Insurance

[CHILI]

Man, I've been thinking heavily about this subject lately and I see the other thread from today about the subject of show car ins., and that some are reiterating the fact that they don't cover "track" accidents (I'm not complaining, I understand why). Here's why I'm concerned and have been thinking about it a lot the last couple of days....

I have Leland West, which also doesn't cover track days, driving to work, etc..
I attended my first A/X on Sunday. While I was there, two, yes, I said two people crashed and burned. One was a 993 that got "backed" into a light pole. Motor wouldn't start and oil all over the ground. Doors didn't fit either. Bad news.
The other was a Boxster S that hit a guard rail at about 35 mph. Fu@ked it up! Both airbags deployed and tacod the hood. Both towed away on flat beds. (Both drivers were ok afaIk)

I was in the same run group as the 993 and they towed the thing and parked it right in front of the start line. Man, talk about Psyching you out! After seeing that, I had the slowest run time of all of my runs. I'm sure neither were covered and both were in access of $10k of damage, easily. I simply won't push my car that far! And the reason I say that (and I don't want to offend either of the drivers of those two cars if they see this, but) the two objects they hit were NO where near the course. IE, they were WAY off course and a high speed. I can't even figure out how one of them got where they did. Ok, glad I got that off my chest. Was this a typical thing, or did I just compete in the cursed A/X?

[pbs911]

There is track insurance. I just don't know from who. Jack Olsen has it, or had it. I think it was about $350 a year for an agreed upon value of the car.

[CHILI]

I sure hope they had it.

But, can somebody answer my question? Is that normal? Can I expect to see an accident or two each time? Not sure I like that. It also brings up the possiblility of it happening to me.

[DG624]

I have been to several track events and never saw any accidents that caused damage. Some off track excursions but no bent metal. If you are worried try Solo ll, safe and fun and many places to run. (hey that rythmes). I think the track events will lead to off road problems as drivers become more confident and competitive. Don't drive wild on those areas with potential problems or get a ral race car with more protection. Cars can be fixed.

[ruf-porsche]

Saw a guy with a mint Pantera crash it because he thought he was stepping on the brake pedal instead of the accelerator at an autox. Learn to drive your car before going racing with it. Some autox are in paved parking lot and the run off is not that great.

[ben parrish]

I would highly suggest that anyone with collector insurance carefully read their policy and talk with their agent. Make no mistake; the insurance company will investigate your true use of your car if you make a claim! They WILL interview co-workers and neighbors! They WILL NOT cover the car if you have not followed the restrictions to the letter of the policy. I have personally seen claims denied on boats because they were a few miles beyond the "navigational limits" of the policy. I have seen housing claims denied because of minor infractions.
I also went with "collector policies" in the past and never had a problem but I never had a claim. I spoke with the agent and presented a few scenarios to them about the use. I was told that if I used my car for weekend use and pleasure rides I was covered. If I decided to stop by, say the cleaners to pick up my laundry after that "recreational drive" and got into an accident that my claim would be denied because I had used the car for an errand. After careful consideration, I switched to standard insurance with State Farm but couldn't stomach the $1200 a year rate. After talking with my agent about the use of the car, she suggested State Farm's collector policy. 7500 miles a year with NO limitations on use other than this can't be my daily car. I CAN drive it to work; I CAN use it for errands or ANYTHING else (no racing). $400 a year. I now am confidant that if I ever have to make a claim I have nothing to worry about.

[DG624]

I know of a case where a fellow racer turned over at the end of the first straight at Mid-Ohio and collected on his claim. He never mentioned racing. Insurance companies want your payment and don't want to have claims. Racing can lead to problems especially if you push the limits. I would worry more about smashing yourself cars can be straightened.

[Rick Lee]

A Boxster got destroyed at our DE this past weekend. I really wonder if he'll be covered by insur. Car was absolutely ruined, but he walked away without a scratch, which is the important thing. My pristine 993 saw the same track for the first time this weekend and insurance was a concern of mine. I actually felt safer on the track at speed than on a public hwy., but at least I'm insured on a hwy. If track insur. is only $350 a year, I'd get it in a heartbeat.

[CHILI]

Originally posted by Richard LeSchander
If track insur. is only $350 a year, I'd get it in a heartbeat. [/B]

I agree!

Does anybody know where to get this? Will it cover AX's?

[ChrisBennet]

I doubt "track insurance" is only $350 a year.
-Chris

[ttweed]

Originally posted by DG624
If you are worried try Solo ll, safe and fun and many places to run.

DG624-
This was a Solo2 event, essentially, we were in the parking lot, not on the big track at the Ca. Speedway. The only difference was it was PCA sanctioned and not SCCA. It was an autocross, in any case, not a DE/track day or time trial.

I would have to say that the PCA tends to throw faster autox courses than the SCCA- they have no speed limiting guidelines in their rules like SCCA has. This course was not all that fast, though- I never got out of second gear myself. I have been in 3rd and 4th gear in the parking lot at Qualcomm Stadium before. I would have to say, though, that the asphalt was the dirtiest I have driven on in quite some time. There was a lot of silty dust and gravel on the surface. It was starting to clean up by the end of the day, but if you got off line, you were sliding pretty easily. I think the two incidents were on the two longest straights, at the highest speeds on the course, and when the drivers got out of shape, they slid a long way and hit some solid objects. Even though the obstacles were 50'+ off the course, they were impacted.

I would guess that Chad is using the phrase "crash and burn" figuratively, as I didn't see any fire as a result of the contact. The damage was extensive to both cars, though, and I wouldn't be surprised if they were "totalled", due to the high cost of repairs.

There have been several contact incidents lately in the SCCA Solo2 events here locally as well, so PCA is not alone in that respect. Modern cars are very fast machines, and drivers can get in over their heads very quickly, even in a relatively slow autox venue.

Be careful out there.

TT
ps- some standard insurance policies will cover you for damages at a "driver's ed" event, but many exclude any form of racing, defined as "timed competition". Most event coverage is purely liability for the track operators and event organizers. Collision damage coverage for W2W racing is very expensive, and often sold on a "per event" basis. I believe it would be prohibitively expensive to insure yourself for an entire year against any track mishap.

[RSupdate]

is who you should call. just type in their name in your browser...

Annual premium is 1.5% of "agreed value" i.e. you state a value of 30k and your annual premium is $450.00

(multiply 1.5% or 0.015 x value = physical damage premium)