A story about me. I've been doing trackdays since 2005 on 4 different bikes. I've ridding Road America, Road Atlanta, Gingerman, Grattan, Blackhawk, Autobahn and Barber. When comparing trackday laptimes to actual CCS times in the Amateur classes I am definitely mid pack. A few years back I did a Zars race at Road America and easily shaved 7-8 seconds from my typical trackday laps. Close passing are no issues to me. Lot's of my 2-wheel friends out there have asked me to step up and try it but for these reasons I'm not sure I'm ready and probably will never be ready. 1.) Cost 2.) Medical costs if I get injured while racing (In the process of scanning the fine print to see if my health insurance can deny medical costs) 3.) Life insurance (I checked the fine print and it WILL get declined if I lose my life while partipated in a race that involves winning money, prizes & trophies, gaining points, etc. 4.) Damage to motorcycle and costs associated to repairing it. (insurance coverage is declined when racing) 5.) Fear of being disabled from a race crash. Ultimately I want to race but as a middle-class family man other things take priority. As a dad of a fiery 2 year old and another one coming I can still continue to do trackdays. If I crash during a trackday I can still use my health and motorcycle insurance. With trackdays I think my life insurance policy is still good to go. I've been hinting at the wife that my urge to race is coming back. She's says I'm being selfish. I think she's right depending on if the little devil on my shoulder is talking to me or the angel on the otherside. What is the reason why you race or do not race?
Double check all of that on the medical..... Almost every medical plan has to cover you....only exceptions is if another medical like car coverage covers you. Life insurance- unless it was a stipulation of giving you a policy, your life insurance will pay out. I asked my insurance about racing and they said it was fine...I have 2 Million in term coverage. Sometimes I wonder why my wife wants me to do so many track days....lol... All of that said I don't race because of concerns of the wife and my 8 and 11 year old kids.
Talk to Brandon Parrish at ridersurance.com. He was a professional racer and knows all about that stuff. I contacted them before I started racing. They can tell you what questions to ask your current insurance company. They can also give quotes and help you apply for insurance with carriers that don't care about racing. They made it so easy. I bought my whole family's policy thru them.
all those reasons you listed why you don't race is why I race LOL Cheaper than a speeding ticket and a bag of blow but so much more fun too. Joking aside and Out of all honestly.... I race because it gives me an excuse to stay in shape. By the way my insurance agent is a state farm rep and he rides regular track days. For what it's worth when I go to the hospital it's always a bicycle crash. Why I race. I'm addicted to learning. I learn so much each time I go out. There are so many problems to solve and I love solving problems. I race because it gives me an excuse to run. I hate running and I do it so I'm in stellar shape for racing. I do sit ups every morning, drink less beer and always walk the stars instead of taking the elevator. All because of racing. It's good exercise and a great amount of focus is used while on track. That is addictive. A good book to read is Flow: The psychology of optimal Experience It may change your live. Racing will for sure. http://design-engine.com/book-review/flow-the-psychology-of-optimal-experience/ < A book review I did on 'FLOW'
I advise u not to race. If u really would have the desire to race you would do it for a long time already! I love racing. One if the best things I ever did!
What insurance company do you have? I'm looking to switch and wouldn't mind another option that won't give me the runaround.
I'm a newbie racer. Just started this year with CCS after a few years of track days. I will say I agree with you on your first reason. Cost is indeed higher, unless you're at the top and can win contingency and get sponsors to offset those costs...and unfortunately that's the reason why I'm done with it for this year and next year I might only do 1 event. It's all about the money for me. But I disagree with your other reasons. I don't have kids, so I suppose the life insurance is meaningless to me, but all of that stuff is the same for track days. Whether you're racing or just doing track days, you can still get hurt, you can still become disabled, and your bike will still get damaged, and your insurance will still not pay for it. Sure it depends on where you're at and what company you're with, but State Farm didn't pay a dime for my crash during a track day. I didn't expect them to since it's written in their policy, but figured I might as well try...nothing to lose. Your health insurance will cover you no matter what it is. Racing, track day, gang assault, terrorists...the doctors aren't going to know why your collar bone or leg is broken! They're going to do their job to fix you and you just give them your insurance card and you're done. Don't ask don't tell. I can understand when people say they won't even try out the track because of the reasons you mentioned above, but as far as track days vs racing goes...it's really all the same for the most part, aside from the cost. I get that part, and also uncompetitiveness. Not going to lie, as much fun as I've had in the several races I've done this year and the amount I've learned and improved my skills during the races, it is pretty demoralizing when you start on the front row and by the 2nd turn you're at the back of the pack watching everyone disappear in the distance. Even being a solid advanced group rider at most track days is not good enough when there are guys out there who can lap you even in a sprint race (like Bart )
I don't want to start an argument, but that is just silly. Maybe the paramedic in the ambulance or the flight nurse on the helicopter will go along with the story that you "crashed your bicycle" too.
Please feel free to check with your motorcycle insurance and if they say NO find another one. Just about ALL will cover your bike for track day's IF it is not a timed event, every track day I have been to don't. Your racing against yourself in novice, once you move up there are no trophy's, money, ribbons or girls to give you kiss on the winners stand. ( There isn't a winners stand ) Since you have to wear full gear, unlike the street your better protected. Yes speed can hurt but it's the solid objects like guardrails, telephone poles, mail boxes, and cars that hurt when you hit them. Groups like Moto-Series give a motorcycle safety certificate for insurance credit mine took 10% off my rate after doing a novice training session. The only valid point I heard was your 2 year old, in that case stop riding motorcycles period. Street riding is more unpredictable than track riding, no one is texting or talking on the phone, arguing with the kid's in the back seat or have yet seen anyone drinking at the track. You hedge your bets with proper gear and your brain. Medical insurance again does not distinguish between street and NON-timed track riding.
I was talking about non life threatening injuries (broken wrist, ankle, collar bone...the more common stuff). If you're injured that bad that they have to fly you to the hospital in your leathers, then they can't deny you medical care no matter what the cause was, and at that point there are more important things at stake than who's going to pick up the hospital bill after you're released.
They can't deny care, but you also can't deny the hospital's right to get paid. Somebody's going to have to write the check. I want to be 100% sure the insurance company can't pin it on me.
Seriously, Ya'll are ok with turning in an insurance claim to get a bike fixed or totaled out because of a mistake you made at the track? You crash and someone else pays you, sounds about right today.
Every accident is a "mistake" of some nature. Example: you're commuting to work in your car, don't look twice, pull out in front of another car, get t-boned. Highly doubt anyone is like "hell, it's my fault, I'm coming out of pocket". If they cover such trackday's, great! Not to say you won't have a deductible and premium increase for a few years after said claim. I highly doubt the insurance company is getting ripped off in the long run. I know I pay a nice fee annually to keep a piece of paper in my car. Maybe my money will buy a STT rider a new bike one day :cheers:.
Wow I hope you are sitting down because this is really going to blow your mind, the insurance cos. also do that for bikes ridden on the street. Boom! :thumb: