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Crossing The Border, Eh? Attention U.S. drag racers! If you have any reservations about attending the races in Canada – please read on! According to Canada Customs officials, Tracey Nantais of Trade Administration Services of Windsor and Patrick Malone, a Commercial Liaison Officer of the Customs Border Services in Windsor, crossing the border these days is not nearly as hard as the days of old. Due to the "Free Trade Agreement" which is now a part of the northern border, bringing goods to and from the U.S. has been made a little more pleasant, however, there are some very stringent guidelines that must be met first. I travel with a firearm to ensure protection of my family and belongings, will I have a problem at the border? Yes, one of the most important things to keep in mind as you head north is that Canada will not allow any firearms to enter the country. This is non-negotiable, according to Nantais. Malone adds, "you will have a couple of options if you do have a firearm with you in your vehicle or rig. First and foremost, be honest with the border official, and tell him or her that you have a firearm. Problems occur when you lie and are caught, so just avoid lying from the beginning." Should you find yourself at the border with your firearm, you may either abandon it with the border official, or return to the U.S. to check it at a bus station locker. There are turn around lanes available at each port, should you need to return to the U.S. for any reason. Along the same lines as firearms, no mace or pepper spray will be allowed into the country as well. We really prefer to bring our own groceries to the track. Can we bring food and drinks across the border? Yes! Now, we all know that many of you prefer to bring your own food and beverages with you to the racetrack. Let’s face it, we all get a little tired of track food every now and then. According to Malone, the customs officials have no problem with you bringing in your own food and beverages. The only restriction comes in when you are bringing in alcohol or tobacco. With alcohol you are limited to one case of beer, and tobacco one carton per every adult over the age of 19. Part of our racing operation is selling T-shirts to our fans and handing out hero cards. Are we subject to any local taxes? When it comes to selling T-shirts or any other product, the rules get a little more complex. Although Canada is joined with the U.S. by the "Free Trade Agreement", certain items will be subject to a GST or Goods and Service Tax. You will need to contact the Client Services Representative from the port at which you wish to cross to find out whether or not you qualify for the GST. Our family pet(s) goes everywhere with us. Will we have a problem with the customs officials? The chances are that you won’t, however, if the health of your dog is remotely questionable, officials may ask to see proof that the animal has received it’s shots, particularly rabies, unless it is three months or younger. Bring any papers that you may have with current vaccination dates on them. I’ve heard horror stories from others who have tried to cross over, about having to list every piece of equipment in the trailer, is that true? No, prior to the event, Grand Bend Motorplex will be sending a Carte Blanche letter to all racers. This letter will essentially pre-clear you for entering Canada. NOTE: This does not exempt you. You will still have to answer the customs official’s questions and have the appropriate paperwork completed in case they wish to inspect your trailer. Since racers are considered low risk, meaning Canada Customs Officials are pretty sure that you won’t leave your car or parts in Canada, you will not have to post any kind of bond. You will, however need to supply a list at the border of any commercial goods that you are carrying that have a high value, including their serial and/or vin #’s. For instance you would state that you have: 1 Snap-on Tool box with tools (and serial number for the box if applicable), 3 spare crate motors serial #’s XXXXX etc. You don’t have to list that you have 20 screwdrivers, and 5 socket wrenches. Is it true that you have to prove you’re a citizen of the U.S. when crossing the border? Yes. Bring with you a copy of your birth certificate, or passport. If you have neither, a voter’s registration card will do with a picture ID accompanying it. I’m worried about returning to the U.S. after the race. Will we have any trouble getting back in? Chances are that you won’t. However, just to make certain and avoid any delays, you will need to get a CF4455 form which is also known as a Certificate of Registration, stated Brian Humphrey from the Port of Louisville. It is a 1/2 page form that will ask where you will be exiting the country from, use of the goods abroad, a list of high-valued goods and their serial numbers. If there are no serial numbers, then you can list unique markings on the item. When I was asked to put together this commentary for the IHRA I first did a little test of the water temperature with a number of the U.S. racers who I know well. After completing my little survey I found, to my surprise, there was a percentage of racers who actually feared the thought and the logistics of making a trip to Canada to go drag racing. I found however, the reasons for their fears were mostly unfounded. Some misgivings were a result of some long ago and far away rumor—but most were simply a result of a basic lack of information. So, I wanted to help overcome any misconceptions and untruths. We needed to set the record straight. Getting into Canada to go drag racing and then back home to U.S. is a simple process providing you follow some basic and reasonable steps. It’s Just Not True! – Once you cross the border into Canada you will not have to drive on the left-hand side of the road or will you be forced to read and understand the French language. You are going into Ontario, which is a 99 percent English speaking Province. You will also not have to drive across frozen tundra, dodge moose and elk on the highway or cross a mountain range to get to the drag strip. You will not see any igloos, and the only Mountie you might see is that unmarked "ghost car" behind you with the flashing lights if you drive too fast. You will not need any snow tires and don’t bring a parka because that temperature drop you heard on the radio is really because we use Celsius and not Fahrenheit. But It Is True That – Canada is welcoming you with open arms and the Canadian drag racing