Sorted Performance had its Speed World Challenge racing season come to an abrupt halt earlier this week when its transporter consisting of a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 4x4 dually and 48-foot Gooseneck Haulmark Edge triple axle trailer were stolen from a Hampton Inn parking lot in Livonia, MI. Team manager Ken Grammer was transporting both of the team's Grand Touring Class Dodge SRT-4 race cars at the time, along with all the spare parts available for the cars. Today it was learned that the truck has been recovered in Detroit and sustained some damage, though not as much as the trailer, which was also found in Detroit burnt to a crisp. The two SRT-4 race cars, one driven by team owner Hal Brown and the other by current Rookie of the Year points leader Stan Wilson, are still missing. The racing community has its feelers out for the cars, as their parts are very specific and should be easy to spot should the thieves attempt to sell them.
You can view all the currently available info on the situation in this thread on the SCCA Pro Racing forums, and please keep your eyes open if you live in the Detroit area. Hopefully these two race cars can be found in good shape thanks to the collective effort of a concerned auto and racing community. Sorted Performance was looking forward to the next round of the series at the 2007 Grand Prix of Toronto. With any luck, Hal and Stan will be behind the wheels of their SRT-4s by then.
Thanks for the tip, Joe!
[Source: SCCA Pro Racing forums]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MK @ Jun 21st 2007 4:10PM
One of the guys I work with here in Livonia has had his Ram stolen twice while it was sitting at work.
spencer @ Jun 21st 2007 4:14PM
Hey look racecars that are actually based on production models!!! I hope they can find their trailer, I'm sure these guys don't have sponsors throwing money at them like some other "stock" car racing series do.
Harrison @ Jun 21st 2007 4:14PM
How the hell do you expect to get away with a truck + trailer WITH 2 race cars?
Don @ Jun 21st 2007 5:08PM
It's called "stupidity".
Tagg @ Jun 21st 2007 4:15PM
This happend to Roush Racing a couple years ago when someone stole his NASCAR truck series hauler with two trucks inside. They found them in pretty short order but the point is that his truck team was based out of Livonia too.
spencer @ Jun 21st 2007 4:16PM
Oops, I meant I hope they find the cars, since they already found their trailer.
GeoTracker @ Jun 21st 2007 4:20PM
Was it in Livonia or Monroe? The forum says it was in Monroe County which is way south of Livonia which is in Wayne County.
Rob @ Jun 21st 2007 4:21PM
I feel a high speed chase coming on....
judd @ Jun 21st 2007 4:46PM
Were they anywhere close to CA or Ontario? Maybe they thought "production street racers!" CRUSH 'EM!
paul34 @ Jun 21st 2007 4:54PM
Heh, next time, use a big rig to haul 'em. The thieves won't know what to do with a clutch... especially when you're using a synchro-less gearbox on top of everything else =D
thieves suck.
JT @ Jun 21st 2007 4:56PM
geez, what a blow to the team -- best of luck finding the cars/parts. thieves F T L.
FrankTheCrank @ Jun 21st 2007 5:03PM
I almost bought one of these SRT-4's. That was a fun little ride. If it wasn't built so cheaply, I probably would have bought it. But I have to admit, I had one hell of a test drive.
Between the exhaust note an the power...what fun.
Too bad they killed it. Now we get a Caliber SRT-4, which will probably be too top heavy. Ah, we'll see.
skeptic @ Jun 21st 2007 5:06PM
Wow - that's a real bummer. My dad had a trailer full of furniture stolen at a little hotel once. we found it with some things left - broken and destroyed of course....stealing trucks from hotel parking lots seems to be a real racket.
On another note: Detroit is fairly close to Canada. Are we sure the Canadian government did not seize the cars? They certainly look like they could be used for street racing.
Seriously though, I hope that they are recovered in short order and in as good of condition as can be expected.
Don @ Jun 21st 2007 5:10PM
Or perhaps California seized the cars due to street racing? ;)
Bryan @ Jun 21st 2007 6:57PM
That sucks, racing isn't cheap!
SherbornSean @ Jun 21st 2007 9:18PM
I realize they are race cars and all, but at heart, they're just Neons. What's the street value of a used Neon, maybe $300?
Stoneman @ Jun 21st 2007 11:27PM
SherbornSean, it's -300 when you factor the loss of self-respect when driving one of those pieces of crap Neons.
Stoneman
http://www.stonemanAUTOreview.com
Robert @ Jun 22nd 2007 3:57AM
I might me a neon, but its a neon that will smoke your ass if you race it.
... @ Jun 22nd 2007 1:42AM
i see someone stealing neons a good thing, less of those riced out things i have to look at
John P. @ Jun 22nd 2007 9:58AM
It's pretty lame when even supposed "car enthusiasts" can't show a little respect for the SRT-4, an inexpensive, fun to drive, extremely capable car. These are the kind we are supposed to like guys, Come On!!!!
I hope they find these in-tact, I'll keep an eye out for them. :p