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Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist
Unless it's MAJOR damage, I would pay out of pocket. No sense in alarming your insurance company for little 500-2000 dollar damages, especially w/ my record.
I guess I just need to speak to an official in person. I read all these things on sites and it's overwhelming. Can I just go to a track official or does each organization dictate the rules?
I would remove my air bags but put them back in when needed. The car is a lease anyways. I can't do anything that isn't reversible, but I helped my friend remove his air bags off of his salvage title miata and put in new ones.
I guess the problem is I just hate spending $$ on myself. I always feel guilty.
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$500-2000.. ok.. well. Lets see. Thats about what a couple of Rims and tires would cost.
While the track is immensely safe on the pavement, it doesn't take much to do damage to a car when you hit an Armco (guardrail), wall or dirt embankment. Should you go off front first and impact, well, expect to replace radiators, lines, headlights, fenders? Go off backwards and there goes the rear bumper cap, mufflers, maybe a jolt into the transmission and motor. Go fast enough and you will bend the "tub" or "frame" in simple terms. There are very few cheap "offs" when visiting tracks in the Northeast.
Why would you remove safety items like airbags? - they may be the very things that would save you.
Also. Most tracks work on a CASH basis. ON the spot. Yes, most PCA regions may cover some expense should you do damage to a track, but I believe Watkins Glen still requires you to pay, on the spot, for Armco replacement. Its not cheap. A couple hundred dollars per strip (3-4 strips per section, assuming you don't damage a post) Depending on the bonehead move, you could be out $2k right there. Track officials also keep a record of who does damage to their property. What event/club and WHO (ie you, me, john doe) who did the damage.
Now, with all that "gloom" said, I have been doing DE events with PCA and others since 1990 and have NEVER hit a wall. Spun 2-3 times. Left the pavement only twice (once planed, once a suprise). It is possible to do this without hurting your car, your body or your ego.