Random Autocross question

Ok, so there is a good chance that nobody on this forum will know the answer, but I'm giving it a shot anyway.

I'm slightly interested in autocrossing my Solstice, but I'm seeing conflicting information regarding insurance coverage. Some say that even though you aren't technically racing against other people, it's still a timed event, and therefore not covered by insurance. Others say that is not the case. I checked my insurance policy, and it says that it does NOT cover any damage caused by racing. But is autocross considered racing since it's just you and some orange cones? I don't think I want to ask Geico, as it might raise a red flag, so I'm not sure where to get definitive information.

Does anyone have any knowledge/experience with this?

Swae,
If you can wait till Saturday I can ask the one person I know who does this for a living

Oh maybe Nuts can have his lil woman answer you too she may know

pharm

Mrs Nuts can only answer this if you suffer a mental breakdown while racing. Do you drive because you feel like hurting yourself?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by [AK?]Swae

Ok, so there is a good chance that nobody on this forum will know the answer, but I'm giving it a shot anyway.

I'm slightly interested in autocrossing my Solstice, but I'm seeing conflicting information regarding insurance coverage. Some say that even though you aren't technically racing against other people, it's still a timed event, and therefore not covered by insurance. Others say that is not the case. I checked my insurance policy, and it says that it does NOT cover any damage caused by racing. But is autocross considered racing since it's just you and some orange cones? I don't think I want to ask Geico, as it might raise a red flag, so I'm not sure where to get definitive information.

Does anyone have any knowledge/experience with this?

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I know several auto crossers, and although they never had an incident that caused damage for insurance - the insurance companies will not pay for incidents while autocrossing. Oh, and there are reports that Geico has even dropped people who've they discovered were autocrossing their vehicles. (Rumor has it they check the listing of drivers on NASA/SCCA sites for customers.) Generally, the autocrossing body (SCCA, NASA, or whoever) has their own liability insurance.

The bigger question is in regards to warranty work. There have been alot of battling with manufacturers to cover items under warranty if they claim you've been 'racing' the car. But if you don't tell them it happened under autocrossing.....

I have heard this exact same thing about Geico, which is what concerned me. But, I've also heard as long as it isn't wheel to wheel competition, then you are ok.

I don't plan on doing this hard-core, just thought it might be a fun hobby to dabble in occasionally that might help improve my driving skills. However, I don't want to run the risk that if I spin out and hit a fence or something and damage my car, that I have to come out of pocket to pay for it.

Thanks for all the advice so far...I'm going to watch my first match Sunday, but I'm definitely not going to dip my toes in yet. =)

I race a 1/4 mile track, but I have family and friends that do autocross ( I havent found a good lightweight car for it yet) And as for insurace... ANY form of racing is not insured *(and yes, I know people who were dropped from their coverage just for suspision of racing). Be it timed single-car or multi-car, any form of competitive driving is considered racing. Now I have heard of people draging their car into the road and getting it covered, but I dont know of anyone personaly to get away with it... (Fraud is BAD)

It is best to have a stock daily driver, one reason for this is, the farther and faster you push it, the more it will break down, and with autocross you also factor in a lot more possible issues, Even on a open field track (the one in houston is a converted airport) with no walls, you can still suffer massive body dammage. Autocross can get very costly. (my recomendation is try the 1/4 mile first)

Why don't you do what I used to do? Use a rental car...

Rented a Mustang GT for a track day a number of years ago. After flogging that thing to death all day, the outsides of the tires were seriously chunked. Knowing I couldn't bring the car back in that condition, I stopped by a tire shop and had them flip the tires on the rims so the chunking was on the inside.

No one was ever the wiser.