Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Autocross and Open Track Anyone running track events?

MCJT, will you be doing the Quattro club event at Road America next fall, I plan on being there.

One question, do most insurance comanies cover accidents at quattro club events since it is a driving school and not a "competitive event".

Great! I'll be there. It would be nice to see even more people there.

I know that mine, Farmers, does. The best way to find out is to read your policy. If you don't see it in there call your agent.

Brentos,

Since the QC events are 'driver safety courses' and NOT racing schools most insurance co.s will cover any accident. I have seen 4-5 serious accidents and all have been covered. See ya at RA, it is a blast!!

For those in the Northeast, check out http://www.emraracing.org/ for info on their time trials program -- tracks inclue Pocono, Lime Rock, Nazareth & the Glen. Also check your nearest track for other track or club days besides QC. Nelson Ledges has, for example, a "Track Dayz" program that's reasonable & local Porche, 'Vette, BMWCCA, etc., chapters often will have a not-too-well advertised event here & there. Alternate names, Solo1, lapping day, track trials.
It's what got me started almost forty years agon, with 26 years USAf and two marriages intervening until about 4 years back. Ah, one of the joys of being single, can go racing again!
Be certain to check safety requirements! If you ain't got it, you don't run!! (SA helmets, in some cases roll bar, harness or not, driver suit or long sleeve? -- all vary from one to the next.

Go fast, Have Fun, Be Safe!

I've run the past 3 years with the local BMW club at Mosport - quite a bit of fun and very instructive. The BMW club runs these events as a "performance driving school", not a racing school, so your insurance is valid and you get a tax deduction (at least in Canada) because it counts as an educational expense! The flip side is that you must attend the classroom and skidpad sessions - I way 'flip side' because I've found the quality of the classroom sessions to be a bit spotty. Same complaint from several people I've met who have run at MidOhio and the Glen with the BMW and Porsche clubs. The skid pad sessions are useful for pushing your car to the limit in a benign environment, but there isn't typically enough opportunity to do the same 'course' often enough to extract the maximum learning. At any rate, there are cheaper ways to get more open track time (in particular open lapping sessions), but I'm not aware of any that allow you to rely on your insurance, that provide one on one in-car instruction, and a fully marshalled course - personally I wouldn't give up any of these for any amount of cost savings.
Eric

On the 2nd and 3rd of November, there is a performance driving school at Carolina Motorsport Park in Kershaw SC if you want to attend. I'm going to be there.
Check www.scr-scca.com for info over the summer.

Not the southeast, but did just run a two-day track event southwest of Fort Worth, Texas at Motorsport Ranch (1.7 mile tight road course). Was put on by Drivers Edge. Eight sessions over two days with an excellent instructor who teaches at the Ranch and also runs FWD. I'm not that quick and my SVT Contour was overmatched in many cases (got sick of seeing Porsches and BMWs in my rear view mirror). Did pass a Corvette and new Acura TL S however! Took Skip Barber last year and have had to adjust to the fact that a FWD sedan is not an open-wheeled formula car. Few mods to the car, a Schroth harness (it's great), Mobil 1 and K&N oil and air filter. The blown engine stories do scare me so I'm thinking about a dual mass damper. No brake mods yet, heel and toeing was tough because the brake pedal sank so far below the level of the gas pedal. Metal brake lines may help. There was one other CSVT there, he had a good time and almost chased down a smaller Bimmer. Track days are great fun, after all these years it's nice to be doing and not just watching. I'd recommend it to anyone.

I'll be running at Gingerman at the end of May.
I ran Waterford last year, boy did I have a ball.