An idiot killed my baby. Need advice.

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Dang I hate to hear /see this. I'm glad you are ok. I agree with some hard work the car is fixable. Kern dog is a great guy! I hope you can get it fixed or at least find another shell and use as much as you can off your car. Good luck keep us posted.
 
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Trevor B said:
Folks - thank you all for your kind responses!

I have some small bit of possibly good news: a friend in my Mopar club has reached out and offered me his 1971 Duster roller for peanuts. I will be looking at it soon. It's been sitting out in the yard for a few years but if it isn't too rusty, I'll probably pick it up and begin the process of putting things back together. I have this fantasy of inviting about 8 of my car friends over for some kind of big Saturday-long chassis swap party at my buddy's garage for pizza and beer. It works for moving out of a house, right?

Kern Dog - your offer is amazing! I may reach out to you for parts, depending on which route I end up taking. Have to admit, I know zero about body work and this level of reconstruction is totally intimidating. But thank you in any event. I, too, work in Kentfield. What are the chances? We should find a chance to meet up at some point.

Pishta - would you believe you're the 3rd person to send me this link?! My buddy at the track was showing it to me within about an hour of the crash. I may check it out, depending on what happens with the '71.

Slantsix64 - I cannot wait to see the video if one ever surfaces. I was running around in circles screaming at the dude at the top of my lungs trying to tear him apart and the security and paramedics were chasing me around trying to get in between us/stop me from attacking him while bleeding all over the place.

I have filed a claim with his insurance but am basically hoping for the best and expecting the worst. If they deny me, as I suspect they will, I will contact him directly and see about offering him the chance to do something to try to make things right. He sort of had that "this guy has money" look about him with his brand new helmet and brand new race suit. Maybe (hopefully) he feels really bad about it. I dunno. I would if I were in his shoes.
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I was thinking about this when I read your story. Maybe it'll help:
 
SLOPAR72 said:
I figure the numbers don't lie. If you take the number of passes made yearly on all tracks worldly there are not many incidents such as the OP's. But generally speaking you would have a ton of waded up cars with a center barrier. However when an assclown shows up without knowledge of the track it surely sways the argument of a center barrier in your favor.....

JW
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If your a boot, ask the starter..." Can I have bumpers please?.." and up they raise, like in a bowling alley. That would be funny.
 
pishta said:
If your a boot, ask the starter..." Can I have bumpers please?.." and up they raise, like in a bowling alley. That would be funny.
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Yeah - then you could use a little ramp to get started, like they give the kids!
 
Most insurance companies offer track insurance coverage for off-road activities. At a cost of course. Hopefully he did this or he & OP are claimless.
When i decided to race my 65 cuda for a whole season in 2008 got extra track insurance coverage thru hagerty for yr. You can go entire yr. or event by event.
 
I'm glad that you're not hurt. In '19 your car is going to be repairable. They aren't making any more Dusters. Now maybe you don't have the skills or $$ to fix it up, but someone does. Even as a roller, it has potential. I've driven cars in worse shape than that one.
 
Oldschoolcuda said:
Most insurance companies offer track insurance coverage for off-road activities. At a cost of course. Hopefully he did this or he & OP are claimless.
When i decided to race my 65 cuda for a whole season in 2008 got extra track insurance coverage thru hagerty for yr. You can go entire yr. or event by event.
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When I got my Duster insured by Hagerty last year they made it very clear that my car would NOT be insured at any drag racing-type event. Autocross and road course track day coverage was a little extra (which I got) but they said drag racing "is too open about who can drive and how much drivers need to know before getting on the track." They may offer specific coverage for drag racing but I told them that's not what I intended to do with the car anyway. On that note I never quite understood how drag strips just let you jump in and go while road courses/auto-x have mandatory new-driver training before you're allowed on the track at all.

To the OP, major bummer but even as someone who's not good with body work that doesn't look nearly as bad as other cars I've seen wrecked and brought back. Hopefully you can get something out of the idiot who hit you, however if he's really a rich guy you might have a tough time getting him to understand what it means to spend years building your own fast car instead of just buying one. Best wishes and don't get too discouraged by this, sounds like you have some good backup plans now to get back on track.
 
MopaR&D said:
When I got my Duster insured by Hagerty last year they made it very clear that my car would NOT be insured at any drag racing-type event. Autocross and road course track day coverage was a little extra (which I got) but they said drag racing "is too open about who can drive and how much drivers need to know before getting on the track." They may offer specific coverage for drag racing but I told them that's not what I intended to do with the car anyway. On that note I never quite understood how drag strips just let you jump in and go while road courses/auto-x have mandatory new-driver training before you're allowed on the track at all.
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You got bad advice from an agent or it is a state thing for you.
Hagerty Motorsports Insurance | Off-Track Vintage Race Car Coverage
 
I wouldn't write that one off, its very fixable. Probably less work than swapping everything to a different body.
 
