Trackday car written off
Discussion
I share...shared...a trackday car with my friend, we are best friends and have been for many years. We split the car 50/50 and agreed in the first place that all decisions should be joint so that it is always fair.
We also agreed that one day the car would die, whether smashed into Armco or if the engine went pop it is a trackday car that will eventually die: in which case we agreed in advance that no one person would be blamed and the "that's racing" attitude would be taken.
When we bought and rebuilt the car it was for track use only, but one day we decided that we should put it back on the road so we could do road trips in it.
One day I was using the car and had an accident in which the chassis has been bent beyond repair.
Here is the problem the accident was 100% my fault (both me and my friend know this) and the journey I was doing was nothing to do with trackdays or road trips.
I feel horrendous and know I will repay my friend one day but am struggling bring it up in case he calls me out and asks for cash or another car.
My plan was to one day get him another car but I cannot afford this anytime in the near future.
Thoughts? Other than I'm a d**k for crashing in the first place
We also agreed that one day the car would die, whether smashed into Armco or if the engine went pop it is a trackday car that will eventually die: in which case we agreed in advance that no one person would be blamed and the "that's racing" attitude would be taken.
When we bought and rebuilt the car it was for track use only, but one day we decided that we should put it back on the road so we could do road trips in it.
One day I was using the car and had an accident in which the chassis has been bent beyond repair.
Here is the problem the accident was 100% my fault (both me and my friend know this) and the journey I was doing was nothing to do with trackdays or road trips.
I feel horrendous and know I will repay my friend one day but am struggling bring it up in case he calls me out and asks for cash or another car.
My plan was to one day get him another car but I cannot afford this anytime in the near future.
Thoughts? Other than I'm a d**k for crashing in the first place
I'm in the exact same position as you once were with my best friend at the moment. We deliberately bought a car that is worth buttons (currently stands us at <£500 each) from the perspective that neither of us could get too annoyed at the other one for destroying it - after all, the risk is real at trackdays, whether it's our fault or not. We could have (and may well eventually) chosen something more expensive, but the low price makes it a very hassle-free ownership proposition.
We agreed that, to paraphrase Ivan Drago, "if he dies, he dies".
We agreed that, to paraphrase Ivan Drago, "if he dies, he dies".
milburn7191 said:
but one day we decided that we should put it back on the road so we could do road trips in it.
"we decided"If that's the case, I would think the same rules apply. But whatever you do, talk to him about it pronto and don't force him to give his view, ask him for it and be willing to accept that he might want you to pay for all, or more or the replacement cost.
At the end of the day, what's more important? Your mate, or the money? If you can't get it all together straight away, say so too - don't just shoulder the burden and leave him thinking he'll have cash next Friday.
ETA - sorry - I didn't read the "nothing to do with a roadtrip" bit. If it was a one off journey and you've been incredibly unlucky, then that's one thing. If you've been using the car more often, then it's on you I think. Same advice though - best mate/metal and plastic/money. A mate is far more important in my view.
Edited by Smitters on Thursday 7th September 14:26
If you're good mates you can't be quibbling about money.
If you'd bent the car on a trackday or road trip with your mate- c'est la vie. Since you were solo and on the road it's down to you to make this right.
First, come clean.
Mercifully for you autumn seems to have arrived so it looks like there's no more trackdays or road trips for you two until the spring and you have until about April to get that car fixed.
If you'd bent the car on a trackday or road trip with your mate- c'est la vie. Since you were solo and on the road it's down to you to make this right.
First, come clean.
Mercifully for you autumn seems to have arrived so it looks like there's no more trackdays or road trips for you two until the spring and you have until about April to get that car fixed.
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