Titles and Race Cars

12-01-2009, 04:19 PM

How many of you race car owners have titles for your vehicles? Have you ever encountered any issues because you didn't have one?

Jeff Lee · 12-01-2009, 04:53 PM

Personally I wouldn't buy one without a title or other document recognized as binding.
I once sold a race car rolling chassis. I lived in an apartment and the car was stored on the lot. Even though the buyer paid for it, he didn't pick it up for two weeks. He finally arrived, knocked on my door and said "where's my car"? I assumed it was where I saw it last. Nope...gone. I can tell you I didn't look to good and to make it worse, he was the owner of the local track I raced at (now Speedworld, AZ).
About 3 or 4 years later I was with my fiance and another couple driving around looking at Christmas lights. What do I see this Christmas eve in somebody's drive way? Yep, there it was. I called the owner up at 1:00 in the morning and told him where to find his stolen vehicle.
He arrived the next morning with the Sheriff. Apparently this guy purchased it from the thief under the assumption a title wasn't needed on a race car. Legal owner presented proof of legal ownership and the once rolling chassis with a new tunnel ram 440 was on his trailer. Yep, if your in possession of a stolen vehicle you loose whatever is on it.
It took me nearly 4 years to absolve myself on that and it was a miracle I found it. The only thing better would have been when he showed up at the track. Now that would have been really interesting!

Dave Turner · 12-01-2009, 05:05 PM

Jeff's point is well made. Also provides documentation for proof of origin when crossing an international border....the customs officers are inconsistent in asking for ownerships, but if you have nothing to prove that you were in possession of the vehicle upon entry to your neighbor's country, be prepared to have a prolonged stay with the border folks.

As I see it, it just makes life easier for everyone and helps to expedite a sale.

If a car never leaves your hands and you do not plan to compete in Canada or Mexico.....it probably doesn't matter.

jim powers · 12-01-2009, 06:40 PM

always get a title or a notorized bill of sale,its for your own good!!!!

Travis Miller · 12-01-2009, 06:56 PM

It is not just titles for race cars but titles for any car you buy. If you someday decide to fix up that old car you bought for parts, without the title in some states it can be hard to prove its yours or where it came from. And just because you get the piece of paper called a title, the car is not yours until the title is transferred into your name.

Car story...many years ago I bought a car for parts from a friend. Never got the title because he was a friend and I knew where to find him. Later I decided to fix and license the car. Thats when I found out my friend had committed suicide. His brother was the heir and I almost lost the finished car to the brother because he had possession of the title. Luckily the brother never got to see the finished car and still thought the car was just an old junker but I had to pay him a couple hundred to get the title. Since then, if I buy any car, I get the title and put the car in my name immediately.

Travis

(Disclaimer: Opinions and advice expressed by me on this forum are exactly that, my opinions and advice.)

larry dowty · 12-01-2009, 10:47 PM

terrance in 1970 i had a encounter not with NHRA but with the king co. sheriff department, seems we acquired a 70 camaro with out paying for it and the insurance co. wanted there money, when you are looking at 1 to 3 in the clink you really wish you had a TITLE

12-01-2009, 11:02 PM

So what everyone is saying that every car racing in NHRA has a title? I'm not trying to be a smart @#$ here but if I had the coin to buy say an old Pro Stock car to run in comp it will have a title? I agree, it is nice to have something official no matter if it's a race car, passenger car, or trailer but I don't believe every race vehicle has one.
I do understand no one wants to spend their hard earned money for something that might not be legit that might be more of a hassel than it's worth.

Gary Smith · 12-03-2009, 05:14 PM

I have titles on both. Of course Dad & I are original owners so it has made it easy LOL.

Ed Fernandez · 12-03-2009, 05:17 PM

Mike is a resident of Pa so he has to call PADMV.End of story.

cicero819 · 12-06-2009, 08:43 PM

Just to let everyone know that you must have proof of ownership while traveling trough any state, Pro stock and funny car have their State Registration with them at all time. I was stop in 1990 with a 1969 Chevelle (from a known Racer) in New-York State, the Trooper impounded the car, trailer, and tow vehicle until we came up with the car ownership. Well this started a whole new problem for me, the car had change ownership six times before I got it. I had a Notarize bill of sale with unfit for road use New-York certification but nobody had checked if it was stolen(thank God it wasn't) but it still took over a month to get my property and I had to pay the storing fees. There was an article not too long ago on Class Racer about a gentleman who never stopped looking for his fathers Stolen Road Runner(it was a 440-6 pack with rare options) he finally located it and with the aid of the FBI was able to get the car back from a Reputable(so-call expert) Antique car dealer who had never changed the ownership knowing that many valuable car owners also have never changed their ownership fearing that their pride and joy might not be so legal after all. Take it from me you need your official ownership, like the old commercial from American Express "don't leave home without it"/

12-01-2009, 04:19 PM	#1
Terrance Smith Guest Posts: n/a	Titles and Race Cars How many of you race car owners have titles for your vehicles? Have you ever encountered any issues because you didn't have one?

