Crash Costs on Track Day

[bentvalve]

Morning all,

Just looking at booking my first track day at Brands Hatch, and wondered what costs were involved if you were to ditch it into the tyres on a track day.

I know at places like the Nürburgring, there are charges if you hit the barriers, tows, etc etc. Do these apply on MSRV days?

I know the simple answer is "get insurance", but looking at another thread, with excesses of 10k, why bother if hitting the tyrewall costs less in a banger?

Thanks in advance!

[E-bmw]

Well, obviously the maximum is the cost of a replacement car.

If you aren't bothered about the car then that is it really.

[Far Cough]

Its all a bit subjective really. You "could" wipe yourself out totally or just get away with a couple of scratches or no damage whatsoever. All depends. If you drive like a bell end then I suggest the former and if you drive cautiously, considerately and pay attention then the later. The obvious caveat is , that you may get collected by someone else but thats pretty rare.

All the trackdays I`ve done in the UK dont charge extra for barrier repairs should you rearrange them or any recovery back the pits if you have a mechanical.

[bentvalve]

Thanks for the quick responses.

Being a complete novice, I'm not going to be thrashing it. But good to know they're not going to bend me over if I bury myself in the gravel. There's humiliation, then there's humiliation!

Just need to avoid to temptation of aiming for other drivers...

[WombleCate]

It's my belief that responsibility for '3rd party damage' and 'track repairs' are different on some international tracks.

As far as I'm aware there aren't any UK Tracks that charge for repairs.

Just stay within your own limits, build-up speed and go out for 15 minute sessions.

You will get a couple of sighting laps at Brands to learn the line (there are only five corners) so you can get over the surprise of turning into Paddock Hill Bend.

After that I'd slowly build your speed and nudge your brake zones lap-by-lap, and, enjoy.

[paddy1970]

Brands Hatch is compact but punishing off-line.

It is best for beginners to use one of those:

Blyton Park (Lincolnshire)

Bedford Autodrome (Bedfordshire)

Anglesey Coastal Circuit (Wales)

Croft Circuit (North Yorkshire)

Three Sisters Circuit (Wigan)

Llandow Circuit (South Wales)

Abingdon Airfield (Oxfordshire)

Hullavington Circuit (Wiltshire)

May have missed a few...

[JagYouAre]

I did my first (own car) track day at Thruxton last year. I am quite risk averse and did consider insurance but in the end I didn't bother due to the expense, I just followed the advice of my mate who I went with and who had a lot more experience than me.

Obviously attend any briefing and do the sighting laps so that you can familiarise yourself with the track without pushing hard.

Don't be the first out on the track. Let the real speed freaks have the first 20 minutes and get it all out of their system. Go and have a coffee and head onto the track after that, by which point the ones that were chomping at the bit to get out there will hopefully be finishing up their first session.

Build up slowly (not really slowly, like a rolling road block) but get used to driving the track and the lines, and driving with an eye on your mirrors. Make sure you know what's going on behind you so you can get out the way properly of people going faster (and make sure you know whether passing is left, right or either).

Take regular breaks, I did about 20 minute stints before having a bit of a breather.

Don't be the last one on the track. End the day on a high and don't be tempted into 'one more lap' once you've decided to call it a day. I think most accidents happen towards the end of the day when people are getting over confident, but cars have gone the other way and things like brakes and tyres maybe need a break.

Basically be aware of what's going on around you, your limits and the limits of your car and you shouldn't come a cropper.

Oh and in answer to your question, probably best to try not to find out!

[PistonTim]

E-bmw said:

Well, obviously the maximum is the cost of a replacement car.

If you aren't bothered about the car then that is it really.

Well, obviously you neither read nor understood the question.

OP is asking about extra costs such as TDO recovery, track closure fees as a result, repairs to barriers etc.

[WombleCate]

Just remembered, I seem to recall MSV saying they will charge for dropped fluids on Test Days, but, haven't heard that on Track Days.

[CKY]

PistonTim said:

E-bmw said:

Well, obviously the maximum is the cost of a replacement car.

If you aren't bothered about the car then that is it really.

Well, obviously you neither read nor understood the question.

OP is asking about extra costs such as TDO recovery, track closure fees as a result, repairs to barriers etc.

From the OP: "Just looking at booking my first track day at Brands Hatch, and wondered what costs were involved if you were to ditch it into the tyres on a track day."

So, if you were to ditch it in to the tyres, Tim, who pray tell would be footing the bill for your bent motor car...?

[bentvalve]

CKY said:

PistonTim said:

E-bmw said:

Well, obviously the maximum is the cost of a replacement car.

If you aren't bothered about the car then that is it really.

Well, obviously you neither read nor understood the question.

OP is asking about extra costs such as TDO recovery, track closure fees as a result, repairs to barriers etc.

From the OP: "Just looking at booking my first track day at Brands Hatch, and wondered what costs were involved if you were to ditch it into the tyres on a track day."

So, if you were to ditch it in to the tyres, Tim, who pray tell would be footing the bill for your bent motor car...?

It's fine, I'll just use the Missus's car...

