Driver liability to track/region?

[cashmo]

At SCCA races in your area, if you go off track while racing (blown tire) and hit a guard rail do you have to pay either the region or track for damage you inflicted on the guard rail?

If yes, if someone punts you from behind and you damage a guard rail do both of you have to split the costs 50/50?

Thanks,
Jeff

[Peter Olivola]

At most SCCA races such damage is between the organizing region and the track. There is no financial liability for such damage attached to event entry. If the Supplemental Regulations for the event require the driver to pick up the cost then that would apply. Otherwise there's no such provision in the GCR.

[Knestis]

When we used to race at the Olympia airport (WA), the sups specified the cost of replacing any taxiway marker lights that a driver might bust...

K

[JohnRW]

This could be an interesting thread.

In my experience, SCCA Regions and SCCA event insurance will cover damage done to the facility in the course of the event. I don't believe that this covers "malicious acts" or "gross stupidity", but does cover the typical 'crash your race car into guard rail / foam blocks / the porta-potty on pit lane'. SCCA Regions also cover speedy-dry, fire extinguisher use, etc., so competitors and participants don't get whacked with a bill at the end of the weekend. (In addition to crashing my own race cars, I've been a Reg'l & Nat'l race chair and I've filled out the insurance claim stuff myself, so I'm not just talking OMA)(although I can do that, when pressed)

I recently raced with NASA, and at the Saturday morning driver's meeting, we were all told, in clear and concise terms, that if driver(s) damaged any guard rail or whacked any foam blocks or caused the depletion of the world's supply of speedy-dry, those drivers would be financially responsible for the cost, not NASA. That was a new one on me, although I don't race with NASA alot.

OK, class - please discuss...

[This message has been edited by JohnRW (edited March 04, 2004).]

[Speed Raycer]

Originally posted by JohnRW:
This could be an interesting thread.

I recently raced with NASA, and at the Saturday morning driver's meeting, we were all told, in clear and concise terms, that if driver(s) ... caused the depletion of the world's supply of speedy-dry, those drivers would be financially responsible for the cost, not NASA.

That might not be a bad idea for the SCCA. The first time I worked a corner, some AS driver oiled down the track from T2 all the way through T7 (basically the entire infield at Gateway). Took us at least 30-40 minutes to get the oil dry down. The guy knew he was having problems as he was cruising at way less than track speed and blowing smoke .


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Scott
It's not what you build...
it's how you build it

[RSTPerformance]

At my second track event ever I spun at over 100mph at Le Circut de Tremblant (with an instructer in the car). I glanced the guardrail and put a black mark on it from the bumber of the MR2 (no dents). I am guessing that COM (Corvets of Mass) was charged for it as they sent me a bill for $300.00. I called them and said, I don't think so, I was not aware of this and it was not in the supps. Not to mention other people had more seriouse accidents in the same turn. I told them if need be I would drive back up and paint it myself.

They decided that i did not need to pay

Raymond Blethen

PS: If it is in the supps like at Watkins Glenn then I have no problems paying.

[RSTPerformance]

double post

[This message has been edited by RSTPerformance (edited March 04, 2004).]

[ddewhurst]

I'll go with what Peter says.

Jeff, did ya do it or are you anticipating?

Continue the Fun
David

[Drew Aldred]

I think I would have a BIG problem with this. After paying my entry fee, and having to fix the damage to my car, to then get a bill on top of that would really piss me off ! Anyone who would oil down a track should be disciplined, but someone who smokes a motor and then pulls off right away to also have to pay for the oil dry used seems excessive IMHO. Go ahead and bump my entry fee another 5 bucks to cover any damages, most events this year are going to be around $230-$240 anyway. I would certainly avoid any region or organization that is going to ding me for slight, unintended damage to the track or safety barriers.

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#42 GP Spitfire
Member 289368

[Maddog]

Originally posted by cashmo:
At SCCA races in your area, if you go off track while racing (blown tire) and hit a guard rail do you have to pay either the region or track for damage you inflicted on the guard rail?

Texas World bills the Region for damage done to guardrail and fence. It is covered under SCCA insurance less a deductible of (I think) $500. There has been talk of passing that along to the driver who did the damage.

I seem to recall that there was something in the supps at Road Atlanta last year stating that drivers are responsible but I don't know if they actually collect or not.

[planet6racing]

So, I would need to add another $150 per event to my budget in case I ding up a guardrail, potentially through no fault of my own (budgeted like crash damage)?

If that were to happen, I'd seriously have to think about changing things. Karts are cheaper, just as fast, and less likely to do damage to the track.



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Bill
Planet 6 Racing
bill (at) planet6racing (dot) com

[bhudson]

From the supps for this weekend's SARRC/ECR/Pro-IT at Road Atlanta...

19. Property Damage: SCCA Atlanta may hold drivers responsible for damages to property. Drivers continually cutting apexes in the grass may be held responsible for repairs and may be penalized.

Road Atlanta does charge Atlanta Region for track damage. However, I don't think the region bills everyone - I think it's more along the lines of "intentional" vs "accidental."

Bob Hudson
Asst Flag Chief
Atlanta Region

[RacerBill]

Previously posted:

'19. Property Damage: SCCA Atlanta may hold drivers responsible for damages to property. Drivers continually cutting apexes in the grass may be held responsible for repairs and may be penalized.'

I think that the word 'may' opens a lot of questions. If the region is going to determine on a case by case basis whether or not to bill a driver for damage, what criteria is going to be used to make that determination? Technically, any damage could be prevented if no one showed up!

I am not sure what the answer is (to bill or not to bill), but in any event, the rule should be clear, and available for the entrant to read and understand before they commit to the event.

[JohnRW]

Previously posted:

'19. Drivers continually cutting apexes in the grass may be held responsible for repairs and may be penalized.'

Anything between the fences is fair game. If they don't want us to drive there, they can put up a wall.

[Maddog]

Originally posted by JohnRW:
Anything between the fences is fair game. If they don't want us to drive there, they can put up a wall.

Or they can ask you to read GCR. (9.1.4 in the '03 book, I don't have an '04 handy).

[bodyshop]

How about the Spec Miata driver who celebrated his finish by doing a donut across the tri-oval grass at Daytona? I think he had to pay.

Fred

[whenry]

Kinda like the nudists who undress on the cool-down laps, the boy has been watching too much NASCAR. There are lots of things that they do and get away with due to professional status and entertainment value ie Kurt Busch vs Jimmy Spencer Kevin Harvick vs (enter name here)

[pgipson]

I seem to recall that it was standard policy at Charlotte Motor Speedway 15 or more years ago that drivers paid for repairs to the grass at start/finish for any "intentional destruction". Accidental excursions onto the grass were frowned upon.

Paul

[byron12]

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