Insurance and track event questions

[epj3]

My question is how far will insurance cover you at a track event, and is there special insurnace you can get or add on? I want to do a driving school (with SCCA instructors) and go to a few open track days this spring and summer (assuming I can find another car ). My question is if I were in an accident, or someone else caused an accident on the track, will my or their insurance cover it? I assume not... Even though track/driving schools are controlled events, where you KNOW the intentions of the other drivers out there (which can never be said about the public roads), accidents obviously still happen. The drive TO the track is probably more dangerous than the track event itself. Most tracks also have more than enough of a runoff so you'll never touch the wall, even at faster speeds.

Does anyone have EXPERIENCE with this? I have a feeling if I called state farm and asked about it, they would drop me like a brick. Would I need to look into a secondary insurance or something? It would be expensive for the 3 or 4 times I would go but it's better than risking loosing a second car and not getting anything for it

 

[Big Daddy]

You need to ask your insurance provider directly, as they all differ. Most will not insure for a speed competition/timed event. Some will for a "driver's school", but you need to ask your carrier. They cannot drop you for asking. I know of several people who crashed their cars at these schools and some were covered others were not.

 

[Montana]

I heard a rumor that Insurance Companies send people out to track events like autocross etc. to get tag #s and then jack your rates or drop you. People have told me to take your license plate off/cover them when you get to these events...???

 

[codex57]

I heard a rumor that Insurance Companies send people out to track events like autocross etc. to get tag #s and then jack your rates or drop you. People have told me to take your license plate off/cover them when you get to these events...???

Car manufacturers did this. Mitsubishi and Subaru got heat (but didn't stop) for this. I forget which one, but one of them even gave you a free membership to SCCA when you bought the car, but cancelled your warranty if you actually used it.

 

[Kirby]

Most insurance carriers do not cover your car if you are racing. You can buy track day coverage from specialists, obviously it's expensive.

SCCA Events have you covered for personal injury and liability insurance if you have signed the waiver form. All of SCCA's insurance info is found here:
http://www.scca.org/Inside/Index.asp

 

[epj3]

Most insurance carriers do not cover your car if you are racing. You can buy track day coverage from specialists, obviously it's expensive.

SCCA Events have you covered for personal injury and liability insurance if you have signed the waiver form. All of SCCA's insurance info is found here:
http://www.scca.org/Inside/Index.asp

SCCA's rate table is very confusing (to me anyways). Thing is, I'm not going to pay $800+ for track insurance to insure a car that i will only get $2700 for, and track maybe a few times a year.

 

[Kirby]

I heard a story about someone who ran a 1 year old "high performance Chevrolet roadster" at local SCCA events. He had gotten his regular car insurance from a good friend who was an independent agent. At a Solo I hillclimb, he totaled the car when he lost control and hit a stone wall. Since no one else was involved, and it was on a public road (closed for race day), he reported it and just "forgot" to mention that it was a competition. He got a new car.

 

[MrElussive]

Yeah, I've been told that "taking it to the track" is worse than "taking it to the streets". The streets are free, you're covered under insurance and your manufacturer's warranty if something happens, you don't have to wear a helmet, and they're accessible 24/7 whereas those track events do not occur often and you have to getup mad early on a Sunday morning just to get there.

Almost no point to attend even those "helpful" driving schools...

 

[epj3]

Yeah, I've been told that "taking it to the track" is worse than "taking it to the streets". The streets are free, you're covered under insurance and your manufacturer's warranty if something happens, you don't have to wear a helmet, and they're accessible 24/7 whereas those track events do not occur often and you have to getup mad early on a Sunday morning just to get there.

Almost no point to attend even those "helpful" driving schools...

No you don't understand, when i say Track i don't mean autocross. Track stuff doesn't usually start as early as autox. Autocross is in a parking lot. I'm talking going to an actual track. Autox is extremely hard on your suspension compared to a regular track event.

 

[Kirby]

I should clarify that SCCA page. I posted that so you/others could see what coverage SCCA provides for liability/injury, waiver requirements, etc.

They don't offer track day vehicle insurance. The rate table you looked at is what it costs the sponsoring club to get injury/liability insurance for events they sponsor. But it does help you see what events are considered more risky, etc. based on the rates charged. It also explains why the fees for track days are so high.

 

[Kirby]

Autox is extremely hard on your suspension compared to a regular track event.

True, but also depends on the track and event. Some road course tracks I have watched at are hard on suspensions, especially those that have a quick rise and drop followed by a hard turn.

Track days are hard on other parts of the car, especially brake pads, rotors, brake fluid, cooling system and engine.

 

[epj3]

True, but also depends on the track and event. Some road course tracks I have watched at are hard on suspensions, especially those that have a quick rise and drop followed by a hard turn.

Track days are hard on other parts of the car, especially brake pads, rotors, brake fluid, cooling system and engine.

My concern with suspension on my car is that E30's have so many stupid rubber parts, they wear out so fast. E30's also have worthless sway bars. Tons of body lean unless you upgrade, which includes welding in reinforcements so the bar brackets aren't ripped out of the frame

Still not as bad as the E36's tendency to drop it's subframe out of the sheet metal

 

[Big Daddy]

Kirby your last post about insurance is correct. BMW CCA also requires a waiver and carries liability insurance, but that covers the sponsors and track NOT the attendees. The waiver you sign at every track clearly points that out.

The track is the safer place. Yes your insurance company might cover you on the street, but they can drop you if they find out you were acting outside the law as in a street race.

Autocross is a timed event, same as a race. A driver's school is not and in most cases is covered. Again it is very important that you check with your carrier.

 

[MrElussive]

No you don't understand, when i say Track i don't mean autocross. Track stuff doesn't usually start as early as autox. Autocross is in a parking lot. I'm talking going to an actual track. Autox is extremely hard on your suspension compared to a regular track event.

I understand just fine. But you start with Autocross and then as you go along, you step it up to Track.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Does anyone have EXPERIENCE with this? I have a feeling if I called state farm and asked about it, they would drop me like a brick. Would I need to look into a secondary insurance or something? It would be expensive for the 3 or 4 times I would go but it's better than risking loosing a second car and not getting anything for it

Call and block the number, or do it from a public phone and offer them fake information... Then comfortably ask all the questions you want.

 

[Kirby]

First Law of Racing Finances

"If you can't afford to wreck it and total it, you can't afford to race it."

This is why I race the 325i, not the 330cic .

 

[jrt67ss350]

First Law of Racing Finances

"If you can't afford to wreck it and total it, you can't afford to race it."

This is why I race the 325i, not the 330cic .

I think that is one of the best pieces of advice anyone could be given about racing a car. It is so true, but it is also so very easy to forget.

 

[Big Daddy]

First Law of Racing Finances

"If you can't afford to wreck it and total it, you can't afford to race it."

This is why I race the 325i, not the 330cic .

Exactly my thoughts!

 

[poboyis]

First Law of Racing Finances

"If you can't afford to wreck it and total it, you can't afford to race it."

This is why I race the 325i, not the 330cic .

Another reason I didnt go to OktoberFast at Road America last fall

 

[Average Jae]

First Law of Racing Finances

"If you can't afford to wreck it and total it, you can't afford to race it."

This is why I race the 325i, not the 330cic .