Insurance information straight from the source!

[REAL 1]

Dr. Bolte: Never thought of it that way. Hmmm. Well I could argue, however, that the fact that I still exercise/workout 3 days a week and skate and average of 4 hours a week and play on average 2 1/2 hours of hockey a week keeps me in pretty fair shape therefore keeping the cost of my healthcare in general less than the average person who may be out of shape.

What do you think doc?

Just a thought.

[RACER X #99]

Evan,
Don't tell anybody but if my car was as prestine as yours is. it would not see any track time either.
Don't forget I didn't become a track Junkie until after my car aquired plenty of road rash on the street. But then after two weeks I figured it was time to hit the tracks.
No more kiddies at home so I have lots of time to play.

Cranky

[CSX 4039]

Originally posted by REAL 1

What do you think doc?


[/b]

I think that:

1) that is a rationalization, albeit a good one. Traumatic arthritis will still set in, though. (Plaintiffs attorneys know all about that, that is how they get large payouts for "future medical").

2) with all the time you spend exercizing, and all the time you spend on this website, and that you are raising children, you have an enviable work schedule. Must have won some big cases. Congrats.

[Jamo]

You know Doc, I've got to commed you on the nice way you opined that Evan has a lot of time on his hands.

[REAL 1]

Doc: Thanks for the compliment.

Lately have been spending alot of time on the cite due to some current issues that make my blood boil. Unhealthy I know.

As to winning big cases. Yeah. I have. Thats because I so F'in good.

Jamo: I would'nt laugh. Your post count blows mine in the weeds.

Cranky: We are on the same page.

[Jamo]

Evan

Obviously--it's because I win more big F'ing cases than you do.

[southernfriedcj]

Originally posted by southernfriedcj


Great info.
I was introduced to an insurance agent the other day, and we got to talkin' about performance cars. The subject came around to Cobras, and he said he would insure them. I asked him to send me some business cards, and sure enough, they arrived at my office today. If you guys want his name and #, and if it's alright with Brent, I'll post it tomorrow night.

Sorry for the long delay.
The insurance agent is George Bond. He is in Athens, Georgia. He is a Nationwide agent, but he writes Cobra replicas through another company. His # is 706.353.8766
He is a friend of a friend, please mention my friend, Mark Jennings, when you call.
If this post is considered advertising please delete it. I don't have a dog in this hunt, I'm just trying to help.

My apologies for bringing this thread back on topic.

[CSX 4039]

Originally posted by REAL 1


Jamo: I would'nt laugh. Your post count blows mine in the weeds.
[/b]

Yes, but in total words written, it is about evan, er, even.

[klayfish]

Evan, I actually agree with you on something!! Hockey keeps you in shape. I used to play not that long ago. Money, other interests and bad knees stopped me a few years back. However, I would challenge any athelete to take a 45 second- 1 minute shift on the ice, with only a few minutes break in between. People think it's no big deal. Hah!! Now what was it that makes your blood boil? Did I tell you about the case I got today?? Oh, never mind.

We seem to have moved on from the original thoughts in the thread (not a complaint, just an observation). We're moving forward with this idea and will post very shortly how we will proceed. I wanted to thank everyone for their input and want to hear more about your thoughts on this. We really want to make this a positive voice for all of us, and need your input and help. This will work!!

Steve

[REAL 1]

Steve: Hockey is my passion. Always loved it. Started skating at 6. I continue to play regularly at a high level to this day. My problem is, as you have pointed out the stamina it takes to play competitive hockey. It is harder and harder each passing year to stay in sufficient shape to be competitive and play at the level I would like to. Guys on my team typically range from 25 to 30 and are ex college players. My defensive partner played for Navy. I'm the old fart but I tell them I just smarter then them.

Anyway it helps keep me young and maintain my girlish figure.

Hockey is clearly the most difficult sport to play and play at a high level. Most people don't realize how difficult it is. The NHL players make it look easy. Too easy. Give someone skates, a stick, a puck and 30 seconds on the ice and they'll understand.

