Two Racecars stuck, NEED HELP!!

[PorscheRacer]

First let me apologise for posting in English. My Spanish is not yet strong enough. I am an American that moved here 14 months ago. I have been in the Racing world for 20 years. I owned a race car manufacturing company for many years and have built over 100 race cars. I quit the business side of racing so I could race for myself without the demands of the customers. When I moved to Costa Rica I shipped one of my two race cars while the other one is finishing it's race season with a friend of mine driving it. The race car I shipped is a Tube Frame Porsche Boxster GT2 Race car with a 3.6ltr air-cooled custom race engine. I shipped the car about 18 months ago and it has been stuck in customs ever since. I had a customs broker working on it but he failed to get the car in. It seems that because I built the car in my shop and it was never a registered car they are unable to bring it in. However this is obviously not the case since many of the race cars such as the two Corvetts, Mustang, and Nissan are all the same kind of car without a 'common' manufacturer. I am desperate to get the car out so I can fix the damage from sitting so long and start racing again. I also want to bring my other car down as well which is a Porsche 924 2.0 ltr race car. Any help from the forum would be tremendously appreciated! I have included some extra pics to stir up some excitment!
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[aircooled]

OH MY GOD!!! It´s a real shame that this kind of things could happen in C.R. I can´t help you but I hope that you can fix the things soon so we can see your car in our one and only racetrack...

Tal vez alguna persona de alguna de las escuderías que pueda orientar al amigo por acá...

[L200]

Mae jurgen lo puede ayudar talves que el mae se la sabe en ingles!!!

[Gatillo_Pulgoso]

Hello Sir
I think I have seen your car, if I am not mistaken it's out in the open covered with plastic on a customs warehouse in Heredia... it is indeed a nice machine and yes it's been sitting there for a while...

As far as I know cars like the Nissan Almera and Corvette were imported in parts, usually a chassis is imported, then a crate engine, differentials, gearboxes and all parts are brought as separate equipment and then everything is assembled here, I have not heard of anyone bringing a custom vehicle fully assembled, though I may be wrong.

I have spoken to one of the local racers who is a friend of mine and he suggested you call this person

Giselle Bustamante
Agencia Aduanal Siete Mares
223-2474

Let me know if you are able to get it out because I'd very much like to see it and hear it purr... Thanks

[Poker]

I might don't know enough about the subject (customs, etc) but what I know is that a race car determined to be a race car only is not supposed to pay taxes.
From what I've heard all you have to do is say that it is going to be a race car and that you won't use it on public way.

So, good luck, I hope you find help soon, so you can race as soon as possible.

[Villamas]

Osea este auto es el famoso porsche tubular que tanto se hablo que estaba en una aduana y que era para correr !!!

I think,that you should do is to speak with Promoter maybe they can help you!!


Yo creo que lo que debería hacer es hablar con la gente de Promotor tal vez ellos lo podrían ayudar

[GT4]

Actually ive sent you a Private Message so that you can give me some feedback on the situation, since Ive also forwarded you enquiry to some friends that works on customs, and theres no possible explanation other that your customs agent werent that smart.

For racing purposes you wont need to register your car at our Public Registry, so you dont actually need manufacturers document or registry entries from other country.

At customs you have to pay taxes, and this taxes will be applyed as to special equipment.

Now, have you got some serious explanation on what the problem is? Is it that you are not sattisfied with the taxes that have been charged to you?

Regards,

[PorscheRacer]

Thank you all for your support! To answer some specific questions:

Yes it is my car outside in the rain in Heredia.....rusting

They have not given me a tax amount to be paid. It seems that because the car does not show up in the files that deturmine it's value it stoped there. I have begged them to let me pay the taxes! This is not an issue of me wanting to avoid taxes at all.

My ex-customs broker said he started working with Promotor (at my suggestion) but I am honestly not sure.

On the comment about wanting to hear her run, I have to say that with all the race motors I have built over the years the motor in the Boxster is something special. There is simply nothing that sounds like a well tuned air cooled Porsche engine at 9000 RPMS!! Here is the engine....

[manuel rojas/ racing toys]

Hello. I don't Know if you remember me, I'm Manuel Rojas the Black 91 928 gt Owner, we been talking for a while outside your office at the airport almost a year ago.
I told you to contact Edgardo Ramirez to help you with this problem but probably you forgot it, we also called him in that moment because you had the need to repair somethings for you daily driven 911.

