Help! Track day newbie!

[GarryM]

I have just had a call from my insurers, Norton Insurance (Heritage Scheme), and they tell me that unless the track day I wish to attend is held on a public road (!!!!), my track day insurance cover will revert to third party only with an increased excess.

The increased excess I was expecting but the third party bit is making me spit blood. Is this something anyone else has encountered? When I took the policy I was conscious that I wanted track day cover - I am sure this was discussed in detail with the individual at Norton. My notes and policy are at home so will check later.

Can anyone offer any advice?

Had decided to try Hullavington with motorsports events. Any comments on this idea?

[PetrolTed]

Check the small print or ask them to fax the relavent part of their T&C to you.

That would also mean that you're not covered in a private car park, on your friend's driveway etc.

Sounds like they're trying to wriggle out of it.

[GarryM]

Thanks Ted.

I have now read the insurance topic on this forum and see that I am not alone. It seems misrepresentation however for an insurer to discuss inclusion of track days only to find out later (if it proves to be so) that track days have to be held on public roads - a contradiction in terms.

I don't intend to give up easily but maybe a refund is the way to go and re-insure with someone else.

[bennno]

you will proably find if you try to re-insure that most new policies now exclude track day use...??

I tried a load and all said no, it is especially difficult if you car is over 40k and your ages is under 30 - i suffer from both!

You may also find that the TVR car club reccomended insurers will only cover TVRCC track days! etc

Bennno

[M-Five]

The law states that if it has public access then it can be classed as a public road - hence you can get done for speeding/gooning in a supermarket car park.

It is also why the Police can arrest you for drunk driving on your drive or on a pub forecourt!

It also applies to insurance otherwise all those car park fender benders would not be covered!

[rthierry]

My cover through Sunninghill does include track days

[martvr]

On the subject of Motorsport Events at Hullavington, I went to their inaugural event there last Friday.

I had a great day and appreciated the friendly, relaxed but professional organisation and would recommend the event. There was plenty of track time with slightly less than 40 cars attending and an open pit lane adopted after the first round of (3) sessions.

It cost a reasonable £89 but perhaps suffered a little in comparison to a normal circuit because of the layout restrictions of being an airfield. The track (all tarmac and 2 and a bit miles long) wasn't particulary flowing as it wasn't possible to include any fast corners but it did have lots of tight corners to get the backend out , and two long straights.

Complete mix of cars and abilities but where were the TVRs?????????

Picking up a thread from earlier, Elvington?, we also had a visit from plod for about an hour who took the opportunity of testing the speed gun. Presumably just checking anything of interest going on in his patch, noise etc. but apparently couldn't be bothered to move to the straights and was checking speeds from the pits on a 100m bit between tight corners. Didn't see if he was noting registration numbers for later - that was unfair , probably bored and just wanted a cup of coffee.

[GarryM]

RESULT!!!

I have just received a very welcome and polite call from one of the partners at Norton Insurance. He apologised for the confusion and confirmed that club and other well organised track events are covered in my policy in the normal way. He’s dropping me a line to confirm it.

The confusion centred over timed events and "rallies" which clearly track days are not but the service team were not clear (and obviously wouldn’t believe me!)

I’m pleased the world hasn’t gone mad. Email me if you are insured with Norton/Heritage and want further info’.

Thanks for the comments on Hullavington. This will be my first event so it sounds about right. Did you have any instruction? Was it any good?

[johnny senna]

See the "INSURANCE" thread below this one. johnrwarrington's problems sum up some of the difficulties in getting track day cover.

[martvr]

GarryM,

Sorry, didn't take any instruction on the day so can't help you except to say that there were a couple of instructors available and being used that had come highly recommended by Ed Moore.

I prefer to go for tuition separately and have been using International Drivers Club at Bruntingthorpe www.id-club.com. I've found them very good and can recommend you try them. If you are interested, Ted has just posted up a load of new dates for them in the next couple of weeks on the Trackday calendar. Just in the process of booking my next session.