Crossing border with racecar/trailer
 

Does anybody have any advice for crossing the border from the US to Canada and back with a racecar and trailer? I'm looking at going to the D1 Open at Cayuga dragway next month, and I want to make sure I don't get any surprises trying to cross the border. Anything with fuel or other stuff that may be in our trailers?

I'm doing some research online right now, but I figured there's a lot of people who have done this often. Thanks in advance.

Re: Crossing border with racecar/trailer
 

Sent you a pm.

Re: Crossing border with racecar/trailer
 

Maybe just declare everything you have as spares like converter transmission etc. Big parts. Fuel should not be a problem as long as labelled and proper paper work for car hope that helps and see you at cayuga ( Kirk Vanni )

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everyone aboard needs a passport.

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If you have a title to your car with your name on it that helps getting back in to the U.S.A. Ours was a body in white built by f.j. smith, they wanted proof of ownership.Remember your truck license plate, they may ask for that. Have your passport ready. If they do search your trailer or truck they look through drawers and trunks and dont put anything back. also they dont care how expensive your paint job is as they walk down the side of your car. Good luck cayuga is a fun track.

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Michigan has an Enhanced Drivers License , that is easier to get than a Passport , takes less time . Might be better to cross at Port Huron , seems to take a shorter time . Good to have the title of your car , but that is more for getting back into the US . Be friendly to the Border Officer , don't wear a hat , turn your radio off . I have never had a problem crossing the border , we had many races up at Grand Bend and Cayuga .

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Do not bring any guns

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And when you talk to the border people don't wear sunglasses! They will ask you to remove them.

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Have a passport.
Leave any handgun at home.
Take off your sunglasses, turn off the radio and put your vehicle in park.
Be clear about where you are going and what you are going to do.
Make sure that you tell then that race as a hobby and not a business.
Also, if they ask, be sure to tell them that there is no money to be won. You are racing for a trophy and bragging rights.
If you luck out and depending on where you cross, one of the Canadian Border Guards is a fellow racer.

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Make sure that if you have animals that you have their paperwork.Shots,etc. also certain foods and vegetables can't come across border.

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Always have a list of all your parts it's more for US Side coming home and Always say yes sir or yes mam!

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It's been a while, but I had to throw out a package of lunchmeat I purchased in Canada. Also, DO NOT GET OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE UNLESS SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED TO! After I saw a U.S. border guard & Terry Knott walk around and inspect his trailer, I started to get out when he got to me. Bad move.

There was also a story that got a little interesting when a T/AD or T/AF racer was asked if he had any alcohol with him going into Canada! It was laughed off afterwards, but don't joke around in case a guard doesn't have a sense of humor. As mentioned, be prepared and polite!

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I've lived in western NY all my life and have been to Cayuga many times over the past 30 years. Most of what everyone has said is correct. With that said, I've never had a problem going into Canada. The Canadian border agents make it pretty straightforward. Like has been said, no bull****, be respectful. Have your passport out and ready, answer the questions directly. No phone, no smoking, no sunglasses, no radio. They are going to ask "citizenship, where are you going, what is the purpose of your trip, how long will you be in Canada, and do you have any alcohol or tobacco". That will be the end of it. I used to make an extensive list of everything in the MH and trailer, but I haven't bothered with that in forever

Coming back into NY, they are cocks, plain and simple. I've had them look in the MH and trailer on several occasions. Absolutely love it when its raining and they walk into the MH with their wet shoes like they own it. Don't even try to make a joke about anything. Just seem to be jerks for the sake of being jerks. Same sorts of questions with the added "are you bring anything back".

As long as you've got your ducks in a row you'll be fine. BTW, I don't even have a passport. In NY, we can have an "enhanced license" that serves to get us in. You obviously will need a passport. Good luck and enjoy the race, track is a little rugged but its a great event.

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Just tell them you know Fletcher, should get you right in!

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Andrew: What Russ said X2. I've went across several times at Port Huron/Sarnia with my car to go to Grand Bend without a problem. I have a Michigan enhanced driver's license. Always prepare for the extra time to cross, particularly on the way back in on Sunday. You may spend at least an hour waiting in line on the way back.

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No weapons, including pepper spray. Yes, they'll ask.

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Stay the hell in the usa !!!!

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No ammo either, if they find any they will tear your rig apart looking for guns (this found out from fellow bike riders on the Alaska trek). One year we took our Weimaraner into Canada to earn her Canadian championship (she was # 5 Weim in the country in 2005 and yes dog lovers brag about their dogs as much as their kids, sometimes more) and in the process she won some items including two bags of dog food. The food was processed in Canada and was confiscated coming back into the states, along with lots of associated hassle. Can’t be stressed enough, no joking and clear direct answers only.

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I do have an enhanced license, along with a Nexus card, as I commuted to Chrysler's plant in Windsor daily for several months, so that should help out getting through in a timely fashion. I'll make sure to leave the alcohol and weapons at home and will probably make a list of everything in the truck/trailer, just in case I need it. Thanks for the advice everybody, I'm looking forward to the event!

