PSA: Always buy track insurance - OnTrack Insurance RECOMMENDED

[NYG]

I know some of you buy track insurance, some of you don't but a lot of people don't have experience with filing a claim with track insurance. Now that I have filed a claim, I want to let you guys know why it's important and what my experience has been like with OnTrack Insurance.

Last month, my '19 Z06 ended up in the barriers after turn 10 at Watkins Glen International. My apex speed there averages around 95 and my exit speed is around 102. I don't know what speed I ended up in the barrier but it was fast and I was near the end of the curbing so there wasn't much gravel to scrub speed. I don't remember much from the incident itself but the car, airbags and my helmet protected me from what could have been fatal. Minor concussion and armrest left my hip bruised.

I filed a claim for the first time with track insurance, they assigned an adjuster and the vehicle was deemed a total loss. Mechanic says severe frame damage, supercharger pulley cracked into pieces, suspension destroyed, and a bunch of other stuff I'm not that privy to.

The process is a bit slower than what normal auto insurance is like (~4 weeks from claim to receiving the check) but there are more parties/underwriters involved than the usual process. But something very important that you guys need to make sure every time you get an HPDE or a track policy. KNOW WHETHER YOUR POLICY IS FOR TOTAL AGREED VALUE OR NOT

I looked around a bit after and noticed a lot of HPDE policies are ACTUAL CASH VALUE policies. OnTrack Insurance policies are total agreed value. If you insure your car for X amount of dollars then you will get X - deductible in the event of a total loss.

Either way, I don't know anyone that works for OnTrack and I'm not just starting an ad campaign here. I just want to give you guys a heads up because it sucks to lose your car but if it ever happens, always make sure you have good/functional safety equipment in your non-race car and make sure you have track insurance. I've been buying policies from OnTrack FOR A WHILE and every time I do it, I always say "arghh, this is so expensive."

IT'S WORTH IT

[KennySRFElite]

NYG

Glad your ok, I am running Road America on Thursday and I did buy track insurance for the day, Lockton. Good advise on the agreed value. If both parties agree than that is the number to start the payout.

KP

[NYG]

Originally Posted by cautjit

NYG

Glad your ok, I am running Road America on Thursday and I did buy track insurance for the day, Lockton. Good advise on the agreed value. If both parties agree than that is the number to start the payout.

KP

Thank you bud.

I'm extremely jealous - that's one of my top 3 favorite tracks. Get some good videos.

[SYT_Shadow]

Glad you got our of your accident in one piece, that is the most important part.

I also use ontrackinsurance. I like their no-nonsense approach to payouts regarding agreed value and have met the owner, a big track day enthusiast!

[USSEnterprise]

Cars will come and go, glad you are in one piece and still have passion for this hobby.

Is this what prompted the R8 purchase?

[m4forum]

Glad to hear no injuries. Do you know if they offer buyback. This can be also a good option if engine and tranny has still good value.

[sly1types]

Thats sucks, but glad you are ok. I always get it also, i usually try to use Lockton as they are local and i know the owners, great guys, but they can't insure in KS so then i use Ontrack insurance for KS. Glad to know Ontrack Ins will actually pay out, i found them a few years back i think through PCA.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Glad you got our of your accident in one piece, that is the most important part.

I also use ontrackinsurance. I like their no-nonsense approach to payouts regarding agreed value and have met the owner, a big track day enthusiast!

Thank you brotha.

Originally Posted by xxaarraa

Cars will come and go, glad you are in one piece and still have passion for this hobby.

Is this what prompted the R8 purchase?

Yeah, not the best timing for all this to go down but luckily it was one of the few cars that I wanted which didn't come with psychotic markups and zero inventory.

Originally Posted by m4forum

Glad to hear no injuries. Do you know if they offer buyback. This can be also a good option if engine and tranny has still good value.

They do, but my shop specializes in corvettes and they told me to stay away from it.

Originally Posted by sly1types

Thats sucks, but glad you are ok. I always get it also, i usually try to use Lockton as they are local and i know the owners, great guys, but they can't insure in KS so then i use Ontrack insurance for KS. Glad to know Ontrack Ins will actually pay out, i found them a few years back i think through PCA.

I think Lockton is another total agreed value insurer that gets praise often. I may have used them one time.

[MaX PL]

I used to use ontrackinsurance and switched to using RLI as they're the underwriter for ontrackinsurance and a bit cheaper.

OP, do you brake at turn 10 or just lift?

[NYG]

Originally Posted by MaX PL

I used to use ontrackinsurance and switched to using RLI as they're the underwriter for ontrackinsurance and a bit cheaper.

OP, do you brake at turn 10 or just lift?

Soft brake before turn in to get out of triple digits.

With the M4CS, I'd brake a little bit harder because it had less grip.

Isn't Great American the underwriter?

