STOLEN Royale RP16 Formula Ford in Seattle/Tacoma area

[scorp997]

Please be on the lookout in the Seattle area for my racecar that was stolen last night (7/26) from the Puyallup area.


The car in question is a ROYALE Formula Ford race car and is white and red with number 77 on it.
No chassis plate but an AM number AM73-45

Hewland stamped H9-133
engine stamped IV1939CI
revolution wheels w/ nearly new Avon A46
full gear set box w/ approx 15sets of gears

Also stolen was a white 24’ Pace Shadow GT trailer, which is somewhat unique as it has 4’ doors on both sides. Inside was a black gas powered golf cart with “DND Fabricating” stickers on it and diamond plate surfaces on the seating area.
License # 68168AB
Vin 4P2WB24214U050483


(Old license number in this photo)

There are plenty of other tools, spares and pop up awnings in it as well.

the chassis has rectangular tubing supporting the steering rack, no others I’ve seen have this. I added a front mounted sway bar to this (stock mounts it in a rear position).

custom stainless headers with ‘J’ bend rear pipe. Cast aluminum ‘Royale’ valve cover. Custom 2-piece rear rotor hats. Koni 8211s all around



Thanks for any help or leads

[billtebbutt]

Sorry to hear of this - hoping for the best for you

bt

[E1pix]

Oh Man, this makes me sick. Hope you get it back and just as it is.

I’m tight in the VW van community, and it’s unreal that most thefts are also in Seattle. My theory is they’re crossing into Canada so please let the border agencies know!

Best of luck, we’re pulling for you!!!

[J Leonard]

Will keep our eyes out in Kitsap.

[E1pix]

PS — Can you post a trailer photo?

[Rick Iverson]

John;

This makes me ill at ease. That car is my absolute favorite FF.

From one of my previous posts:

• National engine builder? If so, a list of the stamped numbers on the block, head, intake etc.;
• Chassis plate number?
• Chassis stamped number location and number;
• Prepared GB? If so, stamped builder ID and numbers;
• Transponder numbers;
• Any systems with factory ID numbers, like Stack, Pi, Aim etc?
• ANYTHING unique to the chassis/ancillaries you did that sets if off from stock? If so, what, where, and how.

They are not going to repaint and hit the tracks. My surmise they’ll part it out, and the more information, the better to identify it on Craig’s List etc.

[scorp997]

Thanks. Tracking down the Ivey build number, I have a photo somewhere of the HC number on the gearbox. No chassis plate but an AM number AM73-45

it is a vintage FF, so lots of unique stuff on it!!

hooefully it will be found intact

[Rick Iverson]

AM73-45

Good, now the rest.

[Rick Iverson]

AM73-45

Good, now the rest.

[scorp997]

It has a unique set of 2 pc rear discs. I had to modify the rear calipers to make it work.

Also has a custom front mounted sway bar (stock mounts from the rear of the upright)

[scorp997]

And trans is H9-133

transponder (hardwired) is 0826786

[Rick Brannon]

John post a picture of the trailer please might help find it amongst the locals. IRDC site also if you haven’t done that already.

[BLS]

It's quite possible the thieves were after the trailer with no knowledge of what was inside. How that changes looking for it, if at all, I don't know. It seems I recall someone finding their (a similar theft) car abandoned and the trailer long gone.

Best of luck finding your car.

[racersonly]

John,
You have all my sympathy. I know that if my car had been stolen, I’d would have been heartbroken.

I know this is like closing the barn door after the horse got out, so, please don’t hold it against me.

Reading this made me think off a similar thread here on Apex from several years ago. I thought it was an excellent idea to help a guy possibly recover some of his lost property. It won’t help you, but it might help the next victim. Put your name or other identifying markings on the “top” of your enclosed trailer. This might escape the attention of the low life who robbed you and help someone ID it. Just a thought. I wish you luck.

[scorp997]

Thanks is for the idea, the trailer wasn’t mine nor the golf cart. Lots of stuff I could have/should have done. Live and learn

John,
You have all my sympathy. I know that if my car had been stolen, I’d would have been heartbroken.

I know this is like closing the barn door after the horse got out, so, please don’t hold it against me.

Reading this made me think off a similar thread here on Apex from several years ago. I thought it was an excellent idea to help a guy possibly recover some of his lost property. It won’t help you, but it might help the next victim. Put your name or other identifying markings on the “top” of your enclosed trailer. This might escape the attention of the low life who robbed you and help someone ID it. Just a thought. I wish you luck.

[E1pix]

Marking the roof is brilliant.

To the OP, I know ideas after the fact are indeed bittersweet for you, but hundreds may read this...

I’m not one to talk, as we travel full-time and have yet to follow my own advice. But really, ALL of us should install GPS trackers in our valued rigs — and if not done already, perhaps a thread on this is in order.

It's quite possible the thieves were after the trailer with no knowledge of what was inside. How that changes looking for it, if at all, I don't know. It seems I recall someone finding their (a similar theft) car abandoned and the trailer long gone.

Best of luck finding your car.

This is exactly what I think and why I mentioned posting a trailer photo. To most, even the searchers, most trailers “look the same.”

It’s important here, if not critical, to step back and look at this from afar — as us uninvolved readers are. Who would intentionally steal a race car? To do what with it?

Parting it out seems unlikely if not ridiculous, each part is another piece of evidence pointing at one party. To sell a part for a few hundred? To whom? And how? And where?

