Insurance question

[clawhammer]

I have a question about insurance when racing. Suppose you have full coverage from your insurance company, and you crash and cause damage to your car while racing. Will they cover the damage or not? If you want to have a race-only car, and they don't cover you in case of an accident, is there any point of actually buying insurance and registering the car if you're going to be towing it everytime?

[Jabberwocky]

No and no to both questions.

[Polygon]

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

No and no to both questions.

Pretty much.

Insurance companies will try to find loopholes to refuse reimbursing you in an accident. Racing just happens to be on the top of that list. If you have a race only car I know that there are companies out there that insure race cars. However, don't expect it to be cheap.

[kfoote]

I'd strongly reccommend a track only car if you're going to be doing car to car racing. My Miata is neither street registered or insured, as it's always trailered to the track.

I believe the standard deductible on racing insurance cars is about $5000, and with the insurance premiums, unless the value of the car is $75k+, it's not worth it.

[Automatic 51]

yeah, i think the wording of it is "any timed event". all racing events fall under that distinction. If it's a driving school like skip barber or Evolution then it's not timed and they'll likely pay after much argument. but for autoX, unless something catastrophic happens i wouldn't worry about it. just make sure if you take pics, either take your plate off or blur the plate number before you post them on the net.

[clawhammer]

I actually heard of Mitsubishi voiding warranties after looking at pictures posted on the net, and then they would refuse to pay for repairs. I probably won't get insurance or register the car. Do you need to pay sales tax though, to get a title?

[ac427cpe]

there are a lot of companies that will void a warranty if the car is raced. this is why SCCA is now requiring that the racer's name is their ACTUAL name.

what car are you getting? and is it from a dealership or a previous owner?

[clawhammer]

I don't know what I'd like to get. I would like something that's newer than 93, RWD or AWD (no DSM, just doesn't last), would like something with no more than 100-120k miles, and I would like to buy the initial car for roughly $5000. I don't have all of it yet, but should within the next few months? Any suggestions?

[kfoote]

Originally Posted by ac427cpe

there are a lot of companies that will void a warranty if the car is raced. this is why SCCA is now requiring that the racer's name is their ACTUAL name.

SCCA has required real names as long ago as I can remember (back into the late 70's). This has to do primarily with SCCA's insurance coverage, not with anything having to do with automobile manufactrers.

BTW, my suggestion: Miata. They're inexpensive, reliable, and easy to work on.

[clawhammer]

^How easy is it to get a miata to run low 12s? Approximately how many hp? How much boost can they handle on stock internals?

[Automatic 51]

i'd say either miata or mr2. here in arizona if you buy from a private party, you don't pay any sales tax. you will if you buy form dealer, and unless you pay cash of put in on a credit card, you'll have to carry insurance on it. all finance companies require it.

and yeah, mitsu is actively searching for warranties to void. but the way i look at it is that you've got to pay to play, know what i mean? If i mis-shift and blow up my motor, i wouldn't expect that to be covered under warrany. but if i race my car, and then A/C goes out, that should be covered.

[kfoote]

Originally Posted by clawhammer

^How easy is it to get a miata to run low 12s? Approximately how many hp? How much boost can they handle on stock internals?

It depends on what your budget is and what you want to do with the car. Straight line performance is not their thing. To be fast in any class that would allow a Miata to run low 12's, you'd be looking at putting in probably $10-$15k in total (engine mods plus other assorted suspension/chassis/drivetrain parts) to make it competitive in the class it would be in.

That having been said, there are several auto-x and road race classes that the Miata is competitive in without engine mods. A good used Spec Miata race car will be in the $12-$15k range ready to go. If you have little to no track experience, this is the much better way to go.

If you're looking for a drag only car, then a Camaro/Firebird or Mustang is a much better value and can be made to go faster in a straight line for less.