For some reason, this was sent to me rather than ba-autox@autox.team.net.
Reply to author, not me.
mjb.
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Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 06:33:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: Dennis Hale <dhale_510@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Track schools
The question of "what if I bend a car" at track
schools comes up at every one. There are several
answers.
Most insurance deals cover the problem as it is a
school, not a race situation. But the subsequent
premium may be not so attractive. You ought to check
it out with your carrier before an incident if it is
really important.
In a true race situation, you must be prepared to walk
away from the car, a big reason why an old RX7 is a
more popular amateur race car than a Corvette! Simple
economics.
But the track schools are NOT races! Yes, there you
are in your fantasy car, on a real race track, all
helmeted up with no speed limits. After the first day
at least you come to realize racing is another thing
entirely. This is simply high performance driving. And
it is good. And it is socially responsible. Graduates
of these schools are far safer drivers than the
population at large.
Further, crash damage situation is very rare. Brakes
are in trouble, fenders are much more at risk on the
hiway just getting to the track! In the 15 or so years
I have been involved with these things I only recall
one first timer getting in such dire trouble. A
Studebaker Avanti guy who got in, mashed the throttle,
never lifted, and tipped over in Thill turn 3, the
instructor screaming with no effect all the way. As
Caroll Smith so eloquently put it, other hobbies
beckon for some.
I would hope anyone into motorsports enough to get
onto this forum would have a bit more sense.
Problems do occur when folks get a bit more
experience. Like maybe 6 track days. We call them 40
year old teenagers. They are knowing only what they
know and none of what they don't know. They have also
moved past the in car instructor, aka the calibrated
butt, and are now solo. They push too hard and it
ain't just a rubber duckie out there! Thunderhill is
great for this because all it has is dirt to run off
in, unlike LS or SP with all those "spectator
friendly" walls! This again is very rare and largely
an attitiude issue that simply is not a problem with
the prudent folks that worry about such matters.
Try it, you'll like it.
=====
Dennis Hale
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