Dedicated track car (ins and reg)

[tjgalati]

So im looking at getting a dedicated track car.

I will probably trailer it, but not sure yet.

Are there benefits to keeping it street legal or not as regards to insurance and registration on one of these?

Will regular auto ins cover it? Is there special insurance? Do you just go without?

Do you register it? Do you need to?

All comments are appriciated.

[Otto]

It depends how modified your car will be. If it is streetable and you plan to drive it on the street, even say to take it to shop and back, you should register it and pay for the insurance. Mine is very modified but still can be smogged so it is currently registered and I am paying for the insurance, which is not very much because it is a 1986 car. This way I can drive it for short distances if need be.

If it is going to be a dedicated track car, I would suggest getting a trailer for it. You can carry additional sets of tires and can get back home with the car if something goes wrong. I have my own trailer now but for a long time I was renting one from U-Haul for each event and towing it with my SUV (if you have a towing vehicle).

[pdy]

I have a similar situation to Otto.

I have two track cars, but they are insured and DMV registered. I do have a trailer, which I use for Time Trials and some other "Away" events. Being able to drive the track car to/from the stadium is really nice. Plus being able to drive to/from local shops (for repair, service, and tech/safety inspection) instead of loading/unloading from the trailer is a benefit. The trailer is good because the track cars are not comfortable on long trips, I can run open exhaust at the big tracks, the trailer carries spare wheels and tires, etc. Also, if the car breaks 200 miles from home, I can still get me and the car back without too much gyration. Sometimes another driver will have car troubles, and I'll take their car back on the trailer (after putting the muffler back on my car), so it's nice that it is streetable.

My insurance is with a regular company. Due to the cars being older and driven very little, it only costs about $800 (full coverage, low deductable, both cars, annual premium). I believe they will cover "Educational events", so DE is okay, and if I have an "instructor" I am probably covered, but I have not tested this out with my insurance provider. There are insurance companies specializing in motorsports, but I suspect most PCASDR members don't carry any special coverage.

Another thing to think about is the general topic of car modifications. When I bought my '79 911 track car, I fixed what was needed to make it run well, put in safety equipment, and a decent set of Street-Stock tires - that's it. I drive it at autocross, DE, and Time Trial events for over two years BONE STOCK. Even though I was an experienced driver, I wanted to get all I could out of that stock car before tearing into it. The reasons were; 1. I'd work on improving my driving. 2. I'd learn all I could about that car. 3. I'd learn from other drivers with similar cars what kind of modifications I should consider in the future. 4. It would cost less for initial cash outlay. 5. It cost less to operate and maintain. Waiting to do the modifications turned out to be a great decision. I spent my money wisely, and ended up with a terrific track car (still streetable) that is very competitive, and a joy to drive.

The point is this - having a dedicated track car is a good idea. An even better idea is giving very careful consideration to the modifications you might make (including safety gear).

HTH

[Mike Cornelius]

Great feedback from Paul regarding what to modify and when.
If you can, finding a car that has already been built with all of the safety devices and performance mods will save you $$ in the long run. But it can be fun and satisfying building yours the way you want it.
If you are just starting out, after saftey equipment, the most imporatant investment you can make is in track time. It will take you time to get your driving abilities up to the cars abilities. By then you will have an idea of how you want the car to handle and perform.
A street / track car is a compromise on both counts. Figuring out what you want to end up with before making changes to the car, will allow you to make the right upgrades without having to go back and do something twice.

My car ('86 944 turbo) is registered, smogged and insured. But, as it becomes more of a track car vs. street car, it is getting louder and less comfortable on the street (sacrificing comfort for speed and handling). I personally like having the ability to drive it legally on the street when needed.

[tjgalati]

I dont need another street car, so that isnt an issue. Driving it to the Q would be nice, but not a huge deal.

Ive been compromising for awhile now and am ready for the leap into something that will make my skills the weak link.

I just bought a car, and I (and my builder) know what we want to do with it.

At this point, im trying to decide upon the insurance and registration issues.

Thanx

[Dan Chambers]

I would have to mirror Paul Young in his approach. While my time-line was a little shorter, the approach was similar. I now have a registered, fully insured street car that really scoots on the track. While comfortable enough to drive on the street for up to 2 or 3 hours at a time, it is "prepped" enough to reel in some of the other more modified and lighter-weight cars in its class.

IMHO: if you don't want another "street" car, don't mind loading / off-loading it with a trailer (perhaps you can "store" it on the trailer when not in use), and have no intention of driving it on the street for any reason, go for it with the mods. Your "builder" will love the work and appreciate the new Mercedes you'll bank-roll for him/her ( - that's a joke, son). Be forewarned: no modifications anywhere will take the place of good-ol'-fashioned seat-time and driving skills. If your wallet is thick, and your patience is thin, modify away. Just don't be frustrated if you're not that much faster. Nothing takes the place of driver's skill, IMHO.

As for registration and insurance: that's your call. IMO: if it's truly a dedicated track car I'd shop for "replacement" insurance in case of an "oops", and forego registering it; opting for Non-operation fees. That's just me, though.

Good luck with the project. I hope it all works out for you.