Hagerty will now offer insurance for your upcoming track day

As Regular Car Review fans might say “…track day! Track day, bro! Track day!” That excitement is legit though, because a proper track day is a wonderful day. The only thing that makes it potential not so wonderful is if you smash up your machine. If said machine is a track-only toy, it’s not the end of the world. If you’re using a car that also splits time as your daily driver then you’re in bad shape.

Now though, you can at least make sure you’ve got relatively affordable coverage. Hagerty is jumping into the Track Day insurance game, and the pricing is pretty reasonable.

Available for over 88 tracks across 35 states, Hagerty is working with RLI Track Day to insure and underwrite your investment. The HPDE insurance will cover up to $175,000 in value pertaining to a vehicle but you can insure vehicles costing more than that if you wish. The coverage also includes the cleanup cost of any pollutants your smashed up ride has puked onto the racing service, towing fees, and you’ll be reimbursed for your sad rental car ride home.

You can get a quote over at the Hagerty website. I tested it out for myself with a theoretical $25,000 car I don’t own that I’d be running at Willow Springs. The quote that was kicked out is actually less than what is listed in the press release they sent over. According to the release, polices can be ordered and applied the same day as the event and start at $200 per day. There’s a $2,000 deductible.

When I plug in quick information for the above fake car, however, I was given a quote of $145. This would apparently also cover an event that could last up to three days. The deductible would be 10% of the stated $25,000 value I listed.

If you have a car you’re looking to push in a safe environment and you want some financial protection for when things turn sour, it seems like Hagerty is ready to back you up.

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Ride along at Goodwood in a 1977 BMW 530i

Nick Padmore knows how to drive in anger. He holds the unofficial record for the fastest lap ever recorded at Goodwood. We have to say unofficial, because most consider the last official fastest lap to have taken place back in 1965. Modern lap times that are set are called Revival Records.

The original fastest lap time was set by both Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart. The time? A blistering 1:20.4.

In 2015, Padmore hopped behind the wheel of a Lola T70 and recorded a time of 1:18.2. You can watch that run here if you like. And you should, because it’s magnificent. But if you’re curious how Professor Padmore might fair in something a bit slower, we have the video for you.

Running during the 75th Member’s Meeting, you can see Padmore do battle from behind the wheel of a 1977 BMW 530i. The car sounds amazing and the driving is equally thrilling. Nick clearly knows the track, and he works his way through a fair portion of the traffic laid out in front of him.

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Cozy up to the 25th Anniversary Lamborghini Countach

In 1974, Lamborghini decided it wanted to transcend the world of exotic sports cars and start building futuristic space ships for alien rockstars. That naturally led to the creation of the Lamborghini Countach. It’s a vehicle that packs a V12 and turns the idea of the shape of a door stop into something beautiful in front of your eyes.

Sure, we had it rough at times here in the States when fools in the federal department of ruining cars made Lamborghini tack on disgusting bumpers. But the car still managed to overcome those protuberances and provided many a generation of future car lovers with glorious wall candy.

We could debate which Countach is the best, because over the course of its 16-year lifespan the car certainly took on different styling directions. For many, the original LP400 is the greatest. Others prefer the 5000 Quattrovalvole. There are many fans of the ultra Radwood 80’s glory found in the 25th Anniversary edition cars. Personally, I’d slap babies in the face to take home a Walter Wolf Countach.

Before you sound off on which one you owned in poster form, take a look at the video above. The folks at /DRIVE managed to snag some beautiful footage of a 25th Anniversary Countach. The sounds it produces are otherworldly. And yes, I know it would probably be terrible to actually drive one… but it’s the best kind of terrible, and I’d love every second of the hot, sweaty, zero visibility-providing, amazing time.

Also, is H8 UFO not the perfect license plate for this thing?

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Vanderhall Venice – Three wheels for the weekend warrior

For some reason, we decided to let Editor of Young Person Things Josh Ostrander have some camera time.

