Thanksgiving of 1995. This day will be forever etched in the minds of my family and I. It was on this night, as we slept in a motel, someone drove off with our enclosed trailer, race car, and other racing equipment. In November of 1995, we headed south to participate in the Winter Series races in Florida. We looked forward to warm sunshine and an escape form freezing Illinois temperatures. We raced the 5-day race at Moroso, then drove to Bradenton for another 5-day race. The first three days went by with little excitement or success. We raced our 1992 Firebird on Thanksgiving evening and after loading it into our trailer, went back to the motel for the night. The next morning we headed for the track just like every other day. We entered the gate and headed for our pit spot only to find an empty space where our trailer had been. We did a double take, thinking we must be mistaken. Unfortunately we were not. There was no trailer where ours had been. There was absolutely NOTHING there!! We tried to file a report with the guard at the gate but he asked us to "look around because someone may have moved the trailer as a joke." We called home for VIN numbers and other information . We gave all the details to the Deputy/guard. The next few hours were spent talking to every racer there about anything suspicious. Unfortunately no one had any details that could help us. The only clues we had were the tracks in the sand where a truck had hitched onto our trailer. We'll never forget the horrible, empty feeling of realizing that our trailer, car, tools, and other spare parts had vanished. Feeling helpless, we even went as far as to rent a small airplane and fly over the area, hoping to see our 30-foot white enclosed trailer. after seeing no sign of it, we returned to the motel room to make a list of the missing items. Remembering every tool and spare part was difficult, as one would imagine. We've learned by this experience and we now keep a list of contents of our house, workshop, and trailer. We have also videotaped these areas to have a more permanent record. The next morning, after not much sleep, we filed more reports with the authorities. After giving them all the information that we could, we decided to return home. Upon arriving back home our life was a blur of phone calls, faxes, and letters. We notified racing publications, race tracks, racing businesses, and sanctioning bodies. When the magazines were published, calls came in from all over the country. all potential leads were followed but nothing ever turned up. There is a point to this story. There are preventative measures that should be taken to reduce the chance of this happening. Our theft was not an isolated incident. Two trailer were stolen from Montgomery Motorsports Park during the "Million Dollar Race" in October of 1999. One missing trailer contained a 1996 Chevy Lumina race car. The other one, filled with engine parts was recovered later empty. Our race team has rebuilt and we now race a rear engine dragster. Every time the trailer is parked it is secured with a Boot Wheel Lock. The Boot is a unit that fits over the trailer tire and clamps onto the wheel. Once it's installed, the trailer can't be moved. The standard model fits 15 inch wheels up the 225/75 R 15. It is painted safety yellow and it weighs 25 pounds. The Super-Boot fits larger 15 inch, and most 16 inch, and 16.5 inch tires. It weighs about 25 pounds and it is painted orange. The units will not damage wheels and they can be easily mounted for traveling. The Boot Wheel Lock will not make your race car faster or more consistent. The security that it provides will give you peace of mind. It is one way of making sure that your trailer will remain where you parked it. For more information on the Boot, visit us at: www.cantstealit.com