I finally read your initial post on this thread. Carriers don't like what they don't understand. The owner built factor is probably scaring them. They are not car people. I would suggest that Cobras if built properly are no more dangerous then older sports cars which had minimal safety equipment. Perhaps Great American could hire an inspector, sort of like CARCO requirements for writing used cars but this would be to inspect the car to document its proper construction before writing it.

I understand that the carriers don't want unknown or unquantified risks. You can't blame them. Therefore let them inspect the cars to document there road worthiness. The owner pays for the inspection.

Its not so much the power to weight ratio that has them freaked IMHO. A Suzuki Hyabusa has an equal or more impressive power to weight ratio then some Cobras. Mini Vans today are equipped with 250 hp engines. They can rate that risk by looking at who they are insuring and the driving record. Its the unknown factor of how the car was constructed thats scaring them.

Cure? Let them inspect it with a check list or have the owner provide a signed approved checklist from a certified mechanic.

[Chaplin]

Hmmm. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. I'm commuting into the city everyday, slugging my guts out billing 22-2400 hours a year and I don't have a CSX or play hockey . Evan, you hiring any associates???

[Turk]

It must be noted homebuilt aircraft does manage to be insured.
The process is legitimized after the FAA Inspector gives it the green light and the builder/pilot is licensed by FAA.

We do neither in our hobby. I caution us all, if we were to start a standartization of minimums, a self governing body to inspect and certify these cars, will we not be eventually inviting DOT to come in and do the same as FAA is doing?
Without their stamp of approval, you DON'T fly!

Then, how do we stop them imposing additional minimums.. cages, ABS, airbags, defrosters, yes...door handles.

The spirit of the thread lives even though we have strayed from safety to hockey, but I for one am a little nervous jumping into this without being abke to see around the corner.
Just a little caution.

TURK

[REAL 1]

Chaplin: Most of the hockey is played at hours most people are snoring in their bunks.

Last nights game started at 11:20 pm. Yes, it is rough getting up in the morning. Also spend time on Saturdays coaching a peewee hockey team. After having my wife telling me to do this and that 90% of the time its nice to be able to tell someone else what to do for a while.

As to the CSX. Started with an Excalibur. Then to an ERA. Then to the CSX. Worked my way down the line.

In certain respects the ERA is a superior choice from a practicality standpoint over an aluminum CSX. Believe me. ERA is a great choice. You will be happy with it.

[BLACKJACK]

D.V. - - - -

THANKS FOR TRYING TO GET THIS TRAIN BACK ONTO THE TRACK --

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE WANT TO AUTHOR AN ENCYCLOPEDIA. IF WE HAVE AN INSPECTION CHECK LIST WE DON'T NEED TO INCLUDE EVERY INDIVIDUAL THING THAT CAN GO WRONG.

IF WE SAY "INSPECT THE BRAKES" AND THIS INSPECTION IS PERFORMED BY A REPUTABLE SHOP THEY WILL CATCH ALL OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED.

I THINK WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY THAT A "KIT COBRA" CAN BE ASSEMBLED AS WELL AS A SUPERFORMANCE OR ERA FACTORY BUILT COBRA. IT SHOULD BE "AS GOOD AS" AND ORIGINAL COBRA. IF WE TRY TO MAKE IT AS "SAFE" AS A LINCOLN TOWNCAR OR NAVIGATOR WE ARE "LOSING THE HANDLE ON REALITY" AND COULD LEAD THE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO REQUIRE THINGS THAT ARE UNREALISTIC IN A COBRA. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE QUALITY OF THE BUILD AND NOT GET BOGGED DOWN IN "FAMILY SEDAN" SAFETY FEATURES THAT THE AVERAGE COBRA DRIVER IS NOT GOING TO WANT.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY.

BLACKJACK

[REAL 1]

Turk: You hit on a concern that is in the back of my mind also. I do have a concern that the checklists for approval will continue to grow until the cars are no longer recognizable as Cobras.

Yeah. That would be a concern.

[JWheaton]

This thread has taken me almost 30 minutes to read. Not including the time to load each new page on my slow a$$ computer.
________
Klayfish -- Good thread, except for the hockey crap.

Why don't they play football at 11:20 pm?
__________
I get the sense that Cranky and Evan are getting along.

