Autocrossing and insurance

[truegearhead]

I made a big mistake. I called my insurance company (didnt give them my name) and asked if they covered autocross accidents. Stupid I know. Apparently they linked my cell number to my account and now it looks like I'm being dropped! I have Gieco by the way and have a perfect driving record but the underwriter I'm working with says that they are unable to write a policy even if my coverage does not cover the events. This after filling out a form that says I have not modified my car, agree to no coverage durin events etc. yikes, it's a mess.

[steved0x]

Ouch, that sounds lame of Geico. I had them for 15 years when I was in NC, but when I moved to FL they just weren't competitive, Progressive blew them away in FL. Maybe they just don't want to do business down here.

I sometimes buy the HPDE insurance through Lockton, but oddly I think autocross insurance (if they even have it) might be harder to get because it is a timed competitive event. I never even looked into it because I feel safer at an autocross with the lower speeds.

Good luck!

Steve

[Dlirium]

There has never, in the history of autocrossing, been an accident.

Seriously, the safety records for those events are usually WAY safer than the drive to/from the event. They are set up to AVOID any incidents.

What made you concerned about it?

[m332is]

Seriously -never??? I assume you are being sarcastic, but cars have flipped/rolled and hit light poles, etc. You under estimate the stupidity of the human race... if there is a will, there is someone stupid enough to lower the bar.

Originally Posted by Dlirium

There has never, in the history of autocrossing, been an accident.

Seriously, the safety records for those events are usually WAY safer than the drive to/from the event. They are set up to AVOID any incidents.

What made you concerned about it?

[Topless]

Every ins co is different. Mercury in Calif will fully insure for DEs and performance driving schools but timed events like AX and Time Trial are considered speed contests and you are on your own. Seems fair and reasonable to me.

Always follow the first rule in performance driving : "Just don't hit stuff."

Sadly I know a half dozen drivers who failed to heed this rule in AX.

[The Radium King]

"drive as fast as you can afford."

[Dlirium]

Originally Posted by m332is

Seriously -never??? I assume you are being sarcastic, but cars have flipped/rolled and hit light poles, etc. You under estimate the stupidity of the human race... if there is a will, there is someone stupid enough to lower the bar.

Yes, mostly - but in the entire history of the PCA Loma Prieta region AX events, there has never been even a bump. In general, this should be one of the safest things you do and would normally not be a cause for concern.

But, as you point out, if you are racing next to light poles and walls, then perhaps checking insurance s a good idea :-)

[steved0x]

Sometimes stuff happens at an autocross, and based on a quick youtue search, it seems to be mostly corvettes...





Ouch to both of these and I hope everybody was ok, especially in that first one...

[thstone]

Originally Posted by The Radium King

"drive as fast as you can afford."

Haha! I love that saying!

[truegearhead]

Originally Posted by Dlirium

There has never, in the history of autocrossing, been an accident.

Seriously, the safety records for those events are usually WAY safer than the drive to/from the event. They are set up to AVOID any incidents.

What made you concerned about it?

My club is very safe, but I was trying out a PCA event which is on a speedway. I've only been to one other Autocross there (non-PCA event) and someone totaled their brand new 330. **************** Happens.

Here's a lap on the course, lots of walls, tons of fun though!
Boxster 2.5L Autocross at SouthSide Speedway- Ebay exhaust - YouTube

[LAP1DOUG]

Don't think for a minute that it cannot happen to you at an auto-x. In the last couple of years at PCA events I have watched one car crash into a curb, and one car crash into a brick building (that one was pretty bad), 2 crashes at BMWCCA events, and 4 crashes at SCCA events.

The good news its that auto-x crashes are relatively low speed, and in all the cases I have seen, everyone walks away and crash damage is probably a few thousand dollars at most.

The same is also true of all the DE crashes that I have seen, but there the potential for serious damage is certainly higher.

[stephen wilson]

I agree. I've decided against doing DE/PDX in a car without a cage after the fatality at Summit Point. I know it's unlikely, but driving anywhere near the limit can have serious consequences.

[Bigsmoothlee]

Wow, I didnt think anyone was naive enough to think that doing the right thing would be rewarded. Insurance companies are not your friends... they are evil, twisted entities that will find any excuse to deny a claim and leave you with an enormous bill if it means turning over a bigger profit for the quarter.... Bad move, very bad move. To start with, they lobbied with senate and the house of representatives to force citizens to purchase a service, which is totally unconstitutional... but thats another story and it is what it is, and I'd prefer to have it.

I have personally picked up a Lotus Elise from a parking lot island with a few guys and put it down on the pavement... believe me, accidents do happen.

Try State Farm, they gave me a much better rate than Geico