I think that you have to many answers to solve your problem now, but If you still need my help for any other thing please don't hesitate and send me a private message or send me an E-mail to : manolotoys@hotmail.com

best regards
Manuel Rojas
Racing Toys

[jurgen larsson]

Mr. Porscheracer,
Since your car is not a production car, all you need is an invoice from the manufacturer to be able to go thru customs and pay the duties.
Like someone mention before on the forum, that car is not to be driven on public roads so the duties should be somewere in the 30 -35 % range of the invoice. Not like a regular car.
If I may be of assistance, please e-mail me and I'll try to hook you up with the right person for the job.
Best regards,


Jurgen Larsson

[PorscheRacer]

Thank you both, I have sent a personal e-mail to you guys.

[PorscheRacer]

Just an update for the list....After speeking with several people over the weekend and at the track it seems my assumptions about my customs broker being unqualified are correct. I am hearing a general concensus that the car could be out as soon as this week!! I am very excited.

Based on what I saw this weekend, I would think I will be running GT2, at least I hope so!! The Nissan is truly a monster! I am more familiar dancing with Porsches and Ferraris than that thing. In order for my car to run in GT1 I would have to drop in a couple of turbos, put some bigger wings on the car and greatly increase my life insurance coverage :)

The GT3 class looks like fun, lots of competition. I think my 924 Porsche would run there or in TC depending how they classify her. Probably better in TC though. Those Honda 2.0 ltrs can make well over 250 HP vs. my little 120 hp!

Thanks again for your support and hopfully I will be out there soon chasing the Nissan like everybody else!

[GT4]

Just an update for the list....After speeking with several people over the weekend and at the track it seems my assumptions about my customs broker being unqualified are correct. I am hearing a general concensus that the car could be out as soon as this week!! I am very excited.

Based on what I saw this weekend, I would think I will be running GT2, at least I hope so!! The Nissan is truly a monster! I am more familiar dancing with Porsches and Ferraris than that thing. In order for my car to run in GT1 I would have to drop in a couple of turbos, put some bigger wings on the car and greatly increase my life insurance coverage :)

The GT3 class looks like fun, lots of competition. I think my 924 Porsche would run there or in TC depending how they classify her. Probably better in TC though. Those Honda 2.0 ltrs can make well over 250 HP vs. my little 120 hp!

Thanks again for your support and hopfully I will be out there soon chasing the Nissan like everybody else!

In case you are needing assistance driving one of these cars, dont you hesitate to contact me. Im more than willing to help one friendly driver!

Or at least let me wash & wax them!

[M Bolaños]

I´m sorry to say that the Boxster would be a GT1, being a 3.6L and tube frame (all tube frames go up a class with respect with their engines, meaning they are outruled in GT3 and TS).
At least you get 100lbs off your weight if your re-classified based on tube frame.
I bet your other Porsche is over 2.0L and is non stock, meaning it can´t race in TS.
Here´s a brief rundown class by class:

TS: basically stock engine, nothing over 2 liters, 14.85lbs per HP declared by the factory. Can´t do engine swaps (no frankies here!), no sequential gearboxes (except for those cars with one available from the factory). Front brake discs may be changed ONLY, calipers and rears remain factory spec. Aditional weight for MR, AWD, an traction control cars, as well as LSDs. Any car can be re-evaluated on wieght if it crushes the competition

GT3 from 0-1600cc an 1601cc-2000cc.
Basically free other than this, no tube frames, no turbos, no moving suspension pick-up points. Monocoque or chasis must be intact. No rotary powered cars, AWD and/or sequential +100lbs

GT2 2000cc-3800cc.
Original or unmodified chasis/monocoque:Turbos get multiplied by a factor of 1.7 (maximum would be then a 2235cc turbo engine). AWD and sequential +100lbs
Tube frame: less than 2000cc, AWD and sequential +100lbs, but lose 100lbs due to engine size

GT1 3800cc and over
No turbos over 3800cc.
Tube frames with engines between 2000cc-3800cc (or 2235cc turbo or less) get 100lbs off their weight.
Sequential and AWD +100lbs.

For all GTs:
single turbo: 54mm or less (restricted)
twin turbo: 32.5mm (or 36.5mm memory fails me) or less (restricted).
Rotarys multiplied by a factor of 2, turbo-rotarys by a factor of 3.4, outlawed in GT3.
No traction or stability cotrol systems of any kind are allowed, not clear if ABS falls into this category.

For all cars:
Telemetry is forbiden throughout
No tire warmers
6 dry tires per weekend, rain tires are free.
GT3 an TS must use Hankook tires for dry racing, rain tires are free

[La Rubia]

I hope you can have your car soon in order here in CR.

