The 24 Hours of Lemons Forums → Lemons Newcomers → Foreign imports for Lemons races
So I'm thinking about trying to find an old junker in the UK to bring over for Lemons.
However, In the rules it says "vehicles legal for US highway use at the time of their manufacture"
Does that exclude any vehicle that was never sold in US or non-US spec versions from racing in Lemons?
Also, if this is legal for Lemons and you have any ideas on some interesting cars i should look for let me know!
You could probably find one in the US and save money. That said learning how to drive on the wrong side of the car might be a challenge.
How hard could it be? I've been on the wrong side of the racetrack for years
Well i live in the UK currently so I have a few years experience driving on the right (normal driving not racing). Though I've never had a RHD with a manual so shifting with my left would probably be odd.
As far as shipping cost, long story short... it should be "free" for me. So i was thinking maybe i could find something odd that would not be "worth" importing normally, but could still be a cool Lemons car.
Does that exclude any vehicle that was never sold in US or non-US spec versions from racing in Lemons?
Yes, but Lemons HQ is generous about granting waivers for such vehicles. We raced a British-spec MG Metro 1300, much to their delight.
Look carefully into US law about importing something, though. If it's over 25 years old, no problem. Younger than that and it must either be brought into full US compliance for road use, or declared in writing to be a "race car" by the manufacturer, or brought in on a temporary basis, which means either complying with various rules about shipping it back out of the country within a certain period or having it destroyed in a documented manner. You'll need to satisfy the NHTSA and the EPA in advance in order to get it properly through Customs.
Everything is so much simpler if the car is more than 25 years old, so the obvious solution is to find a Triumph Acclaim.
There is really only ONE SATISFACTORY RESPONSE
I know where there's a nice Rover 2000TC that you could take back home with you.
Look carefully into US law about importing something, though. If it's over 25 years old, no problem. Younger than that and it must either be brought into full US compliance for road use, or declared in writing to be a "race car" by the manufacturer
Ya I was expecting to go with something over 25 years old. I looked at the "race car" import, since that is literally what its for, but it seemed to only grant one year of import then required export or destruction.
I know where there's a nice Rover 2000TC that you could take back home with you.
Like actually "nice" or a nice choice for Lemons because its a nugget?
cheseroo wrote:I know where there's a nice Rover 2000TC that you could take back home with you.
Like actually "nice" or a nice choice for Lemons because its a nugget?
If I may intercede...
"Nice" as in "I want this thing off my trailer and out of my life"
You really need to look into the requirements for importing. The way I understand it, is the car needs to be at least 25 years old and as it was when the factory made it. I have heard lots of horror stories of cars getting held up in customs because they were not original.
Anything you would want to import, I am sure you can find already imported at a fraction of the difficulty and expense of importing.
25 AND as factory! Does rust count?
But seriously, i'll try calling the importer/exporter and get some details from them to help me decide.
I haven't committed to anything but since the car I planned on shipping just got rear ended and is probably totalled I figured I could use the spot on the boat for something else instead of letting it go to waste
Were you going to cage it (etc.) in the UK, or when it arrives in the states?
Well i live in the UK currently so I have a few years experience driving on the right (normal driving not racing). Though I've never had a RHD with a manual so shifting with my left would probably be odd.
As far as shipping cost, long story short... it should be "free" for me. So i was thinking maybe i could find something odd that would not be "worth" importing normally, but could still be a cool Lemons car.
I grew up in NZ driving RHD, my first manual LHD experience was in a Lemons race, it really wasn't a big deal, I had been driving in the US for a few years at this point just not manuals.
It is fun to tell people that the clutch and brake are swapped for RHD and watch their heads explode.
Just email HQ and ask. I bet they'll allow it.
I raced a car this summer made in China by a company that has never imported any model to the US.
The front-engined diesel Porsche is a grey-market car. I double-checked with HQ before the first race and it was fine.
niik wrote:Well i live in the UK currently so I have a few years experience driving on the right (normal driving not racing). Though I've never had a RHD with a manual so shifting with my left would probably be odd.
As far as shipping cost, long story short... it should be "free" for me. So i was thinking maybe i could find something odd that would not be "worth" importing normally, but could still be a cool Lemons car.
I grew up in NZ driving RHD, my first manual LHD experience was in a Lemons race, it really wasn't a big deal, I had been driving in the US for a few years at this point just not manuals.
It is fun to tell people that the clutch and brake are swapped for RHD and watch their heads explode.
My first RHD was in a Lemons race. It wasn't hard to adapt either.
Thanks for all the replies.
I'm going to get some advice from an import professional. If I do decide to try importing something I'll email HQ to ask if the car could be waved and allowed to race.
The 24 Hours of Lemons Forums → Lemons Newcomers → Foreign imports for Lemons races