Maybe I just can’t imagine “one of us” in racing planning and executing such a deed. But realistically, it’d be as dumb as rocks to do this to get a race car, I think someone needed a non-descript trailer and odds are couldn’t care less what was inside.

In regards to my earlier comment about high theft rates in Seattle, a YouTube viewing of “Seattle is Dying” tells a dark tale of a non-punishing system of such thievery. It’s pathetic honestly, with no disrespect to a fine city, but to be honest is enough to keep me from taking our rolling home there anytime soon...

All that said, I truly wish the best in a quick and undamaged recovery.

[GreginCanada]

I sort of doubt it would end up in Canada. Getting things across the border are a lot more difficult these days. I agree the thieves were probably after the trailer.
Hope you get it all back .

[Chris Livengood]

I work for a construction company. Occasionally our trailers get stolen. The basic tools get sold, the rest gets dumped, then eventually the trailer turns up when the police find it. Sometimes the turn around is quick, sometimes it isn't, but we've never had a trailer not get recovered.

Anyways, more than anything I hope the car gets returned. It's a fantastic looking ride.

[iamuwere]

You have better hopes of finding the car than the trailer (which is what they were really after). Someday the car will turn up.

I think if I were storing a car and trailer, GPS would be on the trailer, but even a Apple AirTag would be hidden on the car, trailer, cart, toolbox, etc. They aren't perfect, but they would not hurt either.

[scorp997]

Best photo I have of the trailer, never thought I’d need a picture of it.. no graphics, just the basic Pace logos

[E1pix]

This all makes me wonder if there’s a specific site out there that sends out notices to locals to watch for stolen items... like to truckers. A similar site named VanAlert does this when vans are stolen, and it’s often proven invaluable in finding and returning stolen property.

I also wonder about the legality of a drone search, as it seems reasonable the trailer is likely closer to the point of theft than it is further away.

Hang in there, John. If gut feelings are worth anything, my gut tells me you’ll find this soon as has been most often the case when I read about these things.

Regardless, I freaking hate thieves.

Perhaps of value:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xHlDBMbREBY

Lots of info when Googling:
what do thieves do with stolen trailers

[Jerry Kehoe]

Bad news, likely they were mostly after the trailer and mostly morons, but another good reason to have off track coverage on the race car and trailer. Always have at least peace of mind when towing or staying at a motel as the package represents a big investment for me at least and while the loss would be really important knowing I am covered for it takes a load off. Hope you find it and hopefully in complete good shape!

[FVRacer21]

Sorry about being late to the thread, but hiding an Apple Airtag or similar in the trailer cannot hurt. Others can chime in with more sophisticated GPS trackers.

ChrisZ

[DanW]

I've been using Geosky alert. Their product works very well. https://www.geoskyalert.com/#/homepage

[Rick Iverson]

Gents,

I have no clue, but is there real time satellite imagery?

[mikey]

I thought I read that an Apple AirTag starts beeping if it is not occasionally paired with the owners phone. I could not find how frequent the pairing is needed i.e. three days or whatever. Could still help initial search if you are aware your tagged item is stolen before it starts beeping to alert someone where the tag is hiding. I’ve been meaning to experiment with a soundproof enclosure to avoid tipping off thieves.

[scorp997]

A quick follow up for those interested…


Let’s start with some people suck… a James White contacted me on Facebook to let me know he knew where the car was and had proof as to its location. The ‘proof’ photo was a poorly photoshopped image of MY OWN photo, and an old one at that.


Still no additional updates - except a scammer.

please, everyone get some Hagerty insurance. Don’t be like me and put it off.

[Lynn]

Gents,

I have no clue, but is there real time satellite imagery?

Only in the movies.

[mikey]

Gents,

I have no clue, but is there real time satellite imagery?

yes but you can’t afford it

[scorp997]

I was able to get the Ivey build number that is stamped on the block
IV1939CI

maybe that will help track it down
thank you all for the help and support.

found a couple poor pictures of the trailer, unique thing about it is large doors on both sides


EVERYONE should go out and take a couple pictures of their trailer!! Please learn from me!!

additional trailer info:
License # 68168AB
Vin 4P2WB24214U050483

[Rick Iverson]

License # 68168AB

Let us get everything on one sheet, please

[Rick Brannon]

Only in the movies.

There are pseudo real-time tracking IOT cellular tracking devices using NB-IoT (narrow band) the technology utilizes MQTT (message queuing telemetry transport protocol instead of http. Below is a link to provide additional understanding Amazon provides an environment to develop hardware and software development environments a little digging will yield volumes on this subject. Obviously there is an industrial solution in place currently to track containers and imagine the volume their fulfillment centers receive daily. If I was retired it would be a fun project that may develop into a tracker for trailers with a 4G LTE NB-IoT device.
https://www.hivemq.com/mqtt-essentia...SACEgIhrPD_BwE

[Rick Iverson]

Chassis number: AM73-45
Hewland number: H9-133
Engine number: IV1939CI
AMB: 0826786
Trailer License: 68168AB
Trailer Vin: 4P2WB24214U050483

[E1pix]

Well done, Rick.

I’m sure I’m not alone in hoping for news before/by now, but you have support here, John. Best.

Chassis number: AM73-45
Hewland number: H9-133
Engine number: IV1939CI
AMB: 0826786
Trailer License: 68168AB
Trailer Vin: 4P2WB24214U050483

[scorp997]

Thank you all… with any luck I will be back with you again