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ATDO Launches New Members Forum (01 Dec 2008)
ATDO are pleased to announce the launch of the new members only forum which is accessed from the link at the top right hand corner of every page on the ATDO website. Existing members should email atdo@atdo.co.uk for a username and password to enable access to the forum. As part of the new upgrades, members will also be able to update their own contact details. |
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ATDO Clarifies Track Day Insurance Position (02 Mar 2004)
A general meeting of ATDO members at Silverstone circuit on Monday 10th Feb heard ATDO chairman Calum Lockie explain the current state of play regarding track day insurance for 2004.
Most venues insist that track day organisers (TDOs) carry public liability insurance as a condition of access. Feedback gathered from insurance brokers to TDOs renewing their policies for 2004 indicated that liability insurance costs are set to spiral, following reassessment of potential risks against premiums by underwriters.
TDOs operate on tight margins and any increases in policy premiums are likely to have to be passed onto their customers by means of marginal increases in track day prices, a situation ATDO members wish to avoid if possible.
Responding to these pressures ATDO is negotiating with ACU, MSA and insurance brokers Alexander Forbes to put together an insurance package for TDOs who are currently finding it extremely difficult to find commercially acceptable public liability insurance to cover their activities.
Schemes brokered by Alexander Forbes with insurance underwriters Sports and Leisure Entertainment (SLE) to provide daily track day permits including insurance will be available to car day organising ATDO members through the MSA and are expected shortly for the bike organisers through the ACU. ATDO members will have to comply with enhanced safety and organisational guidelines to qualify for permits.
Lockie stressed that the board of ATDO, who are all unpaid volunteers, were reacting to events on behalf of the membership, not trying to impose rules against their wishes, after concerns were expressed from a number of motorcycle track day organisers.
ATDO members will not need to obtain permits if they can organise insurance acceptable to the circuits and complying with ATDO’s minimum requirements. They will however still have to comply with ATDO’s new guidelines.
Circuit owners are believed to be arranging a similar scheme whereby they will obtain insurance for TDOs who comply with the circuits’ own code of conduct.
The ACU is still pressing for the introduction of a rider identification card with associated benefits for riders. Motorcycle track day organisers have to date resisted this on the grounds that it causes unnecessary administration for them and unnecessary cost for riders. Discussions on the rider card continue with the ACU. The MSA have not requested a card scheme for drivers.
The ATDO guidelines for track days will continue to be the most comprehensive organisational and safety procedures prescribed for track day organisers in the UK and ATDO will now be inspecting the procedures of new members during their probationary period.
ATDO is creating a register of its members who are prepared to run track days for non-members such as owners’ clubs. The ATDO member will be responsible for operational procedures, risk and insurance, as non-members will find it increasingly difficult to find insurance for occasional events otherwise than by this route.
ATDO is now seeking a definitive statement from SLE regarding insurance premium rises and alternative schemes with the circuits.
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ATDO announces plans for MSA and ACU co-operation (29 Dec 2003)
The Association of Track Day Organisers have announced major new plans to improve the running of track days in the UK for both cars and bikes. From 1st January 2004 ATDO members will be able to run their days at licenced venues under MSA event permits for car days or ACU (Auto Cycle Union) event permits for bikes.
ATDO chairman Calum Lockie commented “ATDO was established to ensure that what was a fragmented infant industry came together to dispel safety fears for customers on events by operating to a code of conduct, and ensuring cowboy operators did not get to spoil things for everyone. This agreement with ACU and MSA will finally give ATDO the teeth to fulfil our remit.”
The final piece fell into place recently with the threat of spiralling liability insurance costs for organisers from next year, due to the underwriters’ re-assessment of large potential claims from track days. In many cases for smaller organisers this would have made running an event commercially unviable. The new scheme will cover the organiser under the MSA or ACU’s liability insurance policies under the permit issued.
It is stressed that neither the MSA or ACU has no interest in running track days, and the agreement is based on them delegating to ATDO the control and regulation of how days are run by setting the minimum operational standards for their members.
To ensure that ATDO members are complying with their strict operational safety code, both MSA and ACU or their insurers will be able to make random compliance checks and inspection of events, a step that is welcomed by ATDO who view this as essential in ensuring a high standard for customers is maintained. Any ATDO member who fails an inspection will be investigated further by ATDO, which can ultimately lead to expulsion.
The benefits for track day organisers are clear, and both MSA and ACU see the link up as a good source of gaining new competitors as many track day participants make the jump into racing. For the track driver or rider the benefits will come from knowing that by attending an ATDO member-run day the organiser is fully insured and your safety will be the most important concern, which ultimately will mean a more enjoyable day. The lower risks of damage to you or your vehicle should also be reflected in any insurance you take out too.
The ACU scheme for bikes takes things one-step further. Until now theoretically anyone who had never ridden a bike before could have attended a track day, which clearly could danger them and everyone else on that day. The new scheme will mean that bikers will now need to produce a valid driving licence (with supplementary photo identification if necessary) on their first track day next year and then apply for an ATDO track riders identification card from ACU (£20 p.a.). Anyone without a valid licence will be required to undertake and pass an ACU competency test in order to gain their riders card. Aside from knowing everyone out on track with you is capable of riding to a minimum standard, there’s the extra advantage of only having to produce your riders card at future events, not your DVLA licence.
One further point, if you do still attend non-ATDO run days it is well worth asking to see a current liability insurance certificate from the organiser in their correct company name as there have been reports of organisers running without this insurance.
For a full list of ATDO members click here.
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ATDO announce new website (01 Aug 2003)
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new-look website. Updates to the site include :-
The addition of a formal Complaints Procedure
The addition of a 'Members Area' with various Member Benefits. |
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ATDO members to get preferential insurance rates (01 Jul 2003)
Egger Lawson have announced a Public Liability Insurance policy for Track Day Organisers which offers substantial discounts for those ATDO members passing an independent inspection and demonstrating complete confomity to the ATDO code of practice. |
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