Green Mk3 Cortina OSF722P, Lordswood, Chatham, Kent 10/01/16

A witness reported seeing the car being towed by a black saloon with blacked out windows & no lights on at around 10:30pm on Saturday night so stolen earlier than thought.

sadly they will have likely been stripped and prepped within hours of being nabbed and made unrecognisable now. Sad times. But we aren't even allowed to discuss that even though it is completely obvious what is going on for fear of upsetting the racer community.

They seem to be having a good constructive conversation about all of these cars over on Oval chat. The theory behind "No Vin, No Race" is solid. There's only one reason a car would have it's VIN or Engine number ground off.

It's really sad that the minority that think it's ok to steal people's cars paint a grim picture of all banger racers.

Looking on Ovalchat, that is starting to happen

It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to work out what's going on if cortinas are going missing close the venue of an all cortina banger race.

From what I've read and heard over the years, most racers are honest and it's a small percentage that race stolen cars. The idea of only being able to race with a vin present with V5 would help things a lot.

I would like to see the honest racers get together and stamp this out of their sport. A few years ago this was being discussed on a ford forum and a banger racer was talking about it. I still remember his words "I race bangers, but all my cars are honest, I know lads that steal cars to race, but I would never do that." Someone must have an idea of who's doing it and people must turn a blind eye.

I'm amazed in the age of such strict health and safety that banger racing is still allowed to happen. Maybe the track could do the decent thing and cancel the cortina only meeting if it's obvious cars are being stolen for it.

I've had bikes for years and I always hear tales of road bikes going missing and turning into either track or race bikes. One of the bikes magazines reported that police were at a club meeting checking frame numbers and scanning bikes to check for data tagged parts on the bikes and that many racers were turning their fans around and going home when they came the circuit and found out these checks were happening.

Maybe someone from Essex Constabulary will see this and suggest a sunday out at the races... Waiting until everyone is in the paddock and actually arrest those responsible (if there are any)
I used to crew for a driver at the Arena back in the very early 80's. His cars were straight, I know because I used to go with him to collect them and watched him pay for them. When there was a logbook available we always retained them until we took the car into Mayer Parrys (S) in Erith and watched it meet its final end. If there was no logbook then he always got a signed receipt. Its not rocket science to write down a few words and the VIN on a bit of A4 and get the previous keeper to sign. 
I love the mk3/4/5 Cortinas, would happily have another one like my old W reg and to think that these poor unwitting souls who have cherished these cars for 30+ years have been robbed of that pleasure really ticks me off (toned down to avoid censorship)

I was speaking to a legitimate banger racer last week and we talked about this. He was certain that the police will be at the arena on the night. He also said that the legit guys work quite closely with owners clubs and have a good rapport, giving first refusal on trim and parts that are not required on the race cars. In return they get tipped off on any cars that are well past their best. Oh and he's STILL looking for a car to buy for the night and is not having any luck finding one!

Personally, I wish they'd stop these one make classic style races. The sight of the advert for Mk1 and 2 Granadas sends me into meltdown!!!!!

I hope they catch the bastards responsible for the thefts. What makes it worse is that is so blatently obvious!

If the next banger meet was a classic Vauxhall meet what's the odd's the internet would be full off old vauxhalls been stolen?hope all the stolen cortina's get found.