The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Do you need MOT, road tax or insurance to do track days? Basically I want to make a track car that isn't on the road so (ideally) it wouldnt be taxxed, MOT'd or insured for road use.



Adam

It does depend really. The track days (Action days really) up at Castle Combe do require a road legal car for their insurance, but there are trackdays that don't (that one you did at Colerne for example)

Bear in mind that if the car isn't road legal it will need trailering to and from track days, which will need a big car or van that does have to be taxed or MOT'd, and a big braked trailer, and the driving test to drive a big braked trailer (you, like me are too young to have it on your license automatically), so it won't work out as a particularly cheap option.

Most track days are fine with not having tax or Mot, As dave sais there is a far bit of extra cost involved though and a certain amount of hassle though on the plus side it does mean it doesn't matter if you crash or break. I ntend to make mine road legal but will probably replace the RX7 with a tow car and trailer it to these just in case.

I've never come across a track day where road tax or insurance is required. Some TDs/organisations require you to produce an MOT certificate eg. MGs on Track.

i have track day insurance, biut i don't think you need it. Road tax can't be a requirement.

Off road you don't need tax. MOT or insurance(well not near us you don't)

You can probably just about ghet a dolly behind a sensible modern car on a braked 750kg + trailer, but you stillneed to sort your licence out...Adam, do it........... a trailer licence is cheap in the long run (so I understand)

I have a track day use clause on my fwds policy which only pays if i hit another car but doesnt pay out for mine

okay you can stop laughing now.

I drive mine to the track, rag the arse off of it, and drive it home again.

I suppose if something big broke (mechanical or body) I suppose I would be thumbing a lift to the station.

So far I have beem lucky and allways able to drive back from the track. I usually go with a group of mates from the Island and the last time An Impreza had head gasket failure, MK1 Escort threw a rod through the block and a 200sx just stopped running. Its so easy for something major to go wrong that trailering is the smarter move.

mbellinger wrote:I drive mine to the track, rag the arse off of it, and drive it home again.

I suppose if something big broke (mechanical or body) I suppose I would be thumbing a lift to the station.

Do what everybody else does and push your car 200 yards away from the entrance to the track, and then ring your breakdown service.

I will get round to doing the trailor part of the license. I'd use my Scimitar to tow it, although I'd imagine on paper it would be over loaded. But hey it has big brakes, fair bit of weight in it and lots of torque.

Its my yellow Dolomite I want to make in to a Sprint powered track car, using my old Gold Seal Sprint engine and box once I've given it a freshen up, this engine was better in EVERY way compared to a £2000 S&S blue printed sprint engine... Hmmm... I know they aren't the quickest cars but the challenge of trying to keep up with quicker, newer, more expensive cars appeals to me.


The most expensive bit about cars, especially whilst still young, is insurance. I'd be looking at paying a good £700 for a car that I won't use on the road. My yellow Dolomite isn't worth much atall... I'd have to put new cills on it, plate it here and there, get 1850 running gear, fit it, paint it, MOT it, Tax it etc etc to sell on for something daft like £300.... Or... as it was my first car and it has more sentimental value that resale value... Do what I want with it

mbellinger wrote:I drive mine to the track, rag the arse off of it, and drive it home again.

I suppose if something big broke (mechanical or body) I suppose I would be thumbing a lift to the station.

I'm with Martin on this one. Thought about the 'non road legal' option on my Toledo Sprint.... for about 10 seconds Need to buy a trailer (no big deal).... Need something to pull the trailer (The works Astra diesel estate would just about do it).... Need somewhere to store trailer - Garage ain't big enough...and that was the end of that idea

I went through all the same thoughts where to keep the trailer and how to stop it getting nicked was a problem. It so happens I wanted a boring modern for commuting and bought a 405 diseasel with towbar so I could tow a trailer.

The thing that made up my mind was this. You build a car, but with no MoT etc you have no way to test it. So you go to your first track day and don't know if it's going to work, overheat after 2 laps, handle like a dog or whatever. Get an MoT and you can shake it down on the road. Even if the exhaust does ground on every tiny bump.


David

The MOT really isnt the problem. If I have to put it on the road... Ill need to insure it and that is where the idea just goes out the window.

Trailor, somewhere to keep a trailor, something to tow a trailor, 'shake down' of the car isn't a problem.


It's insurance! I'm not going to insure it, if I have to insure it then it won't happen

See where I'm coming from now?

give up and go off roading

£20 for the day

Insurance , MOT etc not required. Seats belts and exhaust are the only requirements at my local one

We did a 24 spline 'arfshaft today which could be £95 in the fixing if i bought a new one, but lets face it I still have change from a trackday.....

that said, I'd track my dolly tomorrow if I could afford it!

you will always be able to find places to test a vehicle off road.....farms, old runways, driveways etc

Take it to a cheapo track day and shake it down with mate (so to speak!)

2F45T4U wrote:The MOT really isnt the problem. If I have to put it on the road... Ill need to insure it and that is where the idea just goes out the window.

Trailor, somewhere to keep a trailor, something to tow a trailor, 'shake down' of the car isn't a problem.


It's insurance! I'm not going to insure it, if I have to insure it then it won't happen

See where I'm coming from now?

Sort of. But you will want to insure it for theft and fire at least, and if you only insure for 500 miles a year TPFT for just SDP driving I'm sure the price will drop to a more manageable level. Either that or consider a multi car policy.