IHRA raises Sportsman purses! - Page 2

Adger Smith · 11-16-2009, 11:46 PM

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???

novassdude · 11-16-2009, 11:47 PM

I think what people are trying to say is they used to have to pay insurance for 3 days (they being IHRA) now they only have to pay for 2 days insurance. Yet they raised the price to the racers.

Ed Fernandez · 11-17-2009, 12:32 AM

***

Jimi B · 11-17-2009, 12:45 AM

Exactly. Trust me, 90% of the time I would rather be at the race track than anywhere else. But as far as what you are paying for to race, you are not losing anything. Sure the extra day to catch up with your racing friends is great, and making laps is fun too. You can go to test and tune if you want to do that. But when you get to this level of racing, a lot of racers think bottom dollar. I think its a good move on there part. Im hoping next year will be my first venture in to class racing for myself, but I never really considered IHRA racing. maybe I will now.

Michael Lyons · 11-17-2009, 07:28 AM

uh NHRA did raise the insurance ealier this year form $40 to $60 and they charge you for each and every car even if the same guys driving!?! To the tune of $120 at Indy for me! So it doesn't surprise me that the "I" has now followed suit. I personally wonder where this money goes? I mean if no one gets hurt at the race and theres no helicopter rides, where does the $20-30,000 dollars go? I'm thinkin I wannna start an insurance company just for the drag races, that'd be nearly 1 million in revenue in one year covering both santioning bodies assuming this doesn't hurt entrys in 2010.. I mean you have to sign a waiver when you enter the track don't you? So whats the insurance for? I just signed a waiver that says the "N" or the "I" is not responsible and I assume all risks, and most likely that I cannot sue them either if something, anything happens, right? So whats the $50-60 bucks for?!!

I've said it before and I'm sure I will say it more and more until my dirt nap. GREED is one of the seven deadly sins! See y'all in hell!

I too am keeping my fingers crossed for the contingency Myron. Toes, arms, legs, eyes too, you name it, its crossed cause its gonna need all the help it can get!

X-TECH MAN · 11-17-2009, 08:53 AM

Hey.....Ya gotta pay for the "Fuel Queers". Prabably for T/AD and AF/C also. Extra oil dry is need when they run usually......Maybe for the stockers to after that deal at Pomona.

buzzinhalfdozen · 11-17-2009, 10:02 AM

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 · 11-17-2009, 10:18 AM

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

71mavlouisville · 11-17-2009, 11:00 AM

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 · 11-17-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

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

11-16-2009, 11:46 PM	#11
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: IHRA raises Sportsman purses! 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??? __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)

11-16-2009, 11:47 PM	#12
novassdude Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: usa Posts: 752 Likes: 204 Liked 136 Times in 49 Posts	Re: IHRA raises Sportsman purses! I think what people are trying to say is they used to have to pay insurance for 3 days (they being IHRA) now they only have to pay for 2 days insurance. Yet they raised the price to the racers.

11-17-2009, 12:32 AM	#13
Ed Fernandez Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NOO JOISEY nexta NOO YAWK Posts: 5,879 Likes: 38 Liked 100 Times in 45 Posts	Re: IHRA raises Sportsman purses! *** __________________ Former NHRA #1945 Former IHRA #1945 T/SA Last edited by Ed Fernandez; 11-17-2009 at 12:00 PM.

11-17-2009, 12:45 AM	#14
Jimi B Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 226 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: IHRA raises Sportsman purses! Exactly. Trust me, 90% of the time I would rather be at the race track than anywhere else. But as far as what you are paying for to race, you are not losing anything. Sure the extra day to catch up with your racing friends is great, and making laps is fun too. You can go to test and tune if you want to do that. But when you get to this level of racing, a lot of racers think bottom dollar. I think its a good move on there part. Im hoping next year will be my first venture in to class racing for myself, but I never really considered IHRA racing. maybe I will now.

11-17-2009, 07:28 AM	#15
Michael Lyons Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Garden City, MI Posts: 226 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: IHRA raises Sportsman purses! uh NHRA did raise the insurance ealier this year form $40 to $60 and they charge you for each and every car even if the same guys driving!?! To the tune of $120 at Indy for me! So it doesn't surprise me that the "I" has now followed suit. I personally wonder where this money goes? I mean if no one gets hurt at the race and theres no helicopter rides, where does the $20-30,000 dollars go? I'm thinkin I wannna start an insurance company just for the drag races, that'd be nearly 1 million in revenue in one year covering both santioning bodies assuming this doesn't hurt entrys in 2010.. I mean you have to sign a waiver when you enter the track don't you? So whats the insurance for? I just signed a waiver that says the "N" or the "I" is not responsible and I assume all risks, and most likely that I cannot sue them either if something, anything happens, right? So whats the $50-60 bucks for?!! I've said it before and I'm sure I will say it more and more until my dirt nap. GREED is one of the seven deadly sins! See y'all in hell! I too am keeping my fingers crossed for the contingency Myron. Toes, arms, legs, eyes too, you name it, its crossed cause its gonna need all the help it can get!

11-17-2009, 08:53 AM	#16
X-TECH MAN Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lake Placid, Florida Posts: 3,203 Likes: 1,047 Liked 235 Times in 110 Posts	Re: IHRA raises Sportsman purses! Hey.....Ya gotta pay for the "Fuel Queers". Prabably for T/AD and AF/C also. Extra oil dry is need when they run usually......Maybe for the stockers to after that deal at Pomona.

11-17-2009, 10:02 AM	#17
buzzinhalfdozen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bellevue Ohio Posts: 984 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Re: IHRA raises Sportsman purses! 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 __________________ Joe Buchanan SS/BX 3117

11-17-2009, 10:18 AM	#18
THE LEGEND VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fayetteville, n.c. Posts: 1,411 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: IHRA raises Sportsman purses! The way track prep has been lately there probably crashing more sportsman than pro. Chip

11-17-2009, 11:00 AM	#19
71mavlouisville Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 68 Likes: 0 Liked 28 Times in 1 Post	Re: IHRA raises Sportsman purses! 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.