Page 47 - NM Spring_2021

tree limbs. Here, you need to pay look much the same on the ground, afraid to call your local police for
attention to your environment. If but if you search from a small plane help. Professional thieves are
you’re going to have high winds, or a drone, it’s much easier to spot very ingenious and persistent, and
don’t park under or near trees. If your marked trailer from the air; they’re not good people. So be
you have bad weather coming, and it’s hard to hide a trailer. careful; desperate thieves can harm
move to safer and/or higher you or your family and protecting
ground. If your trailer is breached, Trailer alarms are popular, but your property isn’t worth being
the stuff inside will be damaged, I don’t think local alarms do very injured. If you catch a thief in the
too. much good as they have limited act, get away and call the police.
reach and are easy to disable.
Moving on, we’ll talk about theft Instead, I recommend a Lojack Storage of your race car operation
losses. Trailers are fairly easy to or similar tracking device. Make is important, too. If you leave your
steal. Two years ago, we had a sure it is well hidden and keep its car and/or trailer in an unprotected
total loss from a major name trailer existence to yourself so thieves area, others may find out. Word can
manufacturer. The thieves simply can’t disable it. You may wish to get around quickly that there are
drove in, hooked up and took the consider putting one in the race car items for the taking.
trailer. Theft is a major concern for as well. Also consider a heavy-duty
every one of my customers. And trailer lock. A standard padlock will When towing, be sure ALL of the
there are several ways to combat prove to be little deterrent to a thief. contents in your trailer are secured
theft. before you start driving. Something
I’ll pass along something very as simple as a lawn chair coming
One method I’ve told many people important I’ve learned over the loose from the trailer wall can cause
about is to take some outdoor paint years. If you think you are being a loss of thousands of dollars to
and climb up to the top of the trailer watched, or ‘cased’, you probably your race car’s paint and body. And
(be careful!) and paint something are! Virtually all victims of thefts of course, some objects if they get
in large characters. It can be your realize after the loss they were loose can cause a fire.
tag number, car number or phone being watched. If this happens to
number. Most people never see the you, don’t ignore it! Change your Trailer fires can be especially
TOP of your trailer, so only you will routine and/or add to the degree devastating and dangerous. I spoke
know it’s there. Trailers tend to of difficulty for a thief. Don’t be to drag racer and retired Fire Chief
Jim Simons to get some information

SPRING 2021 Nitro Madness Magazine 47