[E-bmw]

PistonTim said:

E-bmw said:

Well, obviously the maximum is the cost of a replacement car.

If you aren't bothered about the car then that is it really.

Well, obviously you neither read nor understood the question.

OP is asking about extra costs such as TDO recovery, track closure fees as a result, repairs to barriers etc.

Totally wrong!

I completely read & 100% understood the question.

As there are no "circuit/organiser" costs to binning it I didn't mention them.

Hence the sentence "obviously the maximum is the cost of a replacement car".

Try again!

[John D.]

CKY said:

PistonTim said:

E-bmw said:

Well, obviously the maximum is the cost of a replacement car.

If you aren't bothered about the car then that is it really.

Well, obviously you neither read nor understood the question.

OP is asking about extra costs such as TDO recovery, track closure fees as a result, repairs to barriers etc.

From the OP: "Just looking at booking my first track day at Brands Hatch, and wondered what costs were involved if you were to ditch it into the tyres on a track day."

So, if you were to ditch it in to the tyres, Tim, who pray tell would be footing the bill for your bent motor car...?

Think you need to read (and maybe quote!) the rest of the OP. He's clearly asking about damaging barriers and the track expecting it to be paid for.

[BertBert]

WombleCate said:

Just remembered, I seem to recall MSV saying they will charge for dropped fluids on Test Days, but, haven't heard that on Track Days.

I think your memory is incorrect!

[BertBert]

BertBert said:

WombleCate said:

Just remembered, I seem to recall MSV saying they will charge for dropped fluids on Test Days, but, haven't heard that on Track Days.

I think your memory is incorrect!

This is what Silverstone say for both test and track days as far as I can see...

"I accept full liability for any damage to property of any individual or organisation caused by me, or any person attending as my guest, arising out of or in connection with our attending the Silverstone venue for the purposes of taking part in the activity."

That looks like they can charge you if you break any part of the circuit, whether they do or not or under what circs is a different matter

[Terminator X]

I've never bothered with track insurance; just stay well away from the complete bellends or pick a day that is reasonably expensive as then Barry in his chaved up Corsa won't be there

TX.

[Petrus1983]

Terminator X said:

I've never bothered with track insurance; just stay well away from the complete bellends or pick a day that is reasonably expensive as then Barry in his chaved up Corsa won't be there

TX.

This is quite an interesting post and I fully agree.

If the OP does do a track day and enjoys it I'd highly recommend doing an ARDS course and then sticking to ARDS only track days. It's not overly expensive and I'm sure you'll learn something from it too. It doesn't mean that things don't happen - but the level of respect is highly different.

[E-bmw]

Terminator X said:

I've never bothered with track insurance; just stay well away from the complete bellends or pick a day that is reasonably expensive as then Barry in his chaved up Corsa won't be there

TX.

Not saying you can't see & stay away from bell ends but track day price alone will not keep you away from them.

Several years ago was at Cadwell on an expensive day when a "full fat" brand new race prepped GTR complete with full pit crew did an excellent impression of an Exocet missile at the pit entrance corner on the VERY first lap completely blocking the pit entrance & partially blocking the circuit.

We had to leave the track at the hairpin, and go through the car park to get to the paddock and the circuit was closed for quite some time.

[bentvalve]

Petrus1983 said:

Terminator X said:

I've never bothered with track insurance; just stay well away from the complete bellends or pick a day that is reasonably expensive as then Barry in his chaved up Corsa won't be there

TX.

This is quite an interesting post and I fully agree.

If the OP does do a track day and enjoys it I'd highly recommend doing an ARDS course and then sticking to ARDS only track days. It's not overly expensive and I'm sure you'll learn something from it too. It doesn't mean that things don't happen - but the level of respect is highly different.

Great shout. Had never heard of ARDS. Will have a bit of a read up.

Cheers!

[number2]

bentvalve said:

Petrus1983 said:

Terminator X said:

I've never bothered with track insurance; just stay well away from the complete bellends or pick a day that is reasonably expensive as then Barry in his chaved up Corsa won't be there

TX.

This is quite an interesting post and I fully agree.

If the OP does do a track day and enjoys it I'd highly recommend doing an ARDS course and then sticking to ARDS only track days. It's not overly expensive and I'm sure you'll learn something from it too. It doesn't mean that things don't happen - but the level of respect is highly different.

Great shout. Had never heard of ARDS. Will have a bit of a read up.

Cheers!

The ARDS test is to get a racing license. It means you can participate in 'test days', rather than only track days. There are no ARDS only track days - they would be 'test days'.

Test days are mostly used by race teams/drivers for testing cars for racing. On 'test days' it is assumed you know what you are doing, so there are no overtaking rules for example - you will have faster cars overtaking you in braking zones for example.

Test days also tend to be more expensive than track days and are often sessioned rather than open pitlane. This contributes to there being race teams/cars often psuedo testing on track days.

Just go on a track day, be mindful of the rules in place to protect you and others, and be respectful to those around you.

If you want to race, pass the ARDS test and race. I wouldn't recommend you take the ARDS test in order to attend test days, as you will be out of your depth with no additional experience.