Has anybody had a theft problem while their tow vehicle and race car are parked in the hotel parking lot? For budget reasons, I would like to get a soft tonneau cover for the truck to keep my tools and gear out of sight. However, I am concerned that some kid with a knife will see the race car on the trailer, and won't be able to resist the temptation to see what goodies are in the truck bed. I'd like to hear how everybody deals with on-the-road paranoia.

 

When I was traveling for my old job, our trucks were all open beds, so we bought a medium sized Knack box and chained it in the back of the truck. It kept thousands of dollars in tools safe in motel parking lots week after week. If you get one short enough you can fit it under the soft cover if need be. I think you can order them through Grainger, or any local contractor supply. Kind of expensive, but worth it in the long run.

 

Leave the race car and anything that cant be locked up in the truck at the track

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Leave the race car and anything that cant be locked up in the truck at the track </TD></TR></TABLE>

I would do that, most tracks usually let you leave your car/stuff overnight there.
One time my friend and I went 'old school style' with all our gear in the back of our cars. I didn't feel too comfortable leaving the cars in the lot, had to look out the window every 10minutes to make sure they were still there.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Leave the race car and anything that cant be locked up in the truck at the track </TD></TR></TABLE>

Often times the first night at the motel is prior to getting to the track as well so there may not be the chance to offload.

I haven't had any problems with my racecars being messed with in parking lots but once had a street car broken into and lost several hundred dollars of stuff that full coverage auto insurance didn't cover (it would have gone to homeowners or renters coverage which I didn't have then) during the Runoffs in about '90. I know an autocrosser who lost his wheels and tires from the car at a motel lot but that was many years ago as well.

I keep my stuff covered and locked away from any chance at prying eyes and am even designing a pretty secure racecar/open trailer cover system that at least would take some time to get at my stuff. You likely can't stop professionals if that is their plan, but removing a temptation from opportunistic theives will cover most bases.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRX Lee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Often times the first night at the motel is prior to getting to the track as well so there may not be the chance to offload.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, it's the first night when I can't drop everything off at the track that I'm most concerned about. I'm going to get some kind of bed cover anyway to have a dry place for my gear, but the price difference between a soft tonneau and a more secure hard cover is several hundred dollars.

 

In all the events I did in 2003, the gates were open the night (usually Friday) before the event weekend. So you could bring in the race car and get unloaded and setup that afternoon/evening, and then drive the truck back to the hotel. I also ended up putting a camper shell on the truck, which while making it harder to load and unload stuff at the front of the truck bed, also provided a simple theft deterent. Not that it would be hard to get through a crappy camper shell lock, but at least the stuff was also out of sight. I think the best bet is to just get to the track early and unload first.

From those who have done this for several years, how often do tracks not let you come in the night prior?? I would think that was pretty standard at most tracks, but my experience with different tracks has been minimal so far.

 

We have been staying at a Comfort Inn at both Pocono and The Glen without incident. Only first night for the car and trailer, btw. since we come in a day early and the tracks won't allow us to drop off. The only track we visited in 2003 that had open gates was BeaveRun. Do VIR and Summit Point allow early arrival on Friday?
I think one of the ways to avoid trouble is to park in the most visible place you can find. I always tell the desk as well. At Pocono there is an area set aside for trucks so that is where we go. At The Glen the lot is split and still well lighted. If you can arrange to stay with other race teams that is even better.
What can you do ti safeguard your stuff? We have no markings on the truck at all. Yes there are decals on the trailer but not obnoxious. Since the CRX is prone to taking on water during a storm and to simply keep it nice-we put the cover on at night. The doors still have locks and we use them. The only thing that comes out of the truck bed (soft pop-up tonneau) are our 2 bags. Everything else is locked in the cab. Hope this gives an idea or 2. Remember what the police keep telling you-the lights in a parking lot are a friend.
Have a great new year.

 

I never had a problem :knock on wood: when I brought the car/truck/whatever to the hotel.

