Kris Murphy

Also, forgot to mention, you can get track insurance to help with the impact side of things. The nice thing about our cars is that it is pretty cheap. I pay about $175 per 3 day event for $24,999 in coverage (it goes up $12 at the $25K mark). I never got it for my previous cars as they were all under $8K in value.

Hardback

Kris, who are you using for track day policy? $175 is crazy cheap for 3 days.

AWDGuy

that's is crazy cheap. I would totally buy this

5CHN3LL

I hate to say this out loud - well, to put it into words, at least - but I won't be using my 996 for any driving events more stressful than Qualcomm parking lot PCA autocross (not that I've done one of those in 3+ years now).

This is not because I baby the 996 - in fact, I push the car hard every time I drive it because THERE'S A 911 IN MY GARAGE EVERY MORNING. What I am seeing is that this is a numbers game. Do lots of M96-powered cars see track time successfully with no problems? Sure - in fact, BOTH of mine have done time on everything from parking lot courses to "big" tracks.

With the exception of poor Cuda911, though, the majority of failures I have access to (which of course is limited to what's posted online, which may or may not be representative of the population as a whole) seem performance-related. I have two vehicles that perform at more-or-less equivalent levels. We know what it will cost to put a new or fully rebuilt motor in my 996; for 10-20% of that cost, I can drop a new crate motor into my Corvette and STILL come out ahead as far as power and reliability. The rear end on the C4 (running through an auto transmission with racing packs, the trans pressure dialed up so high it bleeds fluid during AX runs, and a D44 rear-end with Jeep gearing, and a full D44 batwing upgrade including new shafts) will probably take 600HP with only some minor mounting point and suspension upgrades (I'm not keeping those composite springs on the car with 2x power going down).

When I got the car, the Corvette was the car I wanted to keep forever (being in my family since new, my mom's dream car). I will still keep the 'Vette forever, but I have come to enjoy the 996 as much in most ways and far more in a couple, and I want to preserve the 996 for as long as I can before I have to make that heart-wrenching decision to sell it as a roller (or, more likely, the nearly as painful decision to drop 1/3 the cost of my first home into a new motor)...

Given the cost of C4 and C5 Corvettes, Miatas, and other cars that make up pretty much the entire autocross leaderboard for SCCA, it makes more sense to me to acquire a track car that is more affordable to service. When I'm dreaming I'm The Stig, am I driving my black 911, or am I driving a stripped, faded red Miata? Not the latter.

You can also BUY a Spec Miata from the Mazda parts counter for less than the cost of buying and track prepping a 996 - let alone the cost of having a spare engine on the trailer...

None of this is an indictment of the 996. It's a machine - in fact, it's on the way to being an antique machine, and I think we can agree that the only machines that never break are the ones that never get used.

There comes a time when you evaluate a possession and determine in what way it is worth the most to you. For me, having my 996 as-is - intact interior, pretty much stock, easy on the eyes - is worth more to me than the experience of tracking it. When I need a car to REALLY flog, it'll be the one I can most easily afford to correctly repair.

Sorry for the novella. Apparently, handling the spare tire in a 996 is a more common muse than I would have imagined.

Kris Murphy

I am using Lockton: https://locktonmotorsports.com/

There is a 10% PCA discount (worth having the $46 membership).

This is for HPDEs, on the East Coast. The prices is a little bit different on each track that I go to, but have never paid above $195 for $24,999 in coverage.

I also have friends that have had to use the insurance and payout was very quick.

Nickshu

Do those policies actually pay out? I have always thought they would find a way "out" in the event of an on track accident especially if it is the driver's fault (lost control, bad line, lifted mid corner, etc) vs if another driver hits you. Just curious.

Kris Murphy

Yes. 100%. I does not matter what causes the incident. They pay out. I know someone who crashed a 2015 GTI due to severe lack of talent and he had a check minus the deductible within a week.

I know someone else who lost brakes on a C6 ZO6 hit a berm, and flipped. Had a check within a week.

Both cars were totaled. There is either a 10% or 15% deductible (your choice). Prices do go up based on the value you want to insure. Insuring a $100K car is $900ish.

BTW, I do not work for any of these companies.

Palting

You hear about failures, simply because in a forum failures make you want to post something. Majority of the 996's are excellent track cars, particularly for the novice and intermediate. Right out of the box. No mods. OEM oil, sump, etc.

Your fist DE? Just make sure your car is street worthy, all maintenance up to date, buy a helmet, listen to your instructor, and go for it. No fear, no worries, no need to do anything else

I've been doing multiple tracks, more than 100 days on a half dozen tracks, from Mosport to VIR, in my 996 C4S. No reliability issues. Here's one of my vids to get you started:

Mike Murphy

I hear that some insurance companies pay out for a crash, but not all pay for a mechanical failure (if the wheel bearing or clutch fails). True?

Kris Murphy

That is true. Insurance is for a crash only. I do not know of a company that covers for any sort of mechanical. Now, if a tire blowing causes a crash, you would be covered.

Mike Murphy

This is good advice. And how I could sleep at night. And why I said to get a cheap reliable car...

Racing or tracking is just plain expensive in general, even for a cheap car. Now add in the word Porsche and costs triple.

Hardback

I've been quoted by Lockton, don't recall the exact price but I think it was in the 250-300 range for 1 day not 3.. with $5000 deductible. I may have placed a higher dollar amount but not by much. I would gladly cough up 300 for 3 days, that's a great deal for piece of mind at the track. Ill look into it again next track event. thanks

Mike Murphy

Great video! But as shown, anything can happen. One misfortune with that rain could have resulted in a different outcome.

Hardback

Ok, just did a sample policy with Lockton, $24,500 coverage with 10% deductible at HMS = $180 for one day event. So in line with what Kris says BUT per day not for 3 days how I see it.

Kris you sure you were covered for all 3 days of your event?

Nickshu

LOL this is why at the track you frequently see guys with $200K tow rigs pulling two $10K Miatas.