use it or loose it mentality

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 1:20 pm

Personal wealth, or lack of it, is just that, a personal matter.

If you have only one car and rely on it for work, then taking it on track, for whatever reason is a calculated risk. It's got to nag at the back of your mind, and taint the enjoyment, that if you stuff it or blow it, you're stuffed.

Having a dedicated track car is the answer for some who prefer uninhibited pleasure

This also allows for extra safety measures of roll cage, harnesses, etc. as you ought to consider your own well being as well as the car's.

What the self employed brigade (and I'm one) should bear in mind is the consequences of an injury. Not having a car is one thing, household expenses don't reduce even if you're being drip fed in a hospital bed for a few weeks or months.

duncan · Post by **duncan** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 1:25 pm

A not so nice sobering thought Gerry - but very true.

Andy916 · Post by **Andy916** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:05 pm

The personal injury thing was a fair concern when I raced bikes, for sure. Tis much less of a worry now that I'm car trackdaying and sprinting, but maybe I should be thinking about a cage etc...

With a bike those last couple of seconds per lap is a real knife-edge. In the car I feel that I can push hard with relative impunity, and in 3yrs of trackwork have had just one spin. But then I've not been to the 'Ring yet (much more complex than short circuits) and I've not raced cars either. For sure there's a higher risk with both of those.

However, consider 'just' trackdaying on a short circuit ... so much lies in your approach.
Make it p r o g r e s s i v e and take advantage of all the instruction you can would be my tuppence-worth.

One thing I did have when racing bikes was personal injury insurance. If the scheme is still going, I'd recommend anyone to look at a CICA policy - Combined Insurance Company of America. There used to be a salesman doing the rounds of the bike club-racing paddock, who obviously got paid on sales commision rather than on lack of claims :-D . Various pals got prompt useful payouts from CICA when injured on the racetrack ... well worth the

blacky · Post by **blacky** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 3:24 pm

Things can still go Pete Tong in a resonably big way in any competitive motorsport! I know the hard way now!

Luckily I had taken out Event Insurance otherwise my bank balance would be knackered! But this now makes me think about Personal accident insurance as I am too self employed!

pablo · Post by **pablo** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 3:27 pm

Having a dedicated track car for me was the only way to go as this was something that both me and Bart wanted to do. For us it's more about the fact that we built the car. We did use our road cars Driving a fast and powerful road car around Birmingham is not fun, the roads are poor and at one time I would pass 12 speed cameras on my way to work.

I currently drive a MGZT 190, the car that i wanted was the MGZT V8. The only reason I didn't buy one was the fact that I could not justify paying the extra money for what I use my car for. I have a lot of respect for the people who buy fast road cars and then take them out on track even if they only do so once to see what the car can do.

duncan · Post by **duncan** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 3:29 pm

pablo wrote:I have a lot of respect for the people who buy fast road cars and then take them out on track even if they only do so once to see what the car can do.

Absolutely right Pablo :thumb:

It fast becoming, if not already become, the only place you can see what they do.

Post by **Ben** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:04 pm

It's so difficult .. the 32 is alive on the track .. in reality I should buy another GTR, one for best and one for track - but then all i'm doing is doubling the cost !!! and having a car for sunday that isn't a patch on my track one ...

I don't see the point in buying a cheap car to run on the track when it's the GTR I really want to learn to drive ... however because I can't really afford to bin it or replace parts all day long then I will never drive it to the max .. I did at Honington and it was AWESOME, but then there was very little to hit if it went pete tong, unlike Snetterton which has some scary looking and expensive armco to hit.

Additionally I have found that the desire to make the car better for the track has caused me to spend more money, have many dilemmas about parts and plans as I find each of the car's problems and upgrade them out

The fact is I will continue to take it out ... and basically take that risk ... I will be sad when I smack it or break it ... but I'm going to try and enjoy it up to that point.

I agree that the site has gone more to the actual track use of cars - and that has been driven by the new members, but I think there is still much room for those people who aren't driven by being out there taking risks ... of all those members I have met I can say you are all a top group of people ... and whether you want to polish your car or crash it into the armco .. i'll have a chat anytime.

I guess what we are driven by is using our cars when the time and place is approriate .....so see you at maccyd's for a burnout contest later

RX7 · Post by **RX7** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:26 pm

What a thread.....thanks to Martyn for sticking up for me !!!

I bought my car purely for driving on the road and polishing....I never had any intentions of putting it onto the track. Big Power was a forum Ben recommended me joining and I probably didnt read that it is for people who participate in trackdays.

I'll be honest that the joke of me not going on the track wore very thin over the last 2 years and the constant mickey taking at the meets, on the forum etc did get a bit much.

My car and I go through a love hate relationship....I love it, it hates me and if anything can go wrong....it will !!!
Needless to say after I managed to sort a plethora of problems I did get it on the track and loved it !! The car felt amazing and for the first few laps I couldnt stop smiling and shaking !!

However no matter what anyone says putting a car on the track increases wear and tear. Having the money to constantly replace parts makes the car less enjoyable !!

There is tremendous knowledge on here so if things go wrong there are people who have the know how and are willing to help.....just make sure you have a bit of cash put by should you need it !!!

I would take my car on the track again but I would emphasise to anyone on here not to feel pressured to do so.

duncan · Post by **duncan** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:34 pm

blacky wrote:Things can still go Pete Tong in a resonably big way in any competitive motorsport! I know the hard way now!

Luckily I had taken out Event Insurance otherwise my bank balance would be knackered! But this now makes me think about Personal accident insurance as I am too self employed!

logan - can you give details of this ?

I always insure when going on track so if the worst did happen it would just be a bruise not a complete kick in the face financially. Competition is different though.

RobCallow · Post by **RobCallow** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:19 pm

I love the feeling of getting on track and pushing the car but I never pushed beyond my comfort zone for fear of sticking my Scooby or previosly my Integra into a barrier or blowing something up!!

Having lost the Scoob to some F#*#er this gave me a chance to get a track dedicated car. I picked the Bm as it is cheap, reliable german engineering and Rwd. My reasoning is that if I crashed it I lose a hell of a lot less than if I crashed the Scooby. I can spend a small amout of cash and hopefully still get the same joy that I got from my other cars and be able to push myself further without the worry of a huge bill if it does go tits up!!

My 2p