UPDATE 3/30/2010:

Here is a release from SFI dated today.  It is really important that anyone having Impact equipment understand they may not pass tech at their next race.  Even more important, they may not be safe.  Please circulate this.

The site where this news release can be found and with a pdf file available for download is:

http://www.sfifoundation.com/ 

SFI Foundation, Inc., has issued a Notice of Decertification; Notice of Cease and Desist, and a notice terminating all Contracts of Participation to
Impact Racing.  Effective April 27, 2010, all products manufactured and/or distributed by Impact Racing pursuant to SFI Specification Programs 3.2A, 3.3, 16.1, and 16.5 are decertified.  

Evidence obtained by SFI shows that over a period of years Impact Racing has engaged in the production and use of counterfeit SFI conformance labels and patches, and affixed them to Impact products for use in motorsports. Under the Contracts of Participation between SFI and Impact, SFI conformance labels and patches may only be obtained from SFI and no other source. Evidence shows that Impact had counterfeit SFI labels and patches made in Asia and then affixed them to Impact products it distributed to members of the racing community. To SFI's knowledge, Impact never advised its customers that its products contained phony SFI labels and patches.  Impact never advised SFI of its systematic and longstanding practice of counterfeiting and distributing SFI patches and labeling.

Impact has been directed to cease and desist from this practice.  SFI has directed Impact to immediately notify all affected customers to remove the counterfeit labeling and to offer the affected customers a full refund of the purchase price.  SFI is requesting that all counterfeit conformance labels removed from Impact products be sent to SFI.

SFI has elected not to decertify these products immediately in order to minimize the potential hardships to members of the racing community that have been brought about by Impact's counterfeiting activities.

SFI has also elected to terminate all Contracts of Participation with Impact Racing effective 90 days from March 24, 2010.  Under the terms of the Contracts, either party may terminate the agreements without penalty upon 90 days notice.  This means that Impact will no longer be able to participate in any SFI programs after this 90 day period.

SFI has taken these actions in the best interests of the safety and integrity of the racing community.  This is in keeping with SFI's mission and purpose.

UPDATE 3/25/2010:

One question that has been coming up a lot lately is what type of gloves motorcycle/snowmobile riders now require.
 
A rule change for 2010 now mandates they must have gloves that are either Kevlar-lined or equipped with slide buttons.
 
NHRA is working on tips to help determine what gloves do meet the new rules, here are some of them

Here are a few tips that may help:
 
1- Look for a "tag" inside the glove. It should state that the lining is Kevlar or contains Kevlar. If not, or there is no tag, then use your best discretion to see if in fact it seems to have a durable slippery-type lining.
 
2- Put some faith in what the racer tells you about the gloves; it is my experience that most bike/sled riders are very concerned about their own safety and do not take chances as often as car racers do. If the racer states that the gloves do have Kevlar lining and he/she has done some research, and it appears to be a durable lining, then I would probably take their word at least for the interim.
 
3- If the gloves are a "slide-button" type it is my interpretation that they should have a number of significantly raised buttons or bumps on the outside of the glove which will slide along the surface in the event of an on-track incident. Some gloves may have slide buttons that are simply fastened to the outside of the glove; look at these very carefully to try and determine if they are simply decorative or if they would protect the racer. Other types will have raised bumps that are totally covered which would obviously stay attached.
 
4- Do not accept leather gloves without Kevlar lining or slide buttons as they are no longer acceptable.