I can´t help you with this but this doesn´t mean that I would like to see you participating in our races.

Good luck!

La Rubia :flower:

[PorscheRacer]

Who exactly do I talk too at the track reguarding car classification? As they say in the states, 'I will run what I brung', meening I will race where I am placed but based on where the car was run before it is a GT2 car and not a class dominating one being underpowered to the Porsche GT3RS by 50+HP and 100+HP on the other GT2 turbo car. In a lot of situations when a car like mine is closer to a GT2 car than a GT1 despite the ways the rules are written, they will classify the car and add weight or or restrictors to even the field. But as I said before I will run my race despite what it says on the side of the car. The other question is of ourse my other car too. So who should I meet with the classify my cars at the track? Thanks!

[pmontero]

Who exactly do I talk too at the track reguarding car classification? As they say in the states, 'I will run what I brung', meening I will race where I am placed but based on where the car was run before it is a GT2 car and not a class dominating one being underpowered to the Porsche GT3RS by 50+HP and 100+HP on the other GT2 turbo car. In a lot of situations when a car like mine is closer to a GT2 car than a GT1 despite the ways the rules are written, they will classify the car and add weight or or restrictors to even the field. But as I said before I will run my race despite what it says on the side of the car. The other question is of ourse my other car too. So who should I meet with the classify my cars at the track? Thanks!

I guess you could try reaching the guys at Promotor... they ought to know who should inspect the car in order to determine where it fits... like Bolaños said, as far as I know it wouldn´t fall into GT-2 because of the tube frame...

But I don´t really care as long as you can get it out on the racetrack... :twisted: Keep it up!!!

[Gatillo_Pulgoso]

Soup it up a little bit more and make it a GT1!!

[fernandoj]

Who exactly do I talk too at the track reguarding car classification? As they say in the states, 'I will run what I brung', meening I will race where I am placed but based on where the car was run before it is a GT2 car and not a class dominating one being underpowered to the Porsche GT3RS by 50+HP and 100+HP on the other GT2 turbo car. In a lot of situations when a car like mine is closer to a GT2 car than a GT1 despite the ways the rules are written, they will classify the car and add weight or or restrictors to even the field. But as I said before I will run my race despite what it says on the side of the car. The other question is of ourse my other car too. So who should I meet with the classify my cars at the track? Thanks!

Promotor Sport

Tel.: (506) 293-6359 o 293-7927 | Email: info@laguacima.com

[PorscheRacer]

I will try to get a meeting with the Promotor guys in the next several days. I want to make a decition on the Porsche in the states because I cn have that one ready to race in the 3 hour endurance race!

[Impreza 007]

I will try to get a meeting with the Promotor guys in the next several days. I want to make a decition on the Porsche in the states because I cn have that one ready to race in the 3 hour endurance race!

Well, I hope everything will be O.K. Personally I love Porsches, they are my second trademark! Good Luck and hope to see you soon racing in our country!

Impreza007

[GT4]

I will try to get a meeting with the Promotor guys in the next several days. I want to make a decition on the Porsche in the states because I cn have that one ready to race in the 3 hour endurance race!

Wow...this is such a committed guy with racing cars!! Sure I will be holding charts encouraging you at the Race!

[nighttraveler]

Awesome to hear everything about this! I love Porsches, specially on a racetrack! I'm glad people in here could orient you in the correct direction, and i hope you can get your racecar on your hands again very soon. As for the Class sorting of your cars, I agree with the others you speak to Promotor's people so they can clear all your doubts with the rules on mind. Also i'd like to thank you for your dedication in the sport and getting your cars on track, it makes the sport in CR better. I assure you you will find challenging and mostly fun the Autodromo La Guacima racetrack.

greetings and thanks

PD. If you need any assistance on the pit crew or any other team personnel let me know, I'd be glad to help.

[M Bolaños]

I will try to get a meeting with the Promotor guys in the next several days. I want to make a decition on the Porsche in the states because I cn have that one ready to race in the 3 hour endurance race!

Well this will be a let down, the only thing left of the Three Hours is the name, in the past years they have run 1 hour for TS, another for GT3, and finnally one hour fot GT1, GT2 and SPs (some prototypes that are run in Guatemala, but were originally run here, powered by 4AGE engines).

[GT4]

PD. If you need any assistance on the pit crew or any other team personnel let me know, I'd be glad to help.

you can count me in on that pit crew, if you dont want me to drive your second car