Keep in mind though that many DE and race weekends, the track is open Friday afternoon/evening. Leave a little earlier than you would have and you might be able to unload at least wheels and tires and the like.

 

I think that in our area (mid-atlantic) we are pretty lucky because crime is low in most of the towns we race in. I'd guess you could probably leave your keys in your car overnight at Seneca Lodge without any problem.

On the other hand, I wouldn't leave my racecar overnight at a motel in either Homestead or Daytona without an armed guard.


Modified by JoelG at 6:43 AM 1/2/2004

 

IMHO a soft cover is just askin for a slashin. If you do get one is there any way to set the truck's alarm system to go off if they move your tools? Like a switch or button that the tools rest on so if they pick up the toolbox the alarm will sound? Or maybe a luggage alarm like you use at the airport with a thin cable that attaches to the truck bed or something? Also, use the crappiest looking car cover you can find, preferably one long enough to cover the wheels and tires too. And as always, locks on EVERYTHING including hitch drawbar, hitch safety chains, trailer tounge, car chains/straps on trailer, wheels on race car, tools in bed, etc. And it might be wise to keep a backup set of keys for all those locks hidden in the truck or in your luggage somewhere (well hidden!). I also like Day_Old_Bagel's idea of a knack box or something similar.

 

Thinking of most places we stay, VIR, RRR, Kershaw, I don't feel unsafe leaving things in my vehicle. I'd prefer not to leave the car and trailer at the hotel but so often, my stuff wouldn't be the most desirable to pick through opposed to others in the lots. The only things I'd get paranoid about would be radios, helmets, head restraint, impact gun. I'd personally feel safer however leaving this stuff sitting on the ground in the paddock at a race weekend than in a locked truck at the hotel. If you are very concerned w/ stuff that's easy to walk off with, take it in your room with you. I don't easily see a kid w/ a knife opening up truck beds at these places, I think there are usually folks up/around enough through the night to ward that off. Maybe a good reason to stay at a hotel where large numbers of other racers stay.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jc836 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">SNIP
The only track we visited in 2003 that had open gates was BeaveRun. Do VIR and Summit Point allow early arrival on Friday?
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I am used to VIR and SP having Friday drop-off available. In fact, I can't remember the last East Coast track when we couldn't "check-in" the night before. Most allow camping, which is what I have always done. Lowes Motor Speedway was the only track where camping wasn't allowed, I believe.

For a comp school, which had no overnight camping on a Thursday night, I just looked up the nearest Walmart parking lot to camp in.

Never had any theft problems, though I don't have any hotel experience.

 

I know that many tracks will have Friday evening registration and an opportunity to unload but most still shut the gates about 9-10 pm. If you are a working stiff with limited vacation and much of a tow to get there, Friday night at the track can be a goal not always achieved.

When we were racing a regular schedule, even if the rig was ready to roll from the office at the stroke of 5, our nearest tracks were still 4+ hour tows away. I'd bet we made it to the track before the gates locked less than 25% of the time and sometimes you simply roll into the motel at 11pm-2am and that is the best you can do. If you mostly run one or two local tracks or can take lots of Fridays off work to drive and arrive, then count your blessings. Otherwise you should have some plan to keep your parts from being easy pickin's.

What if you have car trouble, a long traffic jam, blow a trailer tire (like I did last week) and the rig has to sit in a rest area, road side or motel parking lot on short notice? It would be prudent to have some level of protection that would at least greatly slow down someone being opportunistic. I have not yet purchased a tongue lock for my new trailer and get nervous just leaving it for more than a few hours in front of my house at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in a happily so-far trouble free neighborhood. All it takes is a few minutes and someone could take off with several grand worth of your stuff and at best you'll have to arm wrestle and insurance company. At worst, you are SOL.

 

I know we have talked to at least one friendly police officer down in danville. He always seems to show up to check out the cars and makesure we are all ok... cars and the drunks