify... I'm not aware of any non pro organization that cares about the age of a good racing suit.
wvumtnbkr said:Good suits don't typically expire. Nor do gloves, shoes, socks, balaclava, etc.
I believe the head and neck restraints are more frequent than. 10 years to recertification. Check with the manufacturer.
I have two Zamp head and neck restraints and the require re-certification every 5 years. Sent one off last year and it was around $90-$100 to replace the straps and update the buckles. About to send the second one off to get re-certified. Will probably sell it when I get it back. Don't really need two.
Champcar specifically does a self tech. The stuff you wear as clothes do not expire (unless there is damage to the article).
The head and neck restraint and the helmets do need updated.
If you bought a 2020 Helmet now, it would be good for at least 5 years. That's about how long you should consider using the same helmet anyway.
I do not know of any major changes to helmet specs for 2025. I do see that they are aligning the SA specs with the FIA specs. According to the testing methods for both governing bodies, they are fairly close.
The SA2025 helmets will start being released in October of 2025.
The only time based expiration of safety equipment in champcar is fuel cell bladders, driver harnesses, window nets, helmets, head and neck restraints, and fire systems. At least that was true as of 2024. It does seem like Champcar likes to arbitrarily change this without notification...
wvumtnbkr said:I should clarify... I'm not aware of any non pro organization that cares about the age of a good racing suit.
Keep in mind that the 10 year rule was introduced less than 10 years ago, so none of those suits have actually expired yet. Amateur organizations (or at least their insurance companies) might start to care once that happens
codrus (Forum Supporter) said:wvumtnbkr said:I should clarify... I'm not aware of any non pro organization that cares about the age of a good racing suit.
Keep in mind that the 10 year rule was introduced less than 10 years ago, so none of those suits have actually expired yet. Amateur organizations (or at least their insurance companies) might start to care once that happens
No E36 M3? I did not know that! Thanks for the info!
I think FIA was always ten years but it wasn't officially stated and/or there was no requirement to note a manufacture/expiration date until the 2018 revision. So the first FIA suits with an officially listed expiration date will expire at the end of 2028.
I'll just leave this here, the best suits for barely legal money.
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