This I believe is not the first incident of this type, don't even consider locking your keys in the car and keeping a spare set.

On a purely Security related front. Get a turbo timer.

Don't know if any of this helps, but here's some more info.

A friend of mine and my better half were sat in his car (gold GTI-6) up a the top end behind the control tower behind the pits, they saw the RB5 come flying out, and at the same time saw a dark coloured (probably green, maybe blue) impreza 4dr come out at the bottom end (near Northampton Tyres) of the pits, and also a light blue coloured XR2 came down from the top end of the pits. I believe a light coloured (silver white) impreza was reversing out of a space and had to stop to let the XR2 past, maybe he remembers something? Apparently all came together (screech of tyres brakes etc) at the bottom end and headed out together.

My better half also remembers some lads hanging around earlier in Yellow and Blue Fleeces, but they were *not* Subaru, they were definately "Camel Trophy" jackets.

Hopefully this jogs someones memory, it "seemed" as though the XR2 was "with them", I don't know.

Ian.

The green car would have been Stef trying to find out which way they turned when leaving the circuit.

The Info on the XR2 could be interesting, we are still trying to get to the bottom of all of this, any info we can give the Police we will pass on, it may not help this time but if we can stop it happening again ? !!!

Steve, condolences mate. Im going to keep an eye on the Top Marques and Trader web sites for RB5s for sale and check the regestrations. Hope others will do the same.
Car thieves.... what F**k wits!
Stu

Me and Steve left the circuit early on to go and look a car nearby and when returned (1ish) we followed in a light coloured Mk2 (I thought it may have been white but I'm probably wrong) XR2 into the circuit it was with a white Suzuki Swift GTi both full of youths, they drove into the car park and straight into the infield tunnel at speed we both commented on how strange this seemed at the time.

As we came out to get back in the car and have cup of tea at the end of the day the white Suzuki Swift GTi was parked up behind the pit lane and was just leaving full of youths again. This was about 5-10 minutes before the RB5 went. A smokey red XR3i also left shortly before the RB5 went this allmay be unrelated but hopefully will be of some use.

I reckon everyone should check their video footage and/or photos to see if any of these cars can be identified.
Even if they are though, I doubt the owners would admit being associated with the thieves!
Anyone was entitled to come and watch after all.
I guess that at the very least, we'll all be a little bit more careful in the future.

Stef.

The smokey red XR3i was not anything to worry about, that was Mike and Adrian who cam along to watch me cane some Scoobies.... http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif

It did appear as though both cars were together, as the RB5 overtook about 8 to 10 cars closely followed by the WRX.
FWIW the WRX had a non-std. exhaust which was rectangular in profile i.e. not round or oval as most are.

The silver WRX is accounted for Simon saw, it wasnt actually a WRX, but a UK spec car, and definitely nothing to do with the theft.

The WRX we have been told about had a massive front lip spoiler, again we dont know if this is totally unrelated unless the owner is on here and can let us know.

Well, just thinking about the speed it was travelling- if it was doing speeds above 120MPH from getting onto the A42 it would hit J8 on the M42 which is the M6 turn off in about 14mins. 11mins odd if it was 150 all the way. So it could well of been just getting into Birmingham by just gone 5.00pm
I Don't know if the police keep tapes or just monitor the roads.

The other question is - how much petrol did it have left it in. Would the have had to stop to fill up? Travelling at high speeds they may have had to. Garages keep tapes.

Did you have a mobile phone in it- the ability is there to trace mobile phones to their exact location.

Just a few ideas - hope it works out.

Q

There was a red XR2 - MkI or II (? not the one with twin rectangular fog/spot lights) with 4 young lads that was spectating from the outfield, started at Redgate then ended up high on the bank overlooking Craner Curves. This would have been approx 15.30. Maybe on the track vids?

MTR

[This message has been edited by MTR (edited 17 September 2000).]

Steve,
terribly sorry to read this news - please accept my sincere sympathy and best wishes. We may never have met, but I do know something of how it feels (been there, got the T-shirt...).

Hope you manage to get things sorted v. soon. All the best.
SteveC.

Steve, i wasnt there but what can i say that hasnt been said already...i really am sorry to hear that this has happened, i hope your insurance pays out, i hope they catch the *******s and that they burn in hell

Steve, i wasnt there but what can i say that hasnt been said already...i really am sorry to hear that this has happened, i hope your insurance pays out, i hope they catch the *******s and that they burn in hell

Sunil

Steve

What Bas***ds. Being a fellow RB5 owner and knowing you I hope everything gets sorted out. Your car was and still is one of the best RB5 I know. The drives you gave me at Wroughton proved that to me. I hope you get it back.

