Insurance

[caro]

My renewal at the end of May was £882 - Wreg Chimaera 450, fully comp,Warwickshire, self and spouse, no claims or convictions. Good luck.

[manek]

AdamB that's my thoughts exactly, and why I went for an A-One brokered NU policy.

[TVRFan]

I was with A-One and NU last 2 years, and even though I have 5 YNCB, 0 points, am 29 years old, limited to 7,000 miles for a 2 year old Chimp 4.0, kept in garage in a good area etc, they have increased their premium to £1500 from £1250!!!! When questioned, A-One said "Norwich Union want to get out of the TVR market so are increasing their premiums for that purpose". However, yes if you are going to do a lot of track days, then perhaps it makes sense. Having said all this, their premium is the same as what I have now paid to Independent Insurance and Cornhill for a total of 1 year's insurance! Guess I should have stayed put!!!!

[simon.love]

I asked Royal & Sun Alliance about track days and the women on the desk said they were a low risk company and therefore she was sure it wouldn't be covered. When I asked her to find me the policy wording that excluded it, she came back with the following line. For hiring,racing competitions,rallies or trials. He synopsis was based around the fact that I would be driving quickly. I didn't push her on that one, but think I will have another go. Can someone in the know, classify a track day as hiring - no, racing competitions - no, rallies - no, trials ? I'll have another go later today. Simon

[caro]

If you haven't already spoken to her again, wait and do a bit more research - I'm almost certain I've seen a discussion somewhere which shows that the wording quoted does not exclude track days. Sorry I can't remember where, but maybe someone else here can. Both timing and competitive racing-type driving are strictly forbidden on most track days, and it's not a rally either. Good luck.

[simon.love]

I have followed it up with them and asked them to contact the underwriters. I pointed out what a track day was and that it was non-competitive etc. They have come back to me and confirmed in writing that I will be covered during a track day. All in all, one good day. Simon PS. Their customer service staff just laughed and explained they were a low risk company and didn't think that their cover should include track days. Good job they don't make policy.

[simon.love]

Ooops .... forgot the smiles

[AdamB]

Simon, Who did you contact, can you publish the address you wrote to for RSA. Adam

[B19TOY]

I have a Royal & Sun Alliance policy through AON 01483 706055. This covers both my TVR Cerbera and BMW M5. Like many folks here I have attended track days for several years. Over the last 2 years it has been 20 a year. The policy was renewed two weeks ago and their attitude to accepting track days has not changed. As usual they just ask me to drop them a line with the date and venue. Karen Marsh @ AON is helpful.

[PetrolTed]

Have you spoken to the insurance company yet?

[simon.love]

I just used their email for customer services. Explained what I wanted to do. Highlighted that there would be no racing and explained what went on. I also asked them to put the question directly to the underwriters to confirm that my interpretation of the policy wording was correct. They came back and said yes, it would be covered. Simon

[Dan Myers]

I'm scouting around for a renewal on my Chimaera. Sunninghill renewal was up 20% this year (£960 with £250 xs).
Aon (01483 706055) only insure cars over £25k and their 'future classic' policy (£622) is restricted to 5k miles and no commuting.
AOne with Norwich Union was £1751 with trackday cover!! I guess those rumours about NU not wanting TVR insurance any more may be true.
So I'll be renewing with Sunninghill with a £500 excess - £820 approx. with track days and free RAC cover.

[Greenv8s]

quote: Also, airfield events are almost completely idiot-proof, yet there is no cheap cover available for the paranoid - seems an obvious money spinner to me.

You'd think so but idiots can be remarkably resourceful sometimes. Last airfield day I was on two people had an unfortunate 'coming together', neither of them were being particularly reckless at the time it was just an unfortunate coincidence combined with a misunderstanding. But that wasn't much consolation to these chaps each looking at a repair bill of several thousand squid or potential write-off.

Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

[MattC]

Well Pete, obviously these things do happen - otherwise the insurance premiums would be £15/year, wouldn't they ?

But the point is that I know of no other examples, yet I have seen an average of 1 semi-serious crunch per circuit day I have attended.

So clearly the odds, and thus the premiums, should be a lot better.