_____________

The end of the world is near -- Quick ..................Duck

____________
AND if nothing else to add to my measely post count

[Double Venom]

Blackjack,
Thank You! Once again you have cut through the rhetoric. You see exactly what we are trying to do. It is a very simple thing we want to do!

We do NOT want to:
Remove your brake drums and inspect the thickness
We do not want to check the grade of bolts you have used
We do not want to inspect the rating of your shocks

As Steve has so eloquently stated - K.I.S.S.
Fuel lines and system
Brake lines
steering joints and mounting
Just the basics fellas, JUST the basics

Like NSRA, they came up with the "23" rules, years ago, and it is still to this day 23!

Mrs DV threw her input into this yesterday, (oh yes! she does have her opinions!) she thinks it should cover ALL self assembeled vehicles / kit cars too! I too think this should not cover just "Cobras", but the fiero crowds, the Hummer's, etc. But that will be for a later day and a vote of all.

The one thing I do like is the name she came up with:

" CUSTOM BUIILT CAR SAFETY ASSOCIATION" or simply "CBCSA"

Thoughts? We are looking for a simple and all encompassing name, ALONG with suggestions for what should be mandatory safety rules.

Steve is working on the basics agenda and finding an appropriate name as we speak. He whould be posting soon.

DV... it IS a good thing we do!

[mr bruce]

Too many words.Drop the "SAFETY", that implies cars are unsafe? include all replicas. Quit calling them 'kit" cars, that sounds "home made ", unsafe ,jurry rigged. ASSOCIATION of STREET REPLICAS ,rolls off the tongue easyier ,"I have an ASR sticker on my car". Include scrub line in the checks. (no bellhousings below the frame rails, hit something with one ,then you'll agree), drive shaft loop, fire extinguisher.

[klayfish]

Evan,
Thank you for finally reading my initial post. You seem to better understand where I'm coming from now. You are right, they are afraid of the home build, but they are also scared of the power/weight ratio. No, they aren't "car" people. Most underwriters aren't. So we need to educate them. Do I honestly believe that their fears of poorly built Cobras are real? Yes. Do I think they're right? NO, I don't. And that's part of why I propose this idea. They have said they are willing to listen and learn, and we need to educate them that these cars ARE built safely and are not a mechanical danger on the road. Hell, they're probably better build quality than the company car Jeep I drive every day. The responsible driving is probably a huge issue we need to show them too. And that is why this group will help. No, we can't (and shouldn't) completely police each other and make everyone sign a sworn affidavit that they will NEVER break the speed limit, but we need to strongly encourage things such as driver education and safe driving. This can only help, not hurt. If a responsible group of drivers get together, show their cars are well built and have a low claim rate, we'll be good risks.
The power to weight ratio does scare them, they openly said so. Yes, there are 240 hp minivans out there, and those motorcycles, but I never asked about motorcycles because I don't think we write them. Remember, our cars are 2200-2800 lbs with at least 225 hp, maybe up to 600+. Short wheelbase....can be scary.

The problem with the inspections you propose to have mandated by the insurance company is that we use independent agents, and probably have a few hundred scattered all over the country, so I don't know how all the inspections would get done by a company employee.




We need to do the inspections OURSELVES, for OURSELVES, with the list made by US. I truly doubt the insurance companies would "require" the list to be more restrictive. As far as I know, they don't "mandate" a safety inspection for any car they write. Groups such as the NSRA and others do it for themselves and to help prove to the insurance companies that they are good risks. But the insurance companies don't ask for it, and I would not believe they would require changes to be made to it. No insurance company to my knowledge has ever asked for the other classic cars they write ('Vettes, streed rods, hot rods, 1919 Model T) to have anything specific. Many of those cars don't even have the basics such as modern tires, seat belts of any kind, or even properly functioning headlights. But the insurance company has never required they make changes. I see no reason it will be different with Cobras. As long as we show the cars are not rolling road hazards, we should be fine. It is just something they use to help assess the risk. I hope this well help ease everyone's concerns.

As I've said before, I truly believe this can only lead to good things.

Steve

[Ken Greene]

I agree drop the "safety" part CBCA for me
and when i build My car it WILL be inspected