What is Racing vs Factory Warranty. Worthy of discussion?

[F2V]

Firstly, I am not a racer per se, but do like to challange myself and my car(s) now and then.

My doc package from SRT for my 2013 GTS says that "racing " will void my warranty. Ok, but what exactly is racing as it relates to the factory warranty, especially as the car is purported to be a race car right from the factory?

The dictionary defines racing as "the sport or profession of engaging in or holding races". So, if I go to a road course track (ie: Limerock) to test my skills, driving my car against the clock only, is this considered "sport" (as it certainly isn't my profession), therefore voiding my warranty should something go wrong at the time?

How about the drag strip? I'm guessing Nine Ball and Jack B (as examples), drag for the same reason I mentioned in the above first sentence...to test their car and skills against the clock. Is that considered "sport", voiding warranty if something goes wrong?

Or is it "sport" (assuming profession is out of the question) if you go up against another documented car/competitor to see who is faster, for money or glory. Might throw in here the recent videos of 20-40-60-mph rolling starts against a friends car...

Oh ya, and what being a race car right from the factory vs voiding warranty for racing?

[rw99]

Really good question, although I doubt there's an answer for it.

Realistically, it's probably gonna be up to your dealership's overall attitude toward warranty work. Are they the type of place that'll go to bat for you? Or a pass-the-buck, "we tried, but the district rep said no" type of place?

Regardless, publicizing one's automotive exploits could certainly affect future warranty claims, no way around that...


Rich

[ViperSmith]

Doesn't matter much what the dictionary says - matters only what the warranty says. If the warranty doesn't specify what "racing" is, IMHO it works in your favor.

Really it is more of a "catch all" reason, but I doubt you'd get SRT voiding a warranty because you did a timed lap and the engine blew due. But, then, the impetus is on them to prove it was racings fault the engine blew, not their defect.

Honestly I wouldn't worry about It much, but I am not a lawyer so don't put too much stock In it :)

[01sapphirebob]

With the way things are now a days I'm petty sure if you car is on any kind of paddock area at a track. Whether you were racing or not and you had some kind of engine failure you would not be covered. Kinda like insurance companies. They have changed the wording in their policies to read as described like I just did.

[MoparBoyy]

just like what your insurance company considers racing.

if its a timed event, where you are competing.. then that is not covered. going to a driver education event where you are on a closed course.. covered.

really it comes down to the dealer. i am a tech at an SRT dealer, you come in with broken rear axles and the #s still on the car from the dragstrip, we are going to have a problem.

[chesapeake07]

just like what your insurance company considers racing.

if its a timed event, where you are competing.. then that is not covered. going to a driver education event where you are on a closed course.. covered.

really it comes down to the dealer. i am a tech at an SRT dealer, you come in with broken rear axles and the #s still on the car from the dragstrip, we are going to have a problem.

I like this answer...

[slitherv10]

Call your insurance company and dealer you deal with...a few really for multiple advice, and you'll have a better grasp on what you would be into. Taking someone's opinion here is just speculation. Go to the people that are the meat and potatoes of this question.

[MoparBoyy]

remember they have to prove abuse before voiding the warranty. just cause you took the car on a road course doesn't mean it was abused.

doing 5k rpm hole shots with slicks on it?... abuse
running off of turn 3 and breaking a tie rod?... abuse.
Spinning a rod bearing after a normal day on a road course?.. not abuse.

i've had people come in with jeeps full of mud, the airbox full of water, and the motor is locked up solid.. then they bitch when we dont want to warranty it. well obvoiusly they were abusing it. Then i get other customers jeeps, yeah theres mud everywhere, but they drove it in and the engine is noisy. we will take care of it since there is no signs of abuse. using the vehicle to its intended purpose is not abuse.

[Newport Viper]

Regardless, publicizing one's automotive exploits could certainly affect future warranty claims, no way around that...
Rich

Sage Advice...

[steve911]

I know there are many of us who can offer advice but are reluctant to based upon the potential rammifications.

[F2V]

I know there are many of us who can offer advice but are reluctant to based upon the potential rammifications.


I hear you Steve, however, "'racing" voids warranty is confusing...after all what is the purpose of "race" mode shock icon, quarter mile timing function, launch control etc., etc, if not for "racing"? So I'm thinking, there must be some form(s) of aggressive driving that is not considered racing for sport or profession, etc., ie: taking my car to Limerock for the purpose I stated above.

[TowDawg]

To the insurance coverage side, be careful thinking you're covered anymore if it's a DE event.
99% of all insurance policies have changed wording, and/or added a rider to say that ANYTHING on a "racing surface" is not covered. Technically a parade lap at local track that had some kind of incident would leave you with no coverage.
I heard about all the changes and read my policy and it talked about "timed events", so I was thinking I would be good. Then I kept reading and got to the supplemental riders in the back of the policy and saw the changes that everyone had been talking about.

[MoparBoyy]

To the insurance coverage side, be careful thinking you're covered anymore if it's a DE event.
99% of all insurance policies have changed wording, and/or added a rider to say that ANYTHING on a "racing surface" is not covered. Technically a parade lap at local track that had some kind of incident would leave you with no coverage.
I heard about all the changes and read my policy and it talked about "timed events", so I was thinking I would be good. Then I kept reading and got to the supplemental riders in the back of the policy and saw the changes that everyone had been talking about.

totally, some policys are different than others. i was also thinking health insurance. when i was racing motorcycles, my health insurance would not cover anything that happened during the actual race. all other time on track as long as it was not a timed event, would be covered.

[F2V]

I am not concerned about insurance...that is a seperate issue, and has nothing to do with my post comments and questions, which revolves around warranty vs racing.