Again.

He decided to use that time to drive a Vanderhall Venice, which is a three-wheeled car-bike that uses a powerplant acquired from GM. Josh likes it and he’s going to tell us why.

Is he right? Probably not… but we’ll let him have his moment in the sun. Then it’s back down into the Acid Mines*.
*The Acid Mines are where Josh helps handle some of our social media accounts and helps Jeff shoot video.

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Podcast: Episode 204 – Before your Civic duty

I’m sitting in a hotel room in Marina Del Rey and tomorrow I’m going to drive the new Honda Civic Si. Before that happens, let’s talk about some other cars. Recently I went to Canada to test Audi’s new SQ5 and it was really good. I’m trying to decide what to do with the 1974 Benz W114 I bought, and I’m thinking of putting some new wheels on there. Finally, I’m getting ready to go and watch the Indy 500 this weekend and that should be quite awesome.

Hooniverse – Before your Civic duty

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First Drive: 2018 Audi SQ5

Take one part Audi S4 and S5 powertrain. Mix that with a bit of Q5 body work. What do you have? A surprisingly good fat wagon that goes by the name of 2018 Audi SQ5.

There’s over 350 horsepower on tap. An optional rear sport differential makes sure the power is applied purposefully. An optional adaptive air suspension system keeps the car planted when it needs to be and allows it to raise up when necessary. Large front brakes with six-piston calipers haul the action down to a stop in short order.

If you need a luxury crossover but want a luxury sports sedan… this is the car for you.

[Disclaimer: Audi put me on a plane and sent me to British Columbia. There was a hotel, food, and booze involved as well.]

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850hp Group B Audi Quattro enjoys devouring tarmac

The Group B cars remain legendary machines to this day. You don’t see them in action like you used to, but there are places where they remain the active fire-breathing monsters that we all remember. One of those places is on a hillclimb course, and that’s where we find this amazing specimen.

According to the video description, this one is making 850 horsepower and driver Keith Edwards is basically suggesting courses of action for the nose as it makes its way up to the finish line.

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What makes it go… and don’t say ask a mechanic

That is the opening line to the 1973 film What’s Under Your Hood?. For some, the space under the hood of a car is a mystery zone where all you know is that air and fuel turn into fire and then your wheels turn. Actually, if you know that little bit there, you’re probably in better shape than a fair amount of the driving public. Want to know a bit more? Then this is a great video to watch.

Yes, it’s a bit old but it’s presenting the very basic parts of an engine in an easy to understand format. It’s all explained in that great way from all videos of the era. There’s no fluff, just information.

You’re going to learn about the engine, transmission, driveshaft, and rear axle. And you’re going to learn about all of that in just ten minutes. Hit play and let your brain soak it all in.

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Podcast: Episode 203 – Meeting of the Triumvarite

Chris, Zack, and myself are all in the studio for the first time in what feels like a long time… even though it’s only been a few weeks. We talk about Zack getting to check out Jay Leno’s Garage and his trip to Icon for a Casino Charity evening. I talk about my recent fuel line fix on the 1974 Mercedes-Benz 280 sedan that I purchased.

After that we take your questions, and we’re keeping the accents alive as well.

Hooniverse – Meeting of the Triumvirate

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McLaren 570GT – The everyday supercar

McLaren makes an entry-level car, and it goes by the name 570GT. Now, entry level to McLaren means you’ll still need to remove over $200,000 from your bank account to come and play… but in these insane times, that actually makes it relatively affordable compared to the competition.

What you get for all of that coin is a 3.8-liter V8 paired with a set of turbochargers that work together to produce 562 horsepower. What you also get is a truly great driving machine that dances the line between grand tourer and sports car.

Yet don’t get too cozy… because when you’re ready to destroy any road in front of you, that ability is a button press and dial twist away.

[Disclaimer: McLaren tossed us the keys to the 570GT and included a tank of fuel.]

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