12-01-2009, 04:53 PM	#2
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Titles and Race Cars Personally I wouldn't buy one without a title or other document recognized as binding. I once sold a race car rolling chassis. I lived in an apartment and the car was stored on the lot. Even though the buyer paid for it, he didn't pick it up for two weeks. He finally arrived, knocked on my door and said "where's my car"? I assumed it was where I saw it last. Nope...gone. I can tell you I didn't look to good and to make it worse, he was the owner of the local track I raced at (now Speedworld, AZ). About 3 or 4 years later I was with my fiance and another couple driving around looking at Christmas lights. What do I see this Christmas eve in somebody's drive way? Yep, there it was. I called the owner up at 1:00 in the morning and told him where to find his stolen vehicle. He arrived the next morning with the Sheriff. Apparently this guy purchased it from the thief under the assumption a title wasn't needed on a race car. Legal owner presented proof of legal ownership and the once rolling chassis with a new tunnel ram 440 was on his trailer. Yep, if your in possession of a stolen vehicle you loose whatever is on it. It took me nearly 4 years to absolve myself on that and it was a miracle I found it. The only thing better would have been when he showed up at the track. Now that would have been really interesting! __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX

12-01-2009, 05:05 PM	#3
Dave Turner VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Schomberg, ON, Canada Posts: 1,222 Likes: 1,606 Liked 364 Times in 138 Posts	Re: Titles and Race Cars Jeff's point is well made. Also provides documentation for proof of origin when crossing an international border....the customs officers are inconsistent in asking for ownerships, but if you have nothing to prove that you were in possession of the vehicle upon entry to your neighbor's country, be prepared to have a prolonged stay with the border folks. As I see it, it just makes life easier for everyone and helps to expedite a sale. If a car never leaves your hands and you do not plan to compete in Canada or Mexico.....it probably doesn't matter. __________________ Dave Turner SS/GT #1153

12-01-2009, 06:40 PM	#4
jim powers Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: manville nj Posts: 359 Likes: 198 Liked 13 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Titles and Race Cars always get a title or a notorized bill of sale,its for your own good!!!!

12-01-2009, 06:56 PM	#5
Travis Miller Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 478 Likes: 1 Liked 276 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Titles and Race Cars It is not just titles for race cars but titles for any car you buy. If you someday decide to fix up that old car you bought for parts, without the title in some states it can be hard to prove its yours or where it came from. And just because you get the piece of paper called a title, the car is not yours until the title is transferred into your name. Car story...many years ago I bought a car for parts from a friend. Never got the title because he was a friend and I knew where to find him. Later I decided to fix and license the car. Thats when I found out my friend had committed suicide. His brother was the heir and I almost lost the finished car to the brother because he had possession of the title. Luckily the brother never got to see the finished car and still thought the car was just an old junker but I had to pay him a couple hundred to get the title. Since then, if I buy any car, I get the title and put the car in my name immediately. Travis (Disclaimer: Opinions and advice expressed by me on this forum are exactly that, my opinions and advice.)

12-01-2009, 10:47 PM	#6
larry dowty Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: chewelah wa Posts: 283 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Titles and Race Cars terrance in 1970 i had a encounter not with NHRA but with the king co. sheriff department, seems we acquired a 70 camaro with out paying for it and the insurance co. wanted there money, when you are looking at 1 to 3 in the clink you really wish you had a TITLE __________________ larry dowty 6388 SS

12-01-2009, 11:02 PM	#7
Terrance Smith Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Titles and Race Cars So what everyone is saying that every car racing in NHRA has a title? I'm not trying to be a smart @#$ here but if I had the coin to buy say an old Pro Stock car to run in comp it will have a title? I agree, it is nice to have something official no matter if it's a race car, passenger car, or trailer but I don't believe every race vehicle has one. I do understand no one wants to spend their hard earned money for something that might not be legit that might be more of a hassel than it's worth.

12-03-2009, 05:14 PM	#8
Gary Smith Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 820 Likes: 9 Liked 132 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Titles and Race Cars I have titles on both. Of course Dad & I are original owners so it has made it easy LOL. __________________ Gary Smith "another broke racer spectating"

12-03-2009, 05:17 PM	#9
Ed Fernandez Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NOO JOISEY nexta NOO YAWK Posts: 5,879 Likes: 38 Liked 100 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Titles and Race Cars Mike is a resident of Pa so he has to call PADMV.End of story. __________________ Former NHRA #1945 Former IHRA #1945 T/SA

12-06-2009, 08:43 PM	#10
cicero819 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Aylmer Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,086 Likes: 31 Liked 69 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Titles and Race Cars Just to let everyone know that you must have proof of ownership while traveling trough any state, Pro stock and funny car have their State Registration with them at all time. I was stop in 1990 with a 1969 Chevelle (from a known Racer) in New-York State, the Trooper impounded the car, trailer, and tow vehicle until we came up with the car ownership. Well this started a whole new problem for me, the car had change ownership six times before I got it. I had a Notarize bill of sale with unfit for road use New-York certification but nobody had checked if it was stolen(thank God it wasn't) but it still took over a month to get my property and I had to pay the storing fees. There was an article not too long ago on Class Racer about a gentleman who never stopped looking for his fathers Stolen Road Runner(it was a 440-6 pack with rare options) he finally located it and with the aid of the FBI was able to get the car back from a Reputable(so-call expert) Antique car dealer who had never changed the ownership knowing that many valuable car owners also have never changed their ownership fearing that their pride and joy might not be so legal after all. Take it from me you need your official ownership, like the old commercial from American Express "don't leave home without it"/ Last edited by cicero819; 12-06-2009 at 08:45 PM.