This is not good
Printable View
This is not good
I can't say that I blame them. If I owned an insurance company, I would not be too keen on paying out for damages caused by track usage, either.
Reading the NYT article looks like you've pretty much been hosed since the late '90's on track events.
Quote:
So the industry began to add a new exclusion to its policies in the late 1990s, with most companies adding it within the last few years. Instead of trying to define racing, policies exclude damage at any location that could accommodate racing, timed or not. That eliminated coverage during high-performance driving schools and track days.
From my drag racing days, I have always assumed that I am uninsured when I get on the track whether it be a drag strip or road course.. but I guess drag racing technically is a timed event. :punchout:
It's been said a hundred times before, but here it is again: "If you can't afford to push it off a cliff, you probably shouldn't take it on the track."
That said, I'd been looking into track day insurance coverage for next year, and if the WSIB rates quoted in the NY Times article are accurate, then it will be a lot cheaper ot insure my car than I thought it would be.
It all comes down to, do what you can afford.
I don't think this is new news, most policies already closed the loophole a few years ago and this topic has been discussed on many boards. The track only insurance isn't a bad idea, I belive the standard is 3% of your car value for the season of coverage with a 4% deductible. For a Miata this would hardly be any money (maybe like $20 an event if you did 6-8 events a year).
I knew most insurance companies didn't cover track days... but I find this pretty disturbing:
Quote:
To make matters worse, asking insurers to clarify coverage could result in a nasty surprise. Mike Barr, a dentist from Palm Beach, Fla., called the insurer USAA to see if his policy covered his Subaru WRX STi on the track.
“Some months later I got a letter from USAA saying they were going to discontinue coverage,” he said.” “They dropped me because I asked about” performance driving schools. “They confirmed it verbally when I called to inquire further.” A USAA spokesman said Dr. Barr was canceled for “several reasons,” but would not elaborate.
While I realize this may not be new news, I found it interesting
http://hpdeins.locktonaffinity.com/Default.aspx?cID=31
Maybe the DE coordinators will check into this...
I remember the guy who got dropped by USAA when he called to ask if a track day was covered from back in my WRX days. Not that I have any ill-will towards anyone - but I'm glad he posted his ordeal because I'm with USAA and was -><- that close to calling them with the same question at that time.
I see a few guys at autox events who remove or completely tape up their license plates for the duration of the event due to the amount of photographs being taken. They don't want any evidence out there that insurance or warranty companies can use against them.