IHRA raises Sportsman purses!

[Adger Smith]

Joe,
As a former multi track owner and operator from the Good Old Days I would like to try to answer your question on insurance in the past. First let me say this is in no way intended to point out anything bad at either NHRA or IHRA or the current insurance companies. I'm Just telling it like it is from my side of the fence.
I ran my tracks under both NHRA and IHRA and as independent. In the past you bought track insurance based on the type of race your having and the duration. When I ran bracket races for one day I paid a set amount. When I stepped up and had a Pro Comp race (Alky funnies & alky dragsters) I had to pay a different rate and it also had a length of event, by day cost. 2 days cost more than 1 day and 3 cost more than 2 days, ect.
The policy had to be paid in full up front. It also had a deadline for payment and a deadline for payment for running a day long because of rain or delay.
As a track owner I paid the insurance. I usually just figured it in as part of the entry fees. I always knew up front what the cost was. I don't think It was ever based on number of participants or attendance, just the type of event.
Back in my day the only racers that got in free were the booked in shows. With all the Free Pros and booked in show formats of today who pays for their insurance? Could these 2 days the sportsmen race with the additional insurance fees be what pays the insurance for the Pro days and booked in show days? If I remember correctly the rates for insurance increased drastically if blower cars and exotic fuel cars were run. I'm pretty sure it is the same way today.
That always told me the slower sportsman cars were safer and caused less death and destruction than the pros or Shows that had blowers and exotic fuel. It would be interesting to check the frequency of claims on the insurance companies and see who really costs more. Shouldn't the spectator that comes to see these shows be responsible for paying "Their' insurance coverage, not the sportsman that is out of there by the time the show starts???

[buzzinhalfdozen]

Adger, thanks for the reply. As I stated not too many years ago we paid no insurance charges so it had to be paid somehow I just wasn't sure who paid it. So why can't I be self insured? My understanding is that their coverage doesn't even start until your personel insurance has been exhausted. I'm not going to complain about another $10 I'm complainig about the fact that we get caught holding the bag for ALL of the coverage for everyone! Also if I'm not mistaken they've quit paying 1st round winners, if I read it right, so they've just redistributed the wealth, kinda like Mr. O intends on doing. Joe

[THE LEGEND]

The way track prep has been lately there probably crashing more sportsman than pro.
Chip

[71mavlouisville]

Don't think that this insurance pays for air ambulance transport, it doesn't. I know from first hand experience after an accident at a divisional. For that whole incident my health insurance and my personal pocket book payed out over $21,000 and Wisenberg Motorsports payed out $150.00. Wisenberg is the insurance for NHRA. Do not count on them helping you in any way. I fought with those people for months. The policy specifically states they do not cover air transport! Check your personal health insurance policy. A large percentage of those policies also do not cover air transport. Air ambulance is VERY expensive. My transport was 30 miles and the bill was $13,500. My insurance covered $10,000 and I was responsible for $3,500. NHRA advertises that Wisenberg will cover what your insurance doesn't, but, this doesn't apply to air and I was stuck with the $3,500. I would like the option of not buying the insurance for the event and self insuring because that is basically what happened to me.

[buzzinhalfdozen]

Originally Posted by 71mavlouisville

Don't think that this insurance pays for air ambulance transport, it doesn't. I know from first hand experience after an accident at a divisional. For that whole incident my health insurance and my personal pocket book payed out over $21,000 and Wisenberg Motorsports payed out $150.00. Wisenberg is the insurance for NHRA. Do not count on them helping you in any way. I fought with those people for months. The policy specifically states they do not cover air transport! Check your personal health insurance policy. A large percentage of those policies also do not cover air transport. Air ambulance is VERY expensive. My transport was 30 miles and the bill was $13,500. My insurance covered $10,000 and I was responsible for $3,500. NHRA advertises that Wisenberg will cover what your insurance doesn't, but, this doesn't apply to air and I was stuck with the $3,500. I would like the option of not buying the insurance for the event and self insuring because that is basically what happened to me.

This is EXACTLY what I'm saying. What type of coverage are we getting? In your case that's 3 races worth of surcharges for what? Is there a way...legally around this? Seems like their taking alot in for very little if any coverage. As most people I'm familiar with insurance companies ways of doing business, Stall, Refuse, Wait till you just give up and pay it yourself. If we're paying for it why don't we have a say in coverage? Also I don't recall but I thought at IHRA Div. races there was no insurance charge, can't remember about NHRA Div. races if so are we merely paying for the Pro's? Just wondering. Joe

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by buzzinhalfdozen

This is EXACTLY what I'm saying. What type of coverage are we getting? In your case that's 3 races worth of surcharges for what? Is there a way...legally around this? Seems like their taking alot in for very little if any coverage. As most people I'm familiar with insurance companies ways of doing business, Stall, Refuse, Wait till you just give up and pay it yourself. If we're paying for it why don't we have a say in coverage? Also I don't recall but I thought at IHRA Div. races there was no insurance charge, can't remember about NHRA Div. races if so are we merely paying for the Pro's? Just wondering. Joe

KA CHING.....your paying for the fuel cars.

[B Aceves]

Originally Posted by 71mavlouisville

Don't think that this insurance pays for air ambulance transport, it doesn't. I know from first hand experience after an accident at a divisional. For that whole incident my health insurance and my personal pocket book payed out over $21,000 and Wisenberg Motorsports payed out $150.00. Wisenberg is the insurance for NHRA. Do not count on them helping you in any way. I fought with those people for months. The policy specifically states they do not cover air transport! Check your personal health insurance policy. A large percentage of those policies also do not cover air transport. Air ambulance is VERY expensive. My transport was 30 miles and the bill was $13,500. My insurance covered $10,000 and I was responsible for $3,500. NHRA advertises that Wisenberg will cover what your insurance doesn't, but, this doesn't apply to air and I was stuck with the $3,500. I would like the option of not buying the insurance for the event and self insuring because that is basically what happened to me.

Not to Hijack the thread but, when it comes to having to pay for air transport just a FYI if your HMO does not cover Air Emergency Transport and you live in these states CA, WASH, WM,ID,NV,OR You can join a membership with Calstar for 45$ a year for family coverage in case you should god forbid ever need it.
more info can be found at http://www.calstar.org/ I found out from personal usage its worth every dime,
Maybe other states offer something close to this in your case it might be a little to late but you never know,Hope this helps.