Thunderhill T15 spin video
05-27-2009, 11:12 AM
#21
Thread Starter
dagle, you have to check the fine print in your insurance documentation. Most carriers won't cover you if you're "competing", which can be interpretted as simply having your laps timed (by you or another person). Some won't cover you if the damage occurs on a race track or other closed course, even if it's during driver eductation.
My insurance specifically excludes coverage when preparing for or competing in a timed event, but doesn't contain the track/closed course exclusion. My (and an attorney friend's) read is that an HPDE having clear guidelines and instructions disallowing racing and competition falls within those guidelines. Getting lap times from video would be considered incidental timestamping and not an excluded condition. However, having a timing device capture lap times (either in my car or stationary at the track) could be problematic (that's why I don't use a timing device). If I were to stack my car during an HPDE, I would be covered (though fully expect my carrier to fight a bit).
The 3 groups I've run with (NASA, Hooked On Driving, and Trackmasters) have clear guidelines that this is neither racing nor competition.
At the end of the day, remember the words NASA's Barry Hartzel says every HPDE: "Nothing you do today will increase the value of your car."
My insurance specifically excludes coverage when preparing for or competing in a timed event, but doesn't contain the track/closed course exclusion. My (and an attorney friend's) read is that an HPDE having clear guidelines and instructions disallowing racing and competition falls within those guidelines. Getting lap times from video would be considered incidental timestamping and not an excluded condition. However, having a timing device capture lap times (either in my car or stationary at the track) could be problematic (that's why I don't use a timing device). If I were to stack my car during an HPDE, I would be covered (though fully expect my carrier to fight a bit).
The 3 groups I've run with (NASA, Hooked On Driving, and Trackmasters) have clear guidelines that this is neither racing nor competition.
At the end of the day, remember the words NASA's Barry Hartzel says every HPDE: "Nothing you do today will increase the value of your car."
05-27-2009, 11:40 AM
#22
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 17,792
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Originally Posted by Greg W,May 27 2009, 12:12 PM
NASA's Barry Hartzel says every HPDE: "Nothing you do today will increase the value of your car."
05-27-2009, 11:42 AM
#23
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 17,792
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Originally Posted by Greg W,May 27 2009, 12:12 PM
The 3 groups I've run with (NASA, Hooked On Driving, and Trackmasters) have clear guidelines that this is neither racing nor competition.
05-27-2009, 11:44 AM
#24
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Sac, NorCal
Posts: 3,575
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wowsers! That was close ...
I almost made that same mistake last time I was up there. I was up on the painted white part of turn 15's exit but luckily the tires didn't drop.
I almost made that same mistake last time I was up there. I was up on the painted white part of turn 15's exit but luckily the tires didn't drop.
05-27-2009, 04:15 PM
#25
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: North Bay
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thats the thing with ThunderHill...it looks a lot safer than it actually is. All that open space..what could go wrong? Lucky you did not go broadside into the rough - thats one sure way to roll the car. Thanks for posting the video. We learn by our mistakes.
05-28-2009, 04:40 PM
#27
Registered User
Join Date: May 2003
Location: East Bay
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Greg W,May 26 2009, 04:29 PM
Thanks all for your comments. I screwed up 3 things but did good on 1 thing: way too deep into T14 got me out of position, too early an apex into T15, and when I dropped 2 wheels I didn't let the car settle before easing back on track. The good thing: as soon as I started spinning left I "put 2 feet in" (brake and clutch) and didn't try to "ride it out"...I ain't got the talent to be succesfull at that!
FYI - It looks like the reason the car spun is that you had the steering wheel turned as you left the racing surface. If you would have straited up the wheel just before you went off you would not have spun and could have come back onto the track..
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post