I'll give you the economics and the rules variations but the border hassle tag is not only wrong but only perpetuates the completely wrong impression. I have crossed regularly with several diferent types of cars and teams and found it to be a breeze provided you actually show up prepared. Even when we had absolutly no proof of where we were going and the owner of the car was not there the guards were very good about co operating with us and letting us go even making us a hazmat label for the drunm of fuel we shouldn't even have had. Any griping about passports and customs to cross the border to go racing is based on a lack of experience or info.
I should have clarified my remarks. I didn't mean to suggest actual process problems, but meant to suggest traffic delays, especially on Friday's, always a busy day to cross - though I suppose some are busier than others. I've actually posted information here on how 'easy' the border actually is for race teams. When I was out west, it was a breeze, albeit all prior to 9/11/2001.
But even today, race teams with proper documentation and identity information, yes, it's straight forward. That said, I've never taken a team through to the U.S. from the eastern side of N. America in over 15 years.
Are race teams allowed to go through the non-commercial crossings as if they were RV's ? I've never used the Buffalo crossing.
Commercial is for reporting goods for Tarrif and all that jazz, I went thru as a non commercial back in the day.
Commercial is for reporting goods for Tarrif and all that jazz, I went thru as a non commercial back in the day.
I should have clarified (again...oops).
I know out west that some border crossings require vehicles to go through commercial border crossings due to size and what's potentially required to be inspected (like an enclosed race car trailer). It had nothing to do with commercial / non-commercial duty / tax issues, they just forced you to use the other crossing point because of size and *what* need to be opened up without screwing up traffic.
Buffalo is good and quick and you use the non commercial lanes and if you see an rv lane use it it is physically larger. Sarnia and detroit work the same but just not quite as quick some days. We usually cross friday afternoon for sat races or early sat am.
I use to race in the CUP LITES racing series when it was there. Also ran at Lake Erie, Spencer, Oswego, and Lancaster. Holland def. was one of the more fun tracks to drive in the NY area that i raced. Real nice pits too!