[MaX PL]

Looks like they are. I switched a few years ago and that's what I was told at the time.

[Jbonly21]

Thanks for the info, glad you are ok! Have you decided what you are replacing the z06 with?

[D_SheerDrivingPleasure]

jeez. that's frightening. glad your ok.

several q's.

1. when you purchased the policy, how did you determine the agreed upon value?

2. did the incident result in any damage to the track? did the policy cover this?

3. aside from the deductible, did you need to come out of pocket for anything like towing, storage, etc?

4. did you seek medical attention for the concussion/injury?

5. is your wife allowing you back on the track? if so, 6 pt harness?


fwiw, my biggest fear is injuring another driver and/or damaging their car which would not be covered by an HPDE policy.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by Jbonly21

Thanks for the info, glad you are ok! Have you decided what you are replacing the z06 with?

Thank you! I got a '21 R8 to replace it.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by D_SheerDrivingPleasure

jeez. that's frightening. glad your ok.

several q's.

1. when you purchased the policy, how did you determine the agreed upon value?

2. did the incident result in any damage to the track? did the policy cover this?

3. aside from the deductible, did you need to come out of pocket for anything like towing, storage, etc?

4. did you seek medical attention for the concussion/injury?

5. is your wife allowing you back on the track? if so, 6 pt harness?


fwiw, my biggest fear is injuring another driver and/or damaging their car which would not be covered by an HPDE policy.

Thank you!

1. You choose the value but it should be reasonable because insurance companies will reject suspicious numbers. (Ex. if you decide to insure a Miata for 100k)
2. I was towed off track and I hit a barrier. I never got a bill from WGI but insurance may have dealt with it directly. The policy covers these damages. Storage fees may be different state to state but I did not get a bill for this.
3. OnTrack covers up to $500 in towing, so if it's more than that you'd have to cover the balance directly with the party who towed you
4. I did not go to the hospital but I think track EMTs drove me to the paddock and I probably looked OK.
5. Haha, I make those calls. The only thing I'm changing is the addition of a HANS device. The safety equipment will be dependent on the type of car I'm in - with a dual duty car with airbags and cabin space to move around in then no. The Z06 kept me safe and I have no qualms with the car. In a race car with bucket seats, no room to move around in with no airbags then I'd definitely have a cage/harness.

[CanAutM3]

That sucks . Glad you are OK !!

[NYG]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

That sucks . Glad you are OK !!

Thank you bro!

[F80Speed77]

Glad to hear you are ok man, got lucky with the big impact without an HnR! I just picked up a Simpson Hybrid S for this season and hopefully will never have to test it!

[melanthius]

Anyone use hagerty? I haven't filed a claim but I understood their policy to work the same way.
I have been using them.

[jfritz27]

Condolences on the vette, but really glad you're OK.

Maybe we could discuss the HANS a bit... I've been debating getting one of these, but I believe there's been other threads/discussion suggesting this may be LESS safe if you're in a stock seat/3-point (my situation). Perhaps it depends on the type of HANS (eg, Simpson Hybrid S being OK). Anyone who knows what they're talking about care to chime in and spread some useful knowledge (or maybe point me in right direction for further reading)?

[BetrayMyWord]

Originally Posted by jfritz27

Condolences on the vette, but really glad you're OK.

Maybe we could discuss the HANS a bit... I've been debating getting one of these, but I believe there's been other threads/discussion suggesting this may be LESS safe if you're in a stock seat/3-point (my situation). Perhaps it depends on the type of HANS (eg, Simpson Hybrid S being OK). Anyone who knows what they're talking about care to chime in and spread some useful knowledge (or maybe point me in right direction for further reading)?

I have been using the Simpson Hybrid S HANS device for a while. From my point of view:

- It's more expensive than the other HANS device, of ~$1k;
- It might take some time for some people to get used to wearing it, it depends;
- A BIG advantage of Hybrid S towards normal HANS devices is that, it also provides you with some extent of neck's lateral movement protection, which you don't have if your bucket seat doesn't have HALO;
- You can wear it when riding with others, whose car don't have harness system.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by jfritz27

Condolences on the vette, but really glad you're OK.

Maybe we could discuss the HANS a bit... I've been debating getting one of these, but I believe there's been other threads/discussion suggesting this may be LESS safe if you're in a stock seat/3-point (my situation). Perhaps it depends on the type of HANS (eg, Simpson Hybrid S being OK). Anyone who knows what they're talking about care to chime in and spread some useful knowledge (or maybe point me in right direction for further reading)?

I think it's because a HANS (Other than the Simpson Hybrid) require a harness. Believe it or not you're actually VERY safe in a modern car with the 3 pt and airbags. All of those systems work in unison and are designed based on the fact that your body will accelerate relative to your seat.

With a harness and bucket - you are locked in place. There's no airbag to help you or if for some reason you still have air bags, they won't do their job correctly.