Tim

OK Guys
Are you sure that the red XR was not a Nova. I was pqarked up in the in-field at about 1-00 in front of the pits with the wife in my silver uk turbo. There was a Red Nova with 3 youths messing about by the side of us. I definately have the car on video, how much of it i dont now, will go and check it now. I was taping the cars as they came through the top bend on to the pit straight and the car went past me.

Paul

Have just looked at the video and have got the red nova on video. Also by freeze frame i think i can make out the reg.
Steve
If you want this reg please e-mail me and i will let you have it. Dont want to post it on the board just in case they are a innocent party. Hope this helps!
Paul

All I can say is........sorry my car only had three wheels at the time. I was next to the garage it came out from and it was lucky that no one was in the way because they would have been killed..NO QUESTION. I would have gladly given chase however my car was up in the air with one of the wheels off. I wonder if `THEY` chose their time to act bearing this in mind i.e. most people not in a position to chase. I have taken extensive video footage of the day and will check it all ASAP.

Nothing I can say will make you feel any better, so I`m not going to try.
K

Steve,

sorry to hear about the car.

This may help...

My car was stolen from Castle Donington village about two years ago (on my birthday http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/frown.gif ) The car was found two days later in Henley-in-Arden, about 5mins. from the NEC. I had been at the NEC all day, and reckon that I was followed home to Donington.

This is relative because apparently there is a car theft gang that work out of the H-I-A area, and come up to the Donington area on a regular basis. I even have friends who tried to chase them one night a few years ago and couldn't keep up with them, and the driver is now racing in Champ Cars in America!!!

The local dealer for that area is Andrew Burt in Wootton Wawen, Solihull. Their telephone number is 01564 794455. It might be worth calling them to keep an eye out.

Hope this helps,

Rob.

Steve

I too offer my condolence's on your loss albeit hopefully only a temporary loss. I can say no more than what's already been said.

At the time or there abouts I was doing a demo and heard the commotion as your car made its exit thru the paddock...unbelievable.

Despite what has been said re RAC Trackstar, a neighbour of mine has this fitted to all his cars just as I have Tracker fitted to all mine. In my opinion the single biggest advantage of Trackstar, is that, on occassions such as yesterday's, that having confirmed your identity to the control room, they are in fact able to pin point the car by GPS system and relay details to the local old bill. My neighbours car, a volvo C70 coupe was nicked over Christmas from the end of our shared communal drive. The time of the theft was narrowed down to a 2 hr window. On reporting the theft and advising Trackstar, the vehicle was located within minutes and was recovered in Bristol. No damage caused other than the car having had a thrashing up the M5.

With tracker, the system works the opposite way around but also to a similar system. For 2 years I had trouble with one of my cars as the battery kept going....guess what....no battery back up. Still unable to cure the problem except to fit an automatic sensing trickle charger but thats naff if you have park in the street for days on end etc.

Anyway, I do wish you all the best and trust that the dastardly culprits will be caught.

Steves car has been found and the culprits are in custody, check the other thread that steve has just posted http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif

Steve, sorry to hear about your p&j being nicked from the pit lane - ,man it makes my blood boil, I can feel the anger welling up inside me - especially reminding me of previous incidents in the past with our p&j's.

I believe scoobs has been found and the dirty low down brain dead mother f*ckers have been caught, hope scoobs is ok.

I'm dead cautious now, after many close calls with scum bags trying to take what most definately doesnt belong to them, I remember a few years ago scumbags breaking down the backdoor of my parents house, going straight to my bedroom, missing all the goodies on offer around the house, in an effort to find my car keys for the Corrado on the rear drive - fortunatley I had the keys on me, and they only took my Sony Camcorder. Not forgetting the countless attempts on my girlfriends MK1 GTi Cab

So another hard learnt lesson to be had here - even in the relative secure location of a Scooby track day - your p&j is NEVER safe UNATTENDED, it's difficult not too sound a smart arse in this sensitive issue, please forgive me if I do, I've had to learn the hard way too, therefore the more the subject is stressed hopefully this kind of attrocity will never happen again. Still cannot believe it, in such a close knit scooby community too!

my sincere empathy to you and yours.

btw. on my STi I've got a turbo timer, it comes in real handy when you come off track, allowing the engine to run thru its cool down period with the car locked up, keys in your pocket, disklock on etc etc, I think the more modern timers can interface with the alarm/immobiliser too, providing additional security.

Hope all turns out ok,

cheers
Howie