Does it make sense to track your F car.

Check out the Tracking/Driver Ed section:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=188

 

funny thing....i tracked my Stradale 1 time!!! the but pucker factor made it less than enjoyable. I drove the car i would guess 60% of my abilities and probably 40% of the cars!!! I just kept thinking...there is no resale value for a dinged up Stradale!! The next track day i took my Mini cooper S...i had 100 x's more fun!!! pushed the car and myself..no fear of diminished value etc..

 

It sure does make sense if you love driving and if you aren't planning to sell your car.

 

I used to track my 308, then one day I said "you know if I break something it's going to be expensive" So I bought a 1978 Porsche 924 race car on ebay for $2500. I think it actually handles better than the Ferrari. So I met some people and they convinced me to start racing. I race that car for less than $5000 annual budget. Less than what I spent on the Ferrari. So keep the Ferrari in the garage I suspect when people find out it has been on the track it will decrease its value.

I don't know if your insurance will cover you or not but you can usually tell in the first paragraph of your policy. I once heard of a guy who rolled his Porsche at a track day and claims he convinced his Insurance company that it was not a competitive event. I suspect some attorney fees were involved.

 

That's too bad. There are ways to approach this serious pastime in such a way that it's not quite so overwhelming. It's just like anything else that requires serious study and practice, proceeding from level to level. It's just not as easy as it looks like on TV.

For years I counseled people about buying their first Ferrari. Invariably after buying and enjoying for a short time, they all wondered why they vacillated and wrung their hands so much leading up to it.

It's the same way tracking your Ferrari. You're only at as much risk as YOU put yourself, and one HECK of a lot less than "exercising" on two-lane, public roads...

 

It is a Ferrari and is meant to see the track atleast once in it's life dont you think? Just dont try to be the next Schumacher and have fun and I would also consider a set of racing wheels and tires just for that little extra sense of security if you decide to take her to a track. Either way you must make your own decision and one that you can live with.

 

Its not just the car that isn't covered on the track... your liability insurance doesn't cover you either...

Lets say a 430 crashes into a Miata and hurts someone... Doesn't matter whose fault it is, I suspect the ferrari owner is going to get a summons...

I know folks are supposedly on the track "At their own risk"... but the liability scares the hee-bee-jee-bies out of me...

How do you guys cope with that?

 

Not any more than any other sports car. And with the luxury Ferraris (599/612/California) I think it looks odd. Even TRs on the track look out of their element.

The lighter cars (246/308/328/348/355/360 CS/F430 Scuderia) are more plausible, but again you'd be better off with something that doesn't need to be detailed to a mirror gloss every day.

If you want to wring out a newer Ferrari, you pretty much have to go to the track. But if I wanted a modern track car specifically I might buy a used Lotus.

 

I guess if you have to think about the cost then you shouldn't, but if you are one of the fortunate few that doesn't then absolutely; it's what they were made for (sort of)..

 

My reasoning is simply that Ferrari's heritage was bred on racetracks and mine will see a track even if it is just a spirited drive. Even if it was just for a parade lap/photo op I would know that my lady has touched base with her roots so to speak and I will have great memories from it. +100 on the Lotus track car.

 

Nonsense. The releases work. The doctrine of assumption of risk, coupled with the signed release precludes all but the most insane from filing suit, except in those instances where the damages are huge, and lawyers are willing to take a gamble that they can get around the law.

However, tracking a Ferrari is, in my humble opinion, stupid. They are slow, and very, very expensive to fix. If you need an injection of addreline, I strongly suggest a shifter cart, or a GSXR1000.

Art

 

+1000 on the shifter kart as I miss mine.

 

There are special policies for the track, both for liability and collision. Most, if not all "street" policies are cracking down on track use, including "driver education" - they have wised up and excluding anything that has to do with a track. READ YOUR POLICY - KNOW YOUR RISKS - then make your decision. (Also, don't be fooled into thinking you umbrella policy will cover you).

And those liability forms that you sign when you enter the track - they are to protect the track, not the drivers. Same with the event applications - they are to protect the organizers. If something bad happens, you can bet there will be a law suit.

As to whether or not to track a Ferrari, it all depends if you are willing to write it off. If not, get a car that you ARE willing to write off. In every event I've been to, at least 1 car gets towed off the track. And not every incident is the fault of the driver of the car that gets hammered. It's just the nature of the sport. Just like on the streets.

BTW, I track my Fcar - I've also done some extensive repairs - all on my own nickel.

 

Art, have you read the Legal Files in SCM? Folks get sued for track accidents, driver's ed, etc ALL OF THE TIME.

Wasn't it someone on this board with a Porsche where the passenger's estate sued the drivers family, porsche, and the track, for millions and won?

Or where someone drove another porsche off the track during drivers ed and plowed into a bunch of parked cars. Driver and owner got sued.

Art, you know those disclaimers are just there as a hurdle...

I have tracked my testarossa once or twice... I went pretty slow, and was a newbie. Talking socially with my insurance agent he informed me I was driving "naked." Once you hit the track... you are on your own...

 

It's the guy behind you who thinks he Schumacer that you have to worry about. Last time I had my Ferrari on the track I really wanted to take it easy so I signed up for a group with little experience. That was probably a mistake even though the rules are no passing unless waved by, there was a twenty something in a WRX that was a total dick. He follwed me too closely into the turn at the end of the straight I immediatly waved him by, then after the session he comes up to me and comments about his Subaru being faster than a Ferrari and why were my lap times so far off. He did not even consider that my car was 25 years old and that I was just there for a joy ride, it was competition to him.