QED

[p11sud]

Guys just picked up on this thread, had the same problems with own insurance company for my elise, I am with AXA and after telling me I was not covered I pointed out the exclusions on the policy did not rule out track days. so, about turn by them yes I am covered - letter to prove it. point is by my reckoning most peoples road policies should automatically cover them for track days also - doesnt matter if its a private road/track/airfield. keep pushing guys. I have also posted this point over on the British sports cars Elise bbs.
you DONT NEED expensive track cover if you are already covered!!!
Regards.
p11sud aka Rob D

[Greenv8s]

quote:I have seen an average of 1 semi-serious crunch per circuit day I have attended.

Yes that does seem to be the 'going rate', sad isn't it? Fortunately most of the ones I've seen are single vehicle/loss-of-control type accidents which we as drivers can do a lot to avoid. More often than not you can see the driver has been asking for trouble for several laps before finally coming to grief.

I would be a lot more worried about track days if collisions between two vehicles were more common, fortunately they are extremely rare. Not much consolation if you're involved in one though, I guess.

Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

[MattC]

quote:
...More often than not you can see the driver has been asking for trouble for several laps before finally coming to grief.

Very true, although sometimes they don't manage several laps. Perhaps a better phrase would be:

quote:
...has been asking for trouble for several corners before finally coming to grief.

[Paul V]

Having done a few track days with the mini club, I think it comes down to the track itself, at Silverstone the drivers briefing was very in depth, however Castle Combe you just cue up then out on the track, also depends how many cars are out.

[M-Five]

I've been to most circuits around the UK and Silverstone seems was the worst by far for not following their rules.

We had club members on the track at the same time as 'fast circuit rides' by the instructors, yet one of their instructors was using the club members as moving chicanes.

No I have no doubt that the instructor could handle their Vectras superbly, but what would happen if he clipped one of the club members' cars?

Also I had another session which was open to almost any vehice - while I was quite fast I was forever getting slowed down through corners by beginners, slower drivers, slower cars, etc. But as warned in the briefing you wait patiently for the straight and make sure the person in front has seen you and move over. Then you plant your right foot and overtake quickly and cleanly. Yet there were plenty of other drivers who seem to have ignored the rules completely and overtook you on corners and as you were pulling out to overtake a slower driver on the straights. 4 abreast on the start/finish straight is a wonderful sight, but as the other two cars trying to overtake didn't have the speed I slowed down and indicated right for them to pass and sort it out between themselves.

Unfortunately the 944 took my left side and the Sierra Cosworth took the right. We all approach the corner, I back off and the Cossie starts drifting towards the 944 on the corner. The 944 was forced off and the Cossie carried on around again. I came in and complained to the marshall. He said he had taken note of a few registrations and would be having 'words' with them.

Next session the Cossie was back on, driving exactly the same. The last I heard he was buried in the armco somewhere.

I've been there twice on these 'anything goes' days and they are getting worse. I was going to go this year but chickened out of it and saved my money for a properly organised airfield day, where there were 3-6 people on the track instead of 30 and you have the space to 'goon around' in safety.

[Robert Bailey]

Dear B19TOY

I was interested to read your post regarding track day cover with R&SA through AON. I contacted AON at the number you suggested and they passed me over to another AON office. The bottom line to this was that they couldn't do the track day cover as it was only possible through specialist policies they do through motor clubs. They did however give me an incredibly cheap quote. I am tempted to take it and then try and persuade them to do the track day cover afterwards.

Is your policy a specialist policy and who do you deal with in your negotiations, is it R&SA or AON. Any help would be appreciated.

Bob

PS My cover has to be renewed by the 9th so a swift response would be appreciated.


I have a Royal & Sun Alliance policy through AON 01483 706055. This covers both my TVR Cerbera and BMW M5. Like many folks here I have attended track days for several years. Over the last 2 years it has been 20 a year. The policy was renewed two weeks ago and their attitude to accepting track days has not changed. As usual they just ask me to drop them a line with the date and venue.

Karen Marsh @ AON is helpful.

---

Edited by Robert Bailey on Friday 4th January 13:57