Be glad its the car and not you!
 
MopaR&D said:
I just read this from your link...

Coverage For How You Use Your Race Car
We protect your car in the trailer, in the paddock, in storage — just not when it’s racing on the track. Full coverage is available for driving on the street if it’s a street-legal race car, or even for a parade lap or two.
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Had track day coverage. Of course i was covered in 2008 not 2019 and on track activity including strip was covered. Every state & company is different. Point is any type of off road insurance is available if ya can pony up for it. Hopefully dude that ruined OPosters car had multipliers.
 
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Penstarpurist said:
I'm assuming the mustang driver's car wont be covered by insurance either if they dont cover accidents in sporting events like this? Correct? I'm asking, as I'm not sure.
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I would make sure his insurance co new he wrecked you at the track, so they don't cover him not knowing he wrecked it at the track.
 
On track insurance is very specific. Bill Lutz who is known in the top tier and no prep world has discussed it on Yellowbullet and in depth. He use to offer it. Definitely read the fine print....

JW
 
Once at the track , I was in the burnout box ( left lane ) waiting for the guy to motion me in. Did my burnout . He motioned me to stage, I did. lightsn came down and I'm off. Blowing through the traps at 130 and heres some NOVA limping down the wall in my lane getting ready to take the first turn off. Needless to say I was pissed at the guy working the tree.
 
Trevor B said:
My insurance will not cover race track damage. I don't know what to do. I have well over $25k in this car, even though she doesn't look it from the outside.
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First, let me say that I am truly sorry for the loss. I am also really glad you are OK. I TOTALLY agree that the car is fixable. The feasibility of you being able to afford it all depends on how much of the work you can do yourself.
That all being said, this is exactly why I do not take my car to Heartland Park on a Test and Tune night. I am not willing to lose my investment. I am guessing low 3s, but I don't care enough to take the chance. I had a couple of guys giving me crap a while back for being scared to do it.
 
While I do like a challenge, if I were to find a solid roller type car for $1000, I would grab it fast. The OPs car can be fixed but it will take time and skill, plus a place to do the work. Spotweld cutting, panel fitment, measuring, welding...
Again, it can be done but I suspect anyone with common sense would agree that it is faster and easier to find another car.
Kentfield....I'm working at the Bacich elementary school remodel. I've been on that job since January 2nd and we are almost finished.
 
Trevor B said:
Now I've called a few lawyers who refuse to take my case - the waiver we sign at the gate to get in to the track is pretty specific about eliminating the possibility of suing another driver, even in clear
cases of negligence. My insurance will not cover race track damage. I don't know what to do. I have well over $25k in this car, even though she doesn't look it from the outside.

Has anyone had any experience with race track crashes and making things right afterward?
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as far as getting cash from the other guy i have no idea what to say there. you may just be outta luck which really blows..

like others have stated the main thing is you are ok...

as far as the car goes. unless you are doing the repair yourself (not sure its worth fixing even then) then its not worth fixing.. find another body thats in good shape and put all your stuff in it and be done. yes the old one is fixable but i just don't see it being worth the time and effort to do so..
 
I would contact the other driver and ask him what his intentions are on paying your damage. Tell him that if he pays you will not contact his insurance.
You will be surprised how fast you get paid. I am sure he didn't contact the insurance and is hiding the damaged car. If it becomes known to that bank that his car is totaled they will demand immediate payment of the loan. It will be cheaper for him to fix your car.
I knew someone that crashed a new car at the track. He hid the car waited a while and then reported it stolen to get the bank note paid.

I believe some strategic phone calls to him will get you paid. You know he didn't contact his insurance and probably don't want to for various reasons such as insurances rates,loan, and lies he already may have put forward to others.

Threatening the call to authorities may turn the table for you. Just do it in the proper sequence. I just battled the insurance for damage as well. You never want anyone else's input into your business after you already told your story of what happened to your insured car after you gave your statement.

The ball is in your court , Make your moves strategically with him. Be calm and tell him if he don't pay you will have to contact his insurance which he knows will contact his bank.

Been there.

Also getting another body is the best move . Your car is dish ragged and not very good for a drag car. Maybe you can fix it for the street or for resale. If it was a valuable rare numbers car that would be different. But not a base Duster its just not worth the time.
 
harrisonm said:
First, let me say that I am truly sorry for the loss. I am also really glad you are OK. I TOTALLY agree that the car is fixable. The feasibility of you being able to afford it all depends on how much of the work you can do yourself.
That all being said, this is exactly why I do not take my car to Heartland Park on a Test and Tune night. I am not willing to lose my investment. I am guessing low 3s, but I don't care enough to take the chance. I had a couple of guys giving me crap a while back for being scared to do it.
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Your still scared... You can ask to take a solo pass..
Next excuse....
 
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