 

i've known people who have spent serious amounts of money on quarter horses.

just to barrel race them....

 

I had the opportunity to drive the Rolex 24 course at Daytona along with a few others last summer. What an incredible experience. I had an instructor the first session and he turned me loose... I didn't push the car, although I did loop it in the "bus stop" once.... being too gentle on the brakes... I finished a session, did a cool down lap, and left the car run a little to cool it down some more... I shut the car off, walked away, and met my Dad and a friend who came up to see the "show". As we walked back to the car, I found coolant all over the deck.... thought I was gonna die.... but I called the trusted and respected professor of Ferrari - Tim Stanford - who had just looked the car over the day before, and after getting my report, descriptions, etc told me the car was fine, put some coolant back in it and next time, run a better cool down lap, and upon returning, when the car is sitting, run the fans... watch my gauges, and once it cooled to a certain level, shut it off. I didn't have a problem after that, and I had one of my most enjoyable experiences ever.

I didn't push it hard.... I later let my instructor drive it and was surprised at how much more he got out of the car. Still, the thrill of being on the track at Daytona, being passed by Enzos, Lambos, etc was well worth the price of admission. I would love to take the car to some other significant tracks - this summer hopefully Laguna Seca, and someday, if I get a lesser car - like an older 911, use that as my track car..... but as I have read above, it is all a matter of comfort/pucker factor vs grin factor.... and I'm still wearing the grin....

 

I think the answer to the original question really lies in understanding the reason why you bought the car in the first place. For me, it was an opportunity to drive a car (not specific model mind you, but the manufacturer) I had admired all my life, and experience something I never thought I would be able to: driving something as close as I could afford to the race prepped Daytonas I lusted after as a teen in the late 60s. I've taken every Ferrari (and every other sporty car I've owned)to the track multiple times, and wrung everything out of myself and the car that I could within my own tolerance for risk. I've had 2 456s, a 612, and 330gtc, and all were a blast to drive at our limits on the track. And those limits, even being far below those that could be wrought by someone far more skilled than myself, were far above any I would have ever in my wildest youth dared attempt on the street. But again, I bought the cars with the knowledge that were I to screw up, it could be a total wash, or more. I was and am willing to take that gamble for the thrill. If I were intersted in spending more time at the track, or truly advancing my track skills, I'd buy a race car, but for me, the thrill of hearing a Ferrari v12 at WOT, in fourth, fifth and sixth gears, is everything I always dreamed it would be, and worth the expense to own, maintain, and repair the cars. Others own Ferraris for other reasons, and need make these decisions based on those reasons.

 

PJ,

From the ESR-FCA website:

Information about track insurance.
FCA-ESR is pleased to announce that single event HPDE insurance is now available for ESR track events. Coverage is available for purchase by anyone participating in an ESR track event through Lockton Affinity's HPDE Insurance Program. Information on about this company and its track insurance coverage can be found at www.hpdeins.locktonaffinity.com.. Please note that ESR is not affiliated with nor do we endorse Lockton Affinity or its insurance program or coverage. This notice and the included link are provided for informational purposes only, and the decision whether to buy coverage or not is entirely yours alone. ESR derives no financial benefit from coverage purchased by any participant nor any other remuneration from Lockton Affinity.

In addition, from what I understand, Anthony & Co has put together a track liability policy. Parish Heacock in Florida has a race car policy available, but in both cases, I have not examined the actual policies so I don't know the extent of the coverages.

Eric, well said.

To take this one thread one step further, " Does it make sense to track your F car" could very easily slip into " Does it make sense to own an F car". In both cases, the logical answer is NO. But the true answer is " Whatever turns you crank" as they say in the auto trade.

 

I think it is far safer to explore the speed of your car on a race track than on the public road.

Tracking means several things to several people. When I track my 348, I drive well within the cars limits (rarely get the car loose) and under my limits as well. I also keep a healthy distance between myself and other cars on the track - never race anyone. When I feel my concentration is slipping or am getting tired or say my tires are beginning too hot and loose grip, I stop for a break.

Therefore to me, tracking the car is really safe as the environment is quite controlled. On the open road with animals, cyclists, stupid drivers, damn cops, rough roads, etc. there is too many distractions to warrant testing your car limits.

Make sure your brakes and tires are up to snuff and the car's fluids are topped up.

I think since I started tracking my car, I've been driving a lot slower on the road.

 

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my porsche mechanic use to say that my modded twin turbo porsche was expensive, too fast and too heavy for track days, especially road america and he was right. once the brakes got hot, it felt like the rotors were warped and the front wheels were going to fall off.

tracked it for 3 years tho and it was fun.

but not as much fun as the 3 GSXR 1000's that i have ridden at the same tracks.. right amount of speed and risk to put a smile on your face.

175mph indicated at RA and she has more but that's enough for me.

when i tracked the porsche i was worried about wrecking the car, now i am worried about my own body.


thought about buying a C or D sports mazda powered race car but they are finicky and the bike is so simple. tires and brake pads.. that's it.. plus i ride to the track.

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i do know that at one of the events, someone balled up a Boxer at the Kink at RA. pretty much ripped off the front end.

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