Maple Leaf Rally friends, and others: this letter was posted on the MCO forum today by Jim Morrow, who is the owner of the caged rally car that hit a deer. I wrote the message above, and am posting this one to update those interested.

Jeannie

Good morning all and welcome to the New Year. I wanted to get on the forum and thank everyone for their support and suggestions as well as update you all on where we are.

We have so far received two documents by registered letter from the Insurance monster: A "Non-Waiver Agreement" and a "Reservation of Rights". The two documents are related and one applies if I refuse to sign the other. Both say basically that I may be in violation of my policy. They advise that they will be investigating the claim until the matter of coverage is clarified and that, notwithstanding, they reserve the right to deny coverage to me.

Another registered letter is waiting at the post office in Lanark for me to go sign for and pick it up. We assume that it is to advise me that my coverage will cease as of Jan 12. (One of the many individuals with whom I spoke at the insurance company had mentioned that this would be occurring as I am "not a risk they wish to cover".)

I will be going to the CARS AGM to try and talk about this during the discussion period. In addition, a letter to ASN, which we'd like to get all club presidents to sign, will be prepared. Lobby your president to do so when it comes out!

The letter will ask ASN to intervene on behalf of everyone at risk.

In my discussions with the Ins. people, I was surprised to find so much that was arbitrary as far as interpretation of situations and the application of policy issues. I would like to seek, through the letter, to, as a minimum, remove this arbitrariness and to get clear definition of what is allowed under what conditions. Additionally, we need a recognition by the industry, that many who choose to modify their vehicles are responsible individuals who may, in fact, have reduced risk to the Ins. co. by their actions and attitude.

Again, thanks for all your support. We'll keep you advised as to progress. You can help all of us by ensuring that each of your clubs and all of our associations get involved in cleaning up this risk area which affects all of us.

Drive safely and DON'T HIT A DEER.

Jim  

Thanks for your reply, "Max Late". But the insurance company is even worse than that -- they think we're lying, that we were actually on a rally. We had spent the afternoon at the home of a nearby rally friend and his wife and were driving home on back roads, which we prefer to the main roads. That's when the deer jumped out . . . .  

I don't know what universe these people inhabit!!!

Jeannie

Jeannie, please continue to keep us all informed as to what is happening.  I think this is *obviously* a very very important issue for car enthusiasts to deal with quickly

John

The only news from here is that the registered (and unsigned) letter from the insurance company states that the coverage on Jim's Subaru Impreza will cease as of January 12. They are still "investigating" us as they don't believe we were visiting a friend in Carleton Place and that the deer hit took place on the way home -- they think we were on a rally. The idea of driving on a back road has caused a great deal of suspicion on their part. In fact, we LIVE on a back road!

In the meantime, we have to pay for the damage ourselves. Then we have to put the car up for sale.


Jeannie

Jim Morrow posted this on the MCO Rally forum ("Caged and screwed") last night. It's in reply to a posting by Craig Hamm, MCO Rally Director. Please check that forum for the full exchange (see p. 4).

                   "The required exemptions I see are something like:
                   a. cars modified based on (rule set) and verified by (people
                   allowed to verify rule set)
                   b. ASN/FIA sanctioned motorsport events (e.g. I doubt CASCA
                   will run road rallies, so sanctioned by CARS affiliated bodies)
                   c. driver is member of a FIA sanctioned club, in good standing"

                   Craig, much of this formed part of what was discussed at the
                   CARS AGM on the insurance topic. I will incorporate all of the
                   good suggestions that everyone was kind enough to post on the
                   thread (or rope, judging by its length) The discussion of this
                   topic was animated and it was obvious, from some of the
                   comments, that this is a topic which has been generating fear
                   and loathing in the dark recesses of many motorsport minds.

                   I hope to have the letter set to go by this Thursday, at which
                   time I'll pass it by a few interested editors and then get it out
                   for signature and submission up to ASN.

                   Once again, I thank all for their concern, support and helpful
                   comments.

                   Jim

Thanks to everyone we talked to at the CARS AGM, for their interest in this topic and desire to remedy the roadblocks to enjoyable grassroots motorsports.

As for the caged rally car, right now it's sitting forlornly outside a specialty shop in Ottawa. It still has evidence of the deer hit, which the insurance company steadfastly refuses to cover. As of yesterday, all coverage on it ceased. We had someone who was interested in buying it, but he had an accident in his daily driver on the weekend, so that's out. Who knows what Chapter II will be!

Jeannie

I haven't posted in a while, so thought I would mention that this issue has not been dropped. There is a small committee of rally types (from Ontario clubs) who are looking into the challenge of getting coverage for cars used in motorsports from various perspectives (HTA, insurance, etc.). (By extension, this would include cars used in Solo I and Solo II, as well as for rallying.) They have only recently got started so there is nothing concrete to report yet.

As for the caged Impreza, Jim has been checking around for coverage. It may be that we have to cut the cage out of the car, which would be a darned shame! However, if we could get coverage for it as a daily driver, then we'd still have the pleasure of driving it. The damage caused by the deer hit hasn't yet been repaired.

Stay tuned for more.

Jeannie

The Impreza is fixed and safely at home in our garage. A friend loaned us dealer plates and Jim had the pleasure of driving it again.

The topic of insurance coverage for all motorsport vehicles is far from dead. We will be discussing it, I'm sure, at the RSO AGM on March 20. In the meantime, don't forgot to ask your club exec (regardless of which Ontario club you belong to) what's happening with this issue. Because of its complexity, it's going to take the efforts of a diverse group of motorheads to get anything done. So, whether you do performance rallying, TSD's, or Solo events, all of this effects YOU. If you love motorsports, please get involved!

Jeannie (MCO)