This is friendly heads up to those who happen the track on occasion. It seems many auto manufactures and insurance companies are looking for the easy way out to deny claims. It started with Mitsubishi and the POS they call the "Evo", after some track use it has major clutch problems. In an effort to control warranty cost Mitsu reps have been watching tracks. Many tracks have electronic equipment in place that logs lic plate numbers and driver mug shot while racing. The auto manufactures are reviewing these tapes looking for their cars, then ending warranty coverage for those cars (yes, it is legal. I already checked).

Insurance companies are up to the same, Gieco for one is terminating coverage on any policy holder they catch engaged in motor sports of any kind with a vehicle they insure. It seems to have started with a guy who wrecked at the track and then tried to get it covered by lying and saying it was on the street, now they too are monitoring track event coverage.

Chevrolet is getting real picky about covering cars it suspects of participation in racing. Ford and DCX are not far behind.

On the insurance side, a few companies are ending coverage of vehicles it determines have been modified to increase performance potential, including lowering for better handling.

I have only turned 1 guy in ever and it was blatant abuse (2 engines in under a year with a NOS tank behind the seat. Most guys will let stuff slide but my DM has been coming by more and more and actually looking in the cars in the parking lot. He even asks questions sometimes like "does that look lowered to you?" or "do you think the CAI could pick up water and cause engine damage?"

Just a heads up guys, I pull my plates when running-it would be good idea for ya'll to do the same.

 

Good heads up...we should also be very specific as to what the insurance companies are looking for.

There are laws that protect consumers and the ability to be an individual and to modify your car are still alive and well. So what do I mean? Well a car company or insurance company cannot remove my insurance if I add a intake or quality headers to my car. or lets say a mild shot of nos.

Yes if I overdo the Nos (the only reason it ruins engines) and the car blows up. Well obviously the insurance company is not responsible. If I do it over and over on public roads I am obviously a problem child.

A race at the track with a stock car with mild mods will win in court and discrimination based on this is a joke. Really legally it’s a joke. So you go to the track do they have to tell you they use tapes..Oh yes they do. And so you leave and they don’t get the business.

I agree take heed corporations want to paint the picture and spread the fear ..Especially corporation produced subjects.. you should read “what they don’t teach you at Harvard business school”. old book, very clear example of life past the restraints of school.

Remember we are the new owner of the car and unless we are making a claim we are not putting the company at risk...Again we have to try and rip them off before we have crossed any lines. Remember using rules for general safty as a constraint are fine but broad discrimination is illegal. The dealership can pull a warranty if they can prove harm done but that is difficult without a history and proof of damage. Yes it will require fighting on your part but the action taken by the dealership does not mean they have a leg to stand on let alone can win in court.

The interesting thing is off road 4X4 activity is 100 times (not an actual figure) more likely to destroy your vehicle and yourself and yet insurance companies and car companies both have dealt with this without problems.

Why well they advertise the cars pounding and plowing through mud and terrain. Now take the new Toyota adds with cars jumping and flying through windows… Sorry this will end in a more difficult time gaining warranty work and less coverage for thouse who intend to race.

So yes take heed our actions do create reactions but we are still in America and this is not my parents house or roof for that matter.

Intakes leaving the engine bay are not an insurance concern unless they are too close to the ground and the car is in seriously deep water. Even then unless you ask them for money it’s not really a problem…is it.

Actually if you look up the number of cars with hydro lock you will find the numbers are higher with manufacture error than any other mods or intake systems.



Just for the record there are really no major limitations if you know what you are doing and there is insurance available even for kit cars.

Relax take a deep breath.. now sit down and think happy thoughts. I say driving a AWD Hemi in the snow this Christmas would be a good one. Just like on the car adds.

Ty

 

I have heard that rumor for years and years now, and never have seen anything that would indicate it to be true at all. I have raced for years, with cars that I drive daily, have volunteered at 2 tracks locally, and at least in those two places, it couldn't be farther from the truth. Also, if you are running a street class, the car has to be registered, and you usually have to write your license plate down.

Again, I am not saying it isn't true, but I am saying in my years of drag racing at tracks up and down the east coast I have NEVER seen or heard a story that would indicate that this is happening at all... And I have heard this rumor for as long as I have been racing...

