[QUOTE=adam81;6212485]No track insurane for me.... That is why you will hear me preach about prepping your car with the best SAFETY parts and procedures.

I agree with everything you said. However, the point being made by me and other is you can't control the quality of parts or maintenance of others on the track. That is the risk inherent in being on a track with others.

 

I think you missed the point, he could not track prep the cobalt that hit him, nor teach the guy to get off the track when your brake pedal goes squishy. Two things completely out of his control

 

No matter how well you prepare your car and your self events are going to happen just like in any sport so you need to be aware of the results. There are still insurance company's out there who will cover you for DE events ( NON TIMED) so look for them. Once you have an event at the track and turn in a claim your insurance company will make you sign a waiver that you will not do it again. Then look for another insurance company. Here is one big tip never ever have a cam recorder in your car at a DE the liaibility is too great ( for wheel to wheel racing ok ) for you and your instructor.

 

Can you expand on this Jim? I'm not a track vid guy (much to some's chagrine ) but I am curious about this statement.

 

I didn't miss the point..... I was simply stating that I CHOOSE not to purchase track insurance. I am not saying one way is better than the other. Actually buying track insurance probably is.... However for ME and MY circumstances I CHOOSE not to buy. Yes I know the risks and costs....

For those of you that visit this site often and get involved with the track threads (ie the brake thread) you should notice that I mention often you have to be just as, if not more, concerned about other's on the track. I know more than a few people who have wrecked. In most every case it was because of someone else that it happened.... Most are from ill preped cars dumping fluids on the track.

I do the best to mitigate my chances of an incident. From preppring the car, to how I defensively drive on the track when in and around traffic. For example unless I know who is around me I won't pass unless there is a decent straight in front of me.....I don't pass right before a corner hard where you are hard on the brakes (this is what happened to Bossdog). I don't follow extremely close I let them know that I am there in the appropriate places, back off a little and wait for the point by. If the person in front of me isn't paying attention for a couple laps I will do a cool down lap to put some distance between us and find them later to talk.... If someone is behind me it means they are faster than me.... I give them a point by only when I am comfortable and may have to take a few corners a little less than my max so I am not pushing it and since they are faster they are pushing even less. There are other techniques as well, but I think you get the point.

**** happens and you pay to play. OLOABoass says, "if you can't afford to leave it at the track, don't bring it." While I do agree with this I like to say" if you can't afford to leave it at the track, bring something cheaper."

I am very sorry for Bossdog's loss. That just plain sucks. However thank you for sharing your story. It is a stark reminder of the inherent risks, and what we need to do to prevent stuff like this from happening to the best of our abilities. From car prep to the way we drive on track.

 

yes but short. When an instructor gets in your car he takes on a great deal of risks. With a recorder if he says the wrong thing or does not react fast enough he can be responsible. The event insurance will walk away and now it is all on the instructor. This has happened the middle of last season. Ther are now courses for risks for instructors

 

I question the whole novice group being the safest though. I was on the track for the first time in my Subaru WRX (not the first time on track by any means), I had track pads and had just done a brake fluid flush with good track fluid. I was closing on a ferrari I had lapped earlier and my brake pedal went to the floor at the end of the back straight, Subaru's factory brakes apparently weren't good enough for my experience level. First thing I did was start pumping the brakes, and was getting ready to dart off the track to avoid rear ending the ferrari but was able to get braking back enough and take the corner wide to avoid hitting the ferrari and going off coarse. Needless to say, I called it quits for the day with two sessions still left in the day. My point is, a novice is unlikely to react appropriately to that situation when someone with more experience would not have entered dear in headlights mode. I will say that the novice groups are more careful, but careful isn't always safer. In the end it is probably a wash.

 

Based on the # of incidents per group i have observed Novice has the least amount of incidents with car damage. Now spins and 4 off is a different story. Novices are slow, tend to brake way early and not carry speed through turns. Also having an instructor in the car helps keep things under control.

Peter

 

I try to do the same things, in the end I get many clean laps so waiting to pass an evenly match car and driver is no big deal. If someone is just a little faster then me, I give the point-by and lift to let them have a clean run into the corner. It does help getting to know the people you are running with, sad to say I am getting to know many of the regulars out there (mostly with HOD).

As far as what group has more incidents, I have seen with my limited experience that the novice group has the most followed by the intermediate group with drivers that should not be in it. In fact most wrecks I see do not surprised the regulars folks when their car returns on the wrecker. So far I have not seen any two car incidents, so that is a plus.

I guess some of this also depends on the origination running. Chin's beginner group is equal to the advanced group with some of the other clubs. Also knowing when to quit like bolecailey said is also very important, some people don't get that.

I feel very lucky to start with such a capable car. Even with some of the minor problems the Boss has, like heating, I have finished every day until the final session while watching 50% or more of the cars go home.