Driving someone elses car on track

[GaryST220]

A friend of mine has told me I can take his car up Santa Pod in 2 weeks time and round the Nurburgring in April, I've told him I won't because if I wrap his 20k car I can't pay him back. He's insistent its ok but I think I'll stay in the passenger seat.

What would you do?

[DanH]

I wouldn't drive a car I couldn't afford to fix unless I was insured and knew I could cover the excess.

[tertius]

^ What he said.

A friend let me drive his GT3 at Donington recently - without him in the passenger seat - which I thought was brave of him. Good fun though.

[mmm-five]

Buy track day insurance and go for it!

[GaryST220]

DanH said:

I wouldn't drive a car I couldn't afford to fix unless I was insured and knew I could cover the excess.

My thoughts exactly, I will drive it on the road when insured, but not round the Ring!

Edited by GaryST220 on Tuesday 20th January 20:41

[Lost my mojo]

I let people drive mine on track when not insured. But it's got to the stage where I wont go out with them in the car as I sit in the passenger seat stamping the foot rest!!!!

[Nurburgsingh]

bending your mates p&j on track??
I think its the fastest way to losae a mate after being caught up to your back wheels in his Mrs.

If you cant aford to mend it dont risk bending it.

I drove a mates 964RS home from the tunnel once..shat myself the whole way and I was only driving to Surrey!

[TPB1]

GaryST220 said:

A friend of mine has told me I can take his car up Santa Pod in 2 weeks time and round the Nurburgring in April, I've told him I won't because if I wrap his 20k car I can't pay him back. He's insistent its ok but I think I'll stay in the passenger seat.

What would you do?

Depends,

What kind of car is it?

[UpTheIron]

Insure it and make sure you can cover the excess, cost of a hire car and lots and lots of beer...just in case.

If you can't afford to bend it then don't drive it.

[Kozy]

I would only be comfortable with someone driving my car if they had previous experience in that particular car. I bought my current car off my best mate and so would be happy for him to drive it on track, but currently he is in the same position as the OP and cannot afford to pay for it if it all goes a bit Pete Tong. (Albeit on a £2k car, not £20k)

Likewise, I would not want to drive anybody elses car that I didn't have previous experience of.

Edited by Kozy on Friday 23 January 14:33

[changingman]

I let my mate drive my TVR Chimaera 450 at Brands yesterday in the rain on a you bend it you mend it basis. Second lap end of the straight changed into 3rd too early, locked back wheels, hit the armco, results below. He now has a bill for close on 2 grand, I dont have a car for a month or so. Never again. Think on!!!

[jleroux]

changingman said:

I let my mate drive my TVR Chimaera 450 at Brands yesterday in the rain on a you bend it you mend it basis. Second lap end of the straight changed into 3rd too early, locked back wheels, hit the armco, results below. He now has a bill for close on 2 grand, I dont have a car for a month or so. Never again. Think on!!!

Sorry to see that and hope it gets sorted. I know an extreme example where friends of 30+ years are no longer speaking over a £500 incident at a track day!

Jonny
BaT

[changingman]

jleroux said:

changingman said:

I let my mate drive my TVR Chimaera 450 at Brands yesterday in the rain on a you bend it you mend it basis. Second lap end of the straight changed into 3rd too early, locked back wheels, hit the armco, results below. He now has a bill for close on 2 grand, I dont have a car for a month or so. Never again. Think on!!!

Sorry to see that and hope it gets sorted. I know an extreme example where friends of 30+ years are no longer speaking over a £500 incident at a track day!

Jonny
BaT

We're still speaking, after all he didnt do it on purpose!!!

[jon-]

Yeah, fairly clear cut. If you can't afford to replace the car, don't do it.

[papercup]

changingman said:

I let my mate drive my TVR Chimaera 450 at Brands yesterday in the rain on a you bend it you mend it basis. Second lap end of the straight changed into 3rd too early, locked back wheels, hit the armco, results below. He now has a bill for close on 2 grand, I dont have a car for a month or so. Never again. Think on!!!

I don't know my TVRs very well, but that looks more than £2000 to me? It would be with my car...

[kusee pee]

I play Big Boys Rules with a couple of mates and we regularly swap track cars. However, we all have relatively cheap metal. If it was something worth big bucks then it would take a lot for me to take the risk, particularly at the Ring where you don't have a 'small' crash.