It is common sense, if you break something while racing, don't expenct insurance or warrantee to fix it.... but I seriously doubt you would get dropped or void the warrantee just because you race it.... for crying out loud, cars like the WRX come with free memberships to the SCCA!!! If you go to Friday At The Track at Summit Point, and take the RACING course, your insurance rates go DOWN...

It is my personal opinion that they don't have the time or even care that much to monitor the statistically small amount of poeple that race thier cars... it would cost more to do that than to just pay the claims.

 

I'm telling you as a professional tech that the manufacters are starting to crack down, as stated earlier Mitsu in particular does not want their "street racer" Evo on the track at all. The manufacter CAN and WILL void waranty if they have evidence the vehicle is being abused (racing).

On the insurance end, I know of 2 cases already both involving Geico that ended with the policy being cancelled on all the cars the owners had because evidence was presented that they were drag racing at a sanctioned track.

This is something new, I too have raced for years and never even thought twice about it. I'm pretty sure it is the import tuners that are bringing it on but it affects everybody. Just a public service anouncement-not really debateable as it is not an opinion.

 

Okay, if it is not an opinion, please post facts.. post a link or some document that states this. I was a Geico customer and they knew I raced... my current insurance company knows I race... I have been at races where representatives form Cheverolet were there BECAUSE we were racing (lots of cars still under warrantee) at sanctioned tracks... John Moss with other Cheverolet High Ups were at the All Chevy Drag Day at Long Island Motor Speedway when the Impala group went up there... cars still under warantee... no body batted an eye...

If Mitsubishi is truely doing this, it would be strange as the money it would take to enforce it would be more than the money it would take to pay off the claims... it doesn't make good business... same thing with insurance companies... actually, to side with you there, I would believe that from an insurance company, but I have to call horse hockey on the warrantee claim that people are staking out drag strips and stanctioned race tracks waiting to void warrantees... not happening.

This rumor has been around since the stone ages, and I too fell for it too... until you provide (or anybody) some cold hard facts that this is going on, it is still and old wives tale...

I will be the first to eat crow if you prove me wrong... but I dont' think you will.

 

Beware everyone. I have seen a ton or crap from the legendary techs. I do not even know where to begin with this thread. Almost all of it is either pure crap or at best urban legend. The manufacture could not get access to the tapes without a court order and once a track did it would never see another club event. The warranty and insurance thoughts are also a load of crap. To deny warranty coverage the manufacture must prove the modifications were the cause. Now if the one guy turned in did in fact have NOS bottle then he is the fool. Insurance can be issued and expressly exclude coverage for off track use. Do not be afraid by those claiming expectise.

 

I have my doubts about this spying at tracks especially when people say the insurance companies drop you BEFORE you make a claim. You say they actively stop money from coming in even when NO CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED? They're so hungry for money this just doesn't add up. Now for somebody that's turned in a claim for several wrecked cars - sure. Insurance companies have also been known to hire investigators for workmens comp for a long time.
What this may have evolved out of is the black boxes on new cars. The boxes record how you drove the last few miles up till the memory wraps. However the insurance companies DO NEED A COURT ORDER to read your box since it IS YOUR BOX and not the insurance companies, not the cops, and not the manufacturer's. So shoot the box or get a spare.

 

ohh god the black box has to go.

Actually GM lets you opt out of a black box and you have the right to have it removed.

California is trying to take "big brother" a step further.. Yes they are saying they will drop the gas tax if you let them track your vehicle and charge you tax based on use. oH ya I want the government following me around in my car. LOL

Ty

 

Black Box?!?! This is a joke, right? I have done PCMs for GM cars for years now (also a computer geek), and the only thing that I know of that the PCM actually records and stores is fuel mappings (well, not really, called Block Learn Mode, big lookup table to adjust the amount of fuel at certain loads / RPMs) and trouble codes.... other than that it doesn't store anything else, that I know of... 1996 was the last model year that I did PCM tuning on so unless there is something new, I don't think this is correct.

If it is, please post more information about it, a link to a website or document that describes this and what exactly is being stored and where (separate box? Same PCM?)

I know that BMW was going to install a bluetooth transmitter on thier cars so when you drive up into the service lane the service writer could tell if you had any trouble codes, your VIN, etc.... the downside was that it would also tell a police officer how fast you were going and wether it thought you were currently passing emissions or not... not sure what happened with that.

 

Here in Florida, we only have a rear plate, no front plate.

Easy matter to remove the plate or tape it over when you are at the track.

Bob