Insurance yes or No
Discussion
I always note that the desire to take out insurance is directly proportional to the value of the car you're planning on taking. Only you can say whether the cost balanced against huge excess on these policies is worth the piece of mind on the off chance you do some really major damage.
BUT, I've never been to a trackday where someone didn't have an off. Most were minor but the odd one has made me wince at the thought of the repair bill.
BUT, I've never been to a trackday where someone didn't have an off. Most were minor but the odd one has made me wince at the thought of the repair bill.
As someone else has said, i'm not sure if I would enjoy teh day so much without insurance. Touch wood, aside from a written off MG I saw at Donnington, most incidents I have seen have been minor and more dented pride. Not only that, they have been few and far between. However, the whole idea of a TD to me is to go at 99% of my ability (I bottle the 1% 
) and I wouldn't be happy to do that without insurance. I couldn't afford to replace my car immediately if I smashed it up uninsured and that alone is enough for me to insure it.
Having said all that, I did 2 days uninsured last year as my insurers didnt cover the providers. I probably didnt push quite as hard though...
I get my TD insurance through my road cover so its not a big expense additional to the cost of the TD itself each time. Several insurers offer that and were competitively priced as well.
) and I wouldn't be happy to do that without insurance. I couldn't afford to replace my car immediately if I smashed it up uninsured and that alone is enough for me to insure it. Having said all that, I did 2 days uninsured last year as my insurers didnt cover the providers. I probably didnt push quite as hard though...
I get my TD insurance through my road cover so its not a big expense additional to the cost of the TD itself each time. Several insurers offer that and were competitively priced as well.
nobbles
Elvington is an airfield based circuit and as such I would doubt whether there is armco and gravel to worry about. Equally there's probably lots of nice grassy run off. If so then I would reiterate my view that insurance would be a bit of a waste, even if you want to run a 100% of your ability. However, if it gives you peace of mind then perhaps you should go for it. Just to muddy the waters even further, when I do take out trackday insurance, the fact that I am covered doen't make me go any faster. My philosophy is always the same, push the car and myself to my limits and try to keep it on the blackstuff and shiny side up at all times.
Just remember that even though you want to go balls out and therefore like the comfort of insurance cover, there are others on track who may not have insurance cover and who would be somewhat miffed if your 99% effort resulted in a spin etc.. and an impact with them that is your fault. Always drive within your limitations, and a track is a good place to find out what they are, and consider that there are others on track who also want to take their pride and joy home with them in 1 piece.
FWIW I'm taking my GT3 to Brands Hatch on Saturday and yes I have just taken out insurance, armco, gravel etc... If it were Bedford Autodrome then I just wouldn't bother. Hope you enjoy Elvington and let us know whether you felt the insurance was worthwhile after the event.
>> Edited by paulburrell on Monday 13th February 21:15
Elvington is an airfield based circuit and as such I would doubt whether there is armco and gravel to worry about. Equally there's probably lots of nice grassy run off. If so then I would reiterate my view that insurance would be a bit of a waste, even if you want to run a 100% of your ability. However, if it gives you peace of mind then perhaps you should go for it. Just to muddy the waters even further, when I do take out trackday insurance, the fact that I am covered doen't make me go any faster. My philosophy is always the same, push the car and myself to my limits and try to keep it on the blackstuff and shiny side up at all times.
Just remember that even though you want to go balls out and therefore like the comfort of insurance cover, there are others on track who may not have insurance cover and who would be somewhat miffed if your 99% effort resulted in a spin etc.. and an impact with them that is your fault. Always drive within your limitations, and a track is a good place to find out what they are, and consider that there are others on track who also want to take their pride and joy home with them in 1 piece.
FWIW I'm taking my GT3 to Brands Hatch on Saturday and yes I have just taken out insurance, armco, gravel etc... If it were Bedford Autodrome then I just wouldn't bother. Hope you enjoy Elvington and let us know whether you felt the insurance was worthwhile after the event.
>> Edited by paulburrell on Monday 13th February 21:15
ah, apologies. Didn't read it carefully - the author said trackday wheres it would appear its an airfield day. I distinguish the 2 differently for insurance purposes 
One of the uninsured days I did was on an airfield last year and I would agree with PaulBurrell, save the money on an airfield day and put it towards the new tyres
One of the uninsured days I did was on an airfield last year and I would agree with PaulBurrell, save the money on an airfield day and put it towards the new tyres Just to add that I don't regard Elvington as a safe option.
Two weekends ago on a trackday there a 200sx slide slightly onto the grass, which was very wet, the front wheel bogged down and it flipped diagonally, a complete write off.
I was at Outlon Park last Saturday and a 205 gti ended up somersaulting a few times there as well.
With the large insurance excess applied I have gone the route of a 2nd cheaper car for trackdays. The cost of a decent car is often less than the excess, so save all the insurance premiums, and if the worst happens get another 205 gti, e30 BW, Mr2 etc and transfer your brakes, suspension, engine etc over.
Michael R said:
I might add that I recently insured my S2 Elise with Competition car Insurance, not only did they beat my previous insurer but the cover includes 4 free UK track days. Dilemma over!!
ditto. Although when I have to renew in a few months I have been informed that the cover is now a choice - either the usual 4 TDs or windscreen cover - but not both. A good alternative has been suggested on Seloc (someone may recall who it was?) that I shall be getting a quote from as although the TD cover far outweighs at least the cost of 1 replacement screen I don't ike the thought of being landed with a large bill for a replacement screen....
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