I don't know...I realized that Gieco will not cover me at this kind of event. I thought that if it was not timed they might. I read on another forum that allstate might cover non-timed events. The one day insurance programs seem too much $$$, they almost double the cost in most cases. Anyone know a good way around this problem?

 

Allstate covers me, but it's because my policy is so old.

I've heard of Geico covering HPDE damage before. Ask your agent for a list of exclusions to be sure.

If I weren't covered, I'd personally call insurance agents about a policy to meet my needs.

Another option is to buy a dedicated track car you're not scared to flog. You can get an older Miata for $3k.

 

Actually I have an older miata, a 95R I'm trying to sell. I considered keeping it for track days, but then what's the purpose of having the CR? Track days are what it's made for!

 

Looked a little like him, but apparently it wasn't.

 

Yeah it does.

 

It's like any other car. You run certain risks when you drive it, whether it's at a track or on the street; however, if wrecking your CR at the track is going to wreak serious financial havoc on your life, I'd track the Miata.

I've only been to about 20 track days, but the worst damage I've seen another driver experience was a blown tire and battered rim.

If you still want to run your CR, minimize the risk to your car by playing it safe. Keep your distance from other cars until you're ready to pass or be passed.

Keep your wits about you on the track. Whenever I get too excited or flustered, I step it down a couple of notches, maybe hot pit, or maybe park the car.

Last, make sure you understand how to go off track properly. Going off track sideways is a sure way to screw up your car and even roll it.

 

ou818: Excellent advice. I don't think it would wreck me, but I think I should just hedge my bets a little. I think that I will be able to find an insurance agent eventually that's OK with a very structured HPDE like Hooked on Driving does. For the bigger stuff like the s2k challenge where they have open passing I will probably get 1 time event insurance that probably will add maybe as much as $200 to the event, so I'll do less of them. I also think I should probably avoid real dangerous tracks unless I have that insurance. Thunderhill is pretty safe by all accounts. Infinion is a different story.
I never got excited or flustered, just really happy like a kid on christmas, but I know what you mean.
I got an abject lesson in going of the track. On my first solo run a spec miata was running right in front of me on the 2nd straight away. He took the kink a little wide and then just got further and further off the line until the right front wheel went into the dirt. He did exactly what they had just told us not to do maybe 10 minutes earlier. He turned hard back onto the track. His front wheels got back on and immediately he went into a 60-70 mph sideways skid. He drifted slightly to the left before he violently spun back in the opposite direction 360 deg and exited the track on the same side that he first went off. Despite all this I think he drove off the track. That all happened right in front of me!

 

Dusty, danger at track days can be minimized by driving within your ability, and the conditions.

But that's sometimes easier said than done, especially as you get better (and find that driving at 7/10 really isn't very exciting any more).

I did perhaps 30 - 40 track days in my S2000, before deciding that the financial risk, and the risk to my neck, didn't compute. You also appear to flunk the broomstick test, by a wide margin.

I never damaged my car at a track day, but I've seen a number of cars destroyed at track days, including several which ended up on their heads. Thunderhill is as safe as a track can be, with excellent runoff almost everywhere, but it's still quite easy to roll when you make a little mistake and spin into the dirt. See this thread; you or I would have a broken neck after that, with the stock S2000 roll hoops.

I now race a Spec Miata. Wholly aside from the fact that racing packs a significantly higher adrenaline rush than tracking, the handling of the Spec Miata (which is far safer than your car, and costs a small fraction of what your car cost you) makes it great fun. As an aside, I bought the SM from a guy who built it after destroying his first SM at Thunderhill, and walking away. He's an excellent driver, but sh!t happens; it's nice when that happens in a very safe, not-so-expensive car.

I first drove a Spec Miata at Thunderhill, where they had a rental fleet. Try it; you'll like it.

 

Amen: SM for T-Hill. Parts are cheap. Car is quick...except down the straight. Parts are cheap. For the cost of a blown s2k motor you can get a decent track miata.

Save the S2k.

 

you def need a lower seat.. your helmet is way over the top