What's A Claimer?

Claimer Racing is one of the divisions of the Lower Island Track Racing Association (LITRA). "Claimer" refers to one of the cars that competes in the class. Here is how claiming works.

Anyone meeting the membership and driving requirements of LITRA, can bring out $299 to Western Speedway on any night that LITRA classes (claimers, mini-figure eights, demo trucks, and demo cars) are racing. The racing number that you buy form the club (Pastor Tim's is 64) is written on an envelope in which your money is placed.

At the end of the racing night, all claimer drivers meet around the flag pole in the pits. All of the envelopes containing people's claim money are placed in a container and randomly drawn. The person who's number is on the first envelope picked, can then claim any of the cars that have raced in the claimer races that night. That car becomes their sole property on the condition that they bring it back and race it on the next two LITRA race nights.

When a car is claimed, the money from the envelope of the person who claimed it is given to the person who's car was claimed. After all of the people who have brought cash to the track to make claims have made their choice (a specific car can be claimed only once in a night), the person who's car was first claimed then has the choice to claim one of the remaining unclaimed cars or go home with their $299. Once a car is claimed from you, the only thing you get to keep are your window net, safety belts, white flag (used to indicate you are ok after a crash) and car battery.

Maybe you are wondering where these cars originally come from. They are put together by members of the club who either enjoy making and then racing them, or just making them. Since everyone knows a car can be claimed for only $299, people building a claimer scrounge what they can, for as little as they can, from sponsors and local auto wreckers. This keeps the class affordable and relatively level amongst everyone racing because the people who know how to set their cars up and make them go fast, loose them in claims and then go on to set up whatever they claim - unless they bring a new car out to the track.

Claimer racing is a fun class of racing and especially suited for anyone with a limited budget or calender who wants to give racing a try.