fans are "gaga" that you are coming. It is also true that your money is worth a lot more in Canada (the exchange rate was about 1.52 percent as we went to press). In Canada, $100.00 (Canadian $) will get you a primo hotel room – which converts to about $48 bucks (U.S.). Everything else you buy with U.S. cash is discounted the same. (You might want to ban the wife from the local shopping malls). Everyone in Canada accepts U.S. currency – therefore you do not have to change it to Canadian money if you don’t want to. The Do’s And Don’ts – When crossing the border it’s really just a matter of using common sense. The first rule is to treat the Canada Customs inspector with courtesy and respect. The management and staff of the Grand Bend Motorplex and the IHRA have already gone to great lengths in contacting Canada Customs. All major border crossings (Detroit/Windsor, Port Huron/Sarnia, Buffalo/Niagara Falls) are aware of the Mopar Parts Canadian Nationals event and that you are coming. Canada Customs is fully committed to processing both racers and fans efficiently and quickly. We received some valuable assistance from Danny Yen, Communications Manager for Canada Customs who is based in Windsor, ONT. He had a number of suggestions for making your visit to Canada a pleasant and memorable one. "The first advice I have for our friends from the U.S.A. concerns firearms," Yen suggested. "Canada has far more restrictive weapons and gun laws then in America and that needs to be recognized right up front. Our laws are very strict and apply equally to everyone – Canadian residents and visitors. My advice is to leave your guns at home – period. If by chance you forget to do that – tell the Customs inspector immediately. It may be possible to store your weapon temporarily – but it is more likely you will be told to go back and leave it in the U.S." Yen also confirmed that similar restriction apply to other weapons like switchblade knives, tasers and mace. "The second thing racers and fans should have is proper identification," continued Yen. "A passport is not required for entry into Canada but it certainly is the most valid form of identification. It is recommended that everyone have a birth certificate and at least one photo ID (i.e. Drivers License)." Yen also revealed that Canada is part of a stringent international focus with regard to finding lost or abducted children. "If you are traveling into Canada with your children, make sure they have a proper birth certificate or legal custody papers," Yen said. "The monitoring of children crossing into Canada is an extremely high priority for Canada Customs." What About Out Racecar And Trailer? – This is usually the biggest concern for racers, and they fear is largely unfounded. Canada hosts motorsports events nationwide every weekend during the season and American racing team participation is a huge number. "Racecars, racecar trailers, tools, and related parts are all allowed free crossing into Canada," Yen confirmed. "There are no required documents or monetary deposits of any kind required on our part. We do recommend however that a simple inventory list be prepared and available. Just a summary of racecar, spare engine, spare parts, tools, etc. You may or may not be asked to show that list. For this event, we allow free passage of consumables. That’s things like fuel and oil that will be used at the event – there is no duty to be paid." Racing Souvenirs – The sale of team T-shirts or souvenirs is a bit of an issue. Officially you cannot bring items to sell in Canada without first declaring them with Canada Customs. The correct process is rather simple. Say you have one hundred T-shirts to sell at $15.00 (Canadian) you would have to anti up 15% of that ($225.00) at the border crossing. Then if you don’t sell all the shirts, you can claim back the difference on your return. It’s Important To Remember That – Canada Customs primary purpose is to protect the borders of Canada. As at any international border crossing, the possibility of a more extensive inspection always exists. If your number comes up it’s not any reason to panic. Simply follow Canada Customs instructions and chances are you will be on your way sooner than later. History shows that delays for secondary inspections are usually minimal. Drag racing teams are not considered special targets by Canada Customs. "Racing teams have always been considered low risk," Yen confirmed. "They are very welcome to our country and we do our best to facilitate and process people and get them to the race as quickly as possible. There are absolutely no artificial barriers, perceived or real." Listen To Jim – Pro Modified team owner Jim Oddy, from New York, has been racing in Canada for years. He and his crew have some basic advice for teams who are planning a trip up to Grand Bend. "We’ve been going to Canadian racetracks since the 1960’s," Oddy said. "As long as you don’t come in with any weapons or firearms you won’t have a problem, basically that’s the biggest thing they (Canada Customs) are interested in. You should have a list of what is in your trailer – support equipment for the racecar and tools. In all the times I’ve crossed into Canada, I’ve only been inspected once. Don’t give them any trouble, and if you have an attitude, keep it to yourself." Dave Says – Dave Perscio, who also owns and races a Pro Mod team, is another frequent flyer at Canadian drag strips. Persico too, has never had any problem with Canada Customs. "There’s a myth out there that this is a difficult process," Persico said. "But you shouldn’t have any reason to be paranoid. The secret is to just act civil and cooperate fully and you won’t have any problem. I’ve never had to get a special permit or pay duty or anything in the 15 years I’ve been coming to Canada racing. They won’t harass you unless you give them a reason to." It Goes Without Saying – That importation of illegal substances is a major no-no. If you get caught you will go to jail. Canada does not recognize any acceptable amount of small quantity. If you are a convicted felon, your chances are also not good of making it across. People with prior histories of legal problems should consult with Canada Customs first. Need More Info? – If you have general questions please direct them to Grand Bend Motorplex Track Management, Bob Fuller or Ron Biekx: (519) 238-7223. Canada Customs has also established a point person should you have more detailed inquiries – Please contact Tracey Nantais: (519) 257-6425.
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