Why race your supercar

[sYc]

Jeff, As per insurance coverage at the track, I have had more then one owner check on this very thing. Here is what they found out. Most insurance companies state in their policies that they will not cover a car "competing", whether drag racing, road course, etc. But, most policies do not make exclusions where one can and cannot drive their car. Thus, even though a car may be at a track, it is covered, as long as it is not competing. No different then taking your car to a Super Chevy, Car Craft, or any other show held at a race track. Making a single pass down the track, with no tree, is no different then drving down the street in front of your house. Well, a little different, it is safer at the track. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[whitetop]

Tom
Holy Cow. Your definition of "is" is makes Bill Clinton look like the Pope. I think you are wrong on this. You are splitting hairs on technicalities with your insurance policy and I would not trust yours or anyone elses reasoning to this "loophole" of yours. So you are telling us that if you are racing someone you are not covered but you are covered for a bye run when running only by yourself??? Racing is racing whether you have a christmas tree or not. Having your car at a Super Chevy show as a car show participant is a hell of a different matter than racing your car down the strip at the same event whether you are racing somone or not, Christmas tree or no christmas tree.
Hope this loophole is not being used by you or someone to make them feel better when racing their car down the strip.

[Chevy454]

As explained to us (I believe) by the owners/operators of Music City Raceway at SCR1, if the clocks/scoreboard were turned off then it was considered like a "parade lap"...some parades just move faster than others! Some of the cars chose to simply make a parade lap, while others made a full pass. After the "parade lap", we were all given the option to run again, this time with the full tree/timers, with the understanding we would be uninsured. Some ran again, some didn't.

[sYc]

Did some checking. During four SCRs, we have had over 35 different, documented supercars compete. This figure would have been higher, except for the fact that SCR2 was rained out. That year we had over 20 cars signed up to race, including ZL-1 #1 (which is coming back this year). I realize that 35 may not sign like a lot, but remember this is 35+ different cars. And, several of them are the rarest of the rare, such as Ray Morrison's one owner, all original '68 Gibb/Harrell Nova, a '67 Yenko, several ZL-1s, etc. Think about it, when was the last time you saw a real supercar make a pass? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]

And, add to this list the number of cars that make a pass or two in the parking lot before/after the show, and/or during the cruise, and I would say that 3/4s of the cars participate in showing off the performance of their cars. Just watching the cars in the lot before and after the event is a sight to behold. Charley's ZL-1 #3 in the rain, Dennis Hartweg's early Saturday morning warming up his ZL-1, Joe kicking in the 2-4s in the rarest of rare, ultra low mileage Harrell Chevelles, Tony filling the night air with tire smoke in his ZL-1, the list goes on and on. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/[/img]

Now, I do realize that this is not for everyone. Some of the cars that attend the SCR are for show purposes only. No problem, that is why I spend several $1000s to have the show portion of the event indoors, in one of the nicest indoor facilities in the US, to allow the cars to be showcased in the best venue possible. But, I will admit, I do my best to get all owners to show the performance side of the cars (at least a little). If I had to guess, I would have to say that the cruise is the most popular event at SCR, because most owners do enjoy driving their cars, regardless of the risk. Well, except for watching 40+ supercars exit the building into a nice, big parking lot. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img] Last year the cruise took over 30 minutes, at times through heavy traffic. WOW what a sight, with the majority of the cars attending the event participating. But, as Rob mentioned earlier, even though the cruise is the most poplular event, it worries me the most. No one, and I mean no one, would hate for something to happen to one of these rare cars any more then me. So, that is why I doubled the budget for SCR6, to allow for a safe venue to show case the performance side of the cars. That venue is Gateway Int. Raceway, a state of the art racing facility, which we have rented for the day. That way, any owner who would like to "show off" a little, can do it in the safest of enviroments. It does not have to be in a side by side, 'balls out" drag race. Any owner who would like to simply chrip the tires and then cruise down the track is more then welcome. As I have said a 1000 times, the ET does not matter, just as long as the car is there. To me, that is history, in the making. Before we leave the track, I hope to get every musclecar there to cruise (do a parade lap) down the track. Talk about a Kodak moment. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[SS454]

Being in the auto body end of things I would have to say that your ins company would tell you that you are on your own with that.I had a customer a couple of years back had a mishap with a nother car on the street. Got a ticket for drag racing and they did not cover a thing! They told him go ahead and sue them but he just paid it himself. Any my point is that was not competing just going fast. If you are at Road America and you go on there pace lap or parade lap and you crash your ins comp dosen't give a cr*p all they will say is that your where at a race track and you are not covered. OK I could be wrong [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img]

[sYc]

Sorry, but I think I am right on this one, as this was not me who was given this information by their insurer, but a well known collector, who not only helped host SCR1, but had 3 Yenko Camaros participating at the track. Between us, I do not think he got where he did by miss judging loop holes. And, by the way, as I visited with a couple of the well known classic car insurers (about event insurance), we discussed this very issue. You might want to do the same with the insurer of your supercar. The key word is "competition". [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[Jeff H]

That's what I figured could happen if you're out street racing as well as racing at the track, your insurance company could drop you and not cover the damage. That is too big of a risk for me to take.

[sYc]

Getting a ticket, especially for drag racing, would shed a whole 'nother light on things. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif[/img]

[T Billigen]

I guess I will keep mine a trailer "Queen"! I just don't want the hassel of trying to straighten that original metal. As far as safety goes, the track is deffinately better, although I have seen some pretty bad accidents on the track also. Seen a fellow break an axle and go end over end. Did'nt kill him but put him in the hospital, seen two people get their feet cut off with a blown clutchs and a young lady lose control at the end of the track and run into a bull dozer. (6 months in a body cast) As far as insurance coverage goes, I would lie and tell them I was not at a race track if you had an accident there, because they WILL NOT pay! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/[/img]

[JoeG]

Friendly question---Is this unofficial car insurance being offered by a company/group at special events only,to help promote the HOBBY? It would good P/R in an unofficial way. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]