Insurance Companies Close Track Day and Training Loopholes

John Horner
by John Horner
I’m willing to wager that a fair percentage of TTAC’s Best and Brightest take their cherished whip to the race track every now and then to drive the car as God and his engineers intended. If so, be warned: your car insurance may no be on the hook should something untoward– or straight toward– occurs. The New York Times reports that insurers have closed the loophole that defined certain types of racing as a “timed event.” The fix is in; you’re liable. For some weekend warriors, it’s a bridge too far: “Chris Soignier of Austin, Tex., will not be taking his Porsche Cayman to the track, which he had done with his previous cars. When he read his renewal notice from Progressive Insurance last November, he found that the Cayman was not covered on the track. I don’t feel like I’m that much at risk, but the magnitude of the loss is too great for me to be comfortable,’ he said. For other motorized Walter Mittys, ignorance is a bliss balloon destined to pop. “Jerry Kunzman, executive director of the National Auto Sport Association, said: ‘Maybe 25 or 30 percent have done the research, the middle third just assumes they are covered, and the top third just don’t have a clue.'” Maybe the tracks should educate their customers on this issue. Just sayin’.


John Horner
John Horner

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  • Quasimondo Quasimondo on Oct 20, 2008

    This is nothing new, and in my opinion, much more preferable to what GEICO used to do, which was summarily cancel a driver's policy on the suspicion of using their car at the track---whether they file a claim for any crash or not.

  • Morea Morea on Oct 21, 2008
    that others should ever incur extra expenses due to my actions nor should I for theirs The problem is that auto insurance as practiced is a mutual system. If your neighbors have lots o' wrecks YOUR rates go up. That is why driver's education at all levels (from teens to seniors) is critical. However, this concept is under funded because no one wants to step up and take responsibility (insurance companies, schools, state and local governments, non profits) in turn because no one wants to foot the bill. Why don't insurance companies offer advanced driver's ed classes? "Pass our class and truly demonstrate you are a competent driver and we'll lower your rates." I'd still like to see the claims numbers for those who track their sports car vs. those who do not. Who has the higher claims rate?
  • Voice of Sweden Voice of Sweden on Oct 24, 2008

    You missed the picture info from http://www.wreckedexotics.com/355/355_20060530_001.shtml "Crashed into a crowd of people during a race in San Carlos, Venezuela. Sadly, 3 people were killed. The driver received some broken bones but made a full recovery."

  • Anonymous Anonymous on Apr 03, 2009

    [...] racing, nowadays if your car is on a race track, racing or not, you might not be covered at all: Insurance Companies Close Track Day and Training Loopholes | The Truth About Cars. __________________ 08 Forester 2.5X Sports - 5MT 91 Loyale Wagon 4WD - 3AT "If it ain't [...]

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