[BLACKJACK]

MY PREMIUMS WITH HAGGERTY WENT UP OVER $500.00 THIS YEAR. NOT RELATED TO THE EXPLOSION AND FIRE BECAUSE THE INCREASE WAS ONLY ON THE COBRAS AND NOT ON THE GT-40 OR THE TRAILER.

I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL OTHER COMPANIES THAT WOULD EITHER NOT INSURE COBRAS OR THEIR RATES WERE HIGHER THAN HAGGERTY'S.

I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT STATE FARM BUT THEIR IDEA OF "AGREED UPON VALUE" WAS 20K FOR THE EXCALIBUR, 23K FOR THE ERA AND 35K FOR THE GT-40. I INFORMED THEM OF THE MISTLETOE THAT I HAVE PINNED TO MY COAT TAIL.

HAGGERTY ALSO "CHOPPED" THE LIABILITY COVERAGE TO 25/50 FROM 300/500. ADDITIONALY THEY NOW APPLY A 250.00 DEDUCTABLE.

I THINK - FOR THE MOST PART - WE HAVE OUR COLLECTIVE SELVES TO BLAME. I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY OF US HAVE EITHER HAD COMPETITION DRIVING EXPERIENCE OR HAVE ATTENDED A QUALITY PERFORMANCE DRIVING SCHOOL.

POSSIBILITY : WITH 5000 PLUS MEMBERS AT SOME POINT WE SHOULD CONSIDER FORMING OUR OWN INSURANCE CO-OPERATIVE. IT WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW MANY OF OUR OWN THAT WE WOULD NOT WANT TO INSURE - OR WOULD CHARGE A PREMIUM FOR DOING SO.

I SENT MY CHECK TO HAGGERTY - GRUDGINGLY.

PERHAPS WE COULD APPROACH AN INSURANCE CARRIER ABOUT A SPECIAL GROUP RATE FOR SELECTED "GOOD" DRIVERS AND A PREMIUM FOR THE "NOT-SO-GOOD" DRIVERS.

I'M PAYING OVER $3100.00 PER YEAR - THAT'S OVER $250.00 A MONTH. I DRIVE THE THREE CARS LESS THAT 4000 MILES PER YEAR - TOTAL. THE MATH COMES OUT TO ALMOST 80 CENTS PER MILE. I THINK THAT'S A HELL OF A LOT FOR A DRIVER WHO HAS NOT HAD A MOVING VIOLATION OR CHARGED ACCIDENT SINCE JANUARY 1964. (THAT "THUMPING" SOUND YOU HEAR IN THE BACKGROUND IS ME "KNOCKING ON WOOD").

SURE WISH I HAD A BETTER ANSWER,

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT - AND SAFE - DAY,

BLACKJACK