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I have travelled to Europe 3X for vacation. Its always more difficult or seems like a hassle when coming back into the US than going through customs at your destination point.
Even on trains travelling through different countries in Europe, as soon as they see the color of your passport, they have just walked right on by without even asking to see it.

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Just be polite ,Do not get cocky,they will send you back no questions if you smart remark them,enhanced license ,your all set,Good Luck to all,nice money to be won at open

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We’re looking forward to hosting the event. Lots of Canadian beer to go around; ya won’t be thirsty! ;)

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Really Terry?? :eek:

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Everything Cdncarnut and Mr Fletcher said. I will add that it is a good idea to have a file folder , everything listed in a typed format. If you have an ownership and original bill of sale have it with you. If you supply everything it gives them no reason to look any further, they appreciate your effort and you go along the way. Welcome to Canada where your dollar is worth $ 1.34 so its a cheap weekend. lol

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Every time I see a question like this, I am reminded of the late Larry Sullivan from Drag Race Central. Larry used to drive from race to race in his motorhome. One year, he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and had received radioactive seeds as treatment.

He had no problem getting into Canada for the IHRA race at Cayuga, but on the way back into the US, the border guard asked to come into the motorhome for a look. Larry told him to go ahead and as the guard walked by Larry, the radioactive seeds in Larry set off the guards alarm.

That sparked a more intensive search until the guards were convinced that the only thing radioactive in Larry's motorhome was his prostate. They let Larry go through and never did find the Cuban cigars he was smuggling in for someone else.

The lesson is to carry medical documentation if your body might set off alarms.

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Many have chimed in allready, but if you are bringing your dog, put together it's medical records. We keep updated doggie files with their Beagle mugshots, license, etc.

I have only been entered at the big crossings:

On the way back to Us

87 in New York(use those limes, they have to enter to throw them out)
95 in Maine(put me in the commercial truck line and the. Hassled me about all the contents of the trailer.).

And lastly going to this race a few years back......somehow I followed what I thought was rv sign ended up in Nexus line crossing into Canada, and they were pissed. They went through everything, had us wait outside. Got a warning. Didn't know the rv had a safe....good thing it didn't have a hand cannon in it!

I have zero issues at the small border crossings. Some want to look at the toys but that's not bad!

Bring your race gas.

Eric

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Yes REALLY......I have not been back since 1974 when it was easier to cross over to work the San Air race when I was working for Div. one NHRA. The people made us feel not welcome then and they were weird.. Screw Cana-DUH !. Especially the French section !

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Wow !

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Proof once again that Fla has plenty of wieners, ( R. Mace not included ) lol

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And at our southern border, some poor schmuck from Nicaragua will b-slap that "border agent" out of the way and waltz right in.

A known US citizen? They'll punk and thug us all day long because they know we're safe.

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Well, I for one will never go to Canara after reading by all this. Doesn’t seem to be a problem on the souther boarder like this.

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Just tell the agent “You know who I am right?” That should go well......I’ve been in law enforcement a looong time just cop humor lol

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Don’t let one persons bad experience deter you from going to a race in Canada. I have travelled 100’s of times back and forth from Canada to the USA and back. I don’t care who you are, where you’re from and the direction you happen to be traveling if you have attitude you’re going to get it back. And if you have a good attitude you might run into a bad border person who is either having a bad day or power hungry. And that’s on both sides of the border. Don’t judge a whole country over the actions of one person. Just my 2 cents.

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Terry, I would never allow a bad experience in one corner of the country to cause a 45 year self imposed travel ban. We love our trips to the USA and maybe we’ve been lucky, but I expect there are Canadians that share your disdain for crossing the border. My wife & I own a tiny piece of your homeland and the members of our adopted community have always been welcoming, honest and respectful....just sayin’.

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The border guys at the Manitoba/North Dakota lines must be a jovial bunch. I have never had them peek inside the motorhome nor the trailer to check my wares. The first time I took my dragster over the US border, I stopped in on the Canadian side and had them issue a type of ID number which they stuck on the car so when I came back home they had a record of my car and knew I wasn't bringing up a new toy from the US. If you have a clean history crossing on both sides it usually goes pretty easy both ways. Always look a border guard straight in the eye!

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stay home then x teck man.

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Cana-DUH is full of them except during the winter then the non driving snowbirds invade.

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I would be happy to bring you one of our Canadian XL wieners and stick it up a place that's closer to your digestive system. With the border restrictions I can't bring meat products into the US,but if I held dual citizenship I could bring an AR-15.You refer to some problem you had in 1974 in Quebec while working tech at San Air,checking SFI stickers on wooden wheels.At the time there was a political issue between the francophone and english speaking residents.And in some areas the english were alienated,being that was 45 years ago things have changed.This post was about the OP attending the race at Cayuga in 2019 which is in Ontario.Also I noticed you have bastardized the spelling of CANADA which is home to myself and other posters in this thread,and many members of this forum. GROW UP !!!
Sorry for hijacking this thread,but like Popeye would say;That's all I can stands,and I can't stands no more... gsa612

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Very accurate history lesson John!:)

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Maybe we don't want you here .