Question on Spring Mountain School
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 3,046
Likes: 85
From: Wimauma, FL
NCM Ambassador
Cruise-In 1, 2, 6, 8 Veteran
Question on Spring Mountain School
I was told that you should or need to purchase insurance for the cars. Is this the case and if so what is the best way or option. Thanks in advance.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 406
From: Syracuse New York
I'm not positive on this, but I believe if you're in a Stingray or Grand Sport you can pay a small fee and be covered with a $2,000 deductible, but that doesn't apply to ZO6's, they have a $10,000 deductible. There are big runoff areas there, so not a lot to hit, just as long as you don't try to be the next Mario. I've only seen 1 guy go off track, and he didn't hurt the car, but they will pull the car and check it out before running it again. I'm sure if you give them a call Donna could explain the whole scenario, pricing and all.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 264
Likes: 73
From: CT
You can only purchase the insurance if you are driving a Stingray which lowers the deductable to $2000. Insurance is not offered on the Grand Sport or Z06 and the deductable is $10,000. Like TK said, unless you are trying to drive over your head chances of going off the track are slim. I went twice last year and no one went off either time.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 465
Likes: 159
From: Minot ND
Not needed and not even recommended by the staff. They tell you about it but no pressure. I only heard of one guy going off the track and it was some sort of medical emergency. These cars stick so well that I can't imagine amateurs like us would push one hard enough to break loose. Besides, the instructor is in front of you and won't let you go faster than you can handle.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 212
From: FL
Drove a Z51 and was told $10,000 deductible you could buy back. You would have to be a complete idiot to damage one as there is really not much of a chance of hitting anything if you pay attention. The Corvette is a very forgiving car in the Track settings you will be in.
Last edited by Richard Ames; Feb 28, 2018 at 10:00 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 5,888
Likes: 1,559
From: Calgary Alberta
As mentioned above, you need to be beyond useless to damage a car on this track in these circumstances.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 676
Likes: 111
I attended the school few weeks ago, and the insurance was not offered for the Grand Sport. I'd have bought it for peace of mind. The only chances that the car would be damaged are when you go off track or collision with another car. Per staff and instructors, it rarely happens.
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 308
Likes: 62
From: Broadview Hts Ohio
Don't waste your money on insurance. The instructors have a fairly tight rein on your ability and speed. A seasoned instructor (there 12 years) told me when I attended that in all his years there only two vehicles left the track and it was minor stone damage.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 5,888
Likes: 1,559
From: Calgary Alberta
I have to disagree with the tight rein on speed. If you are the first car behind the lead car, they will go as fast as your ability will allow.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 676
Likes: 111
It depends on who you are paired with - instructor and students. I was paired with an older gentleman who was a bit slower. The instructor kept slower pace than other groups. When I was in front, the other student was far behind us and the instructor slows down for him to catch up, and when I was in the back, it was difficult avoiding tailgating especially out of a corner.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 254
I scheduled a class a week ago. Z51/7M is covered under their insurance for damages over $8K. You're responsible for the 1st $8K. If you don't already have insurance they can sell you coverage for the the 1st $8K for $200. I was told they rarely have any damage and if it happens it is usually a wheel or two.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 220
Likes: 30
From: Fairfax VA
+1 on skipping the insurance BTW. Between the track, the instructors/marshals and the car's capabilities you have to go out of your way to hurt yourself, but even so they tell you if you go off the track, just stop, quickly, completely. They will come get you. The instructors and marshals also poke at drivers who follow too close.
Last edited by Co-Vette; Feb 28, 2018 at 02:00 PM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 389
Likes: 128
From: Santa Maria CA
Not needed and not even recommended by the staff. They tell you about it but no pressure. I only heard of one guy going off the track and it was some sort of medical emergency. These cars stick so well that I can't imagine amateurs like us would push one hard enough to break loose. Besides, the instructor is in front of you and won't let you go faster than you can handle.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 2,366
From: SF Bay Area CA
I had the same experience. Especially early on when some folks were not comfortable really pushing the car you can get stuck behind them but if you move to the front the instructors pretty much would let you go as fast you were comfortable.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 1,017
From: MOUNTAIN HOME Arkansas
Posted this before. Before I went this past Oct, I went into local State Farm office (my agent) & did not call first. Asked if I'd be covered by my ins. if I damaged the schools car. Agent said yes & I asked him to print out a statement to take with me. He sorta hedged & said "let me call main office in Louisiana". He spoke to supervisor of claims who stated yes I would be covered (the 3 of us were on speaker). After that, local agent printed out a short statement I was covered & I reminded him we were on speaker when told I was covered. Bottom line, I was covered because it was not an "actual sanctioned race". It is a driving school to teach us to be better drivers & we are not using our cars. Kinda, sorta like a rental being covered by our ins. I know I will get flamed & told I don't know what I'm talking about but I had the "coverage" printout in my school folder when I left to go. I'm sure not all ins. companies are the same & some states may even have something to say about this kind of coverage since most ins. companies are governed by state regulatory boards. Just my experience, you're choice if you want to explore this possibility with your ins. I would get it in writing tho!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,481
Likes: 394
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
The insurance lowers your responsibility from $8000 to $2000. Nobody in my group took it nor did I very many poor looking people around there. $6000 really didn’t seem like a very big issue to anyone there. Not really easy to damage anything anyway. If you’re a terrible driver, poor or worry a lot, maybe. Otherwise you are just wasting more money.
Most fun place ever. A lot cheaper than say Disney World and certainly more fun.
Most fun place ever. A lot cheaper than say Disney World and certainly more fun.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,019
Likes: 2,714
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Last month, the instructors in our class sessions referred to a serious off-track event (none in our class) as "using up your deductible", and a spin (none of those either) as a "panoramic view of the track."