Type R Club of America

So it's getting close to a year since '97 106 was stolen and I've been thinking allot lately about those ten years of ownership as well as post ownership. I know others on here have experiencing this unfortunate reality of owning these cars. I figured it would be a good place to unload my thoughts and maybe hear from those who have gone through the same experience.

For me, my 97 represented some pretty huge automotive milestones. I had done a couple autocross events in an EG, but my first track day, and all subsequent ones, were in the R. I can still remember the awe I felt pulling out on to Buttonwillow for my very first event, and how predictable and communicative the R was. Such a fantastic car to learn how to drive on track with.

I would go on to do more track days, auto-crossing, mountain drives, holiday trips to see family out of state and the daily drives to work or school. I feel lucky to have had those ten years I guess, and maybe I just got complacent after all that time and zero issues with theft attempts.

After the car was stolen I was able to, (after a month of fighting insurance), get enough to replace it with another Honda, a swapped EG with pretty much everything I could possibly want for a track car/weekend toy. Even still, it just doesn't quite feel the same. On paper they're so similar and the hatch would for sure turn faster lap times, but it's missing something. I don't know if it's all nostalgia playing with my head or if there really is something about these cars that just can't be replicated.

It's unfortunate the timing of the theft coinciding with the skyrocketing of ITR prices, and as I watch auctions from time-to-time I wonder if prices will ever come down and open the door to having an ITR in my life again. Maybe once I get the EG on track I'll feel different, or maybe not. Maybe I'll always feel like something is missing, which is probably okay. It means that the engineers who started the R program at Honda knew what the heck they were doing and creating something spectacular.

Such a shame how thieves don't care about the hurt they cause because they can't suppress their urge to take instead of earn for themselves.

Was your ITR stolen in Oct 2020?

I'm expecting prices of cars to come down, but that's a whole other topic of discussion that involves inflation and moving from the Industrial Revolution to the Digital Revolution. The greatest wealth transfer in the history of the world is happening already.

Check your PM.

Yep October 2020.

PM sent

I'm gutted just reading your words. It's also a reminder of the general paranoia many in our community have lived with/through for years or decades (me.)

RIP '97 #00106

I briefly owned #106. Here are pics when I bought it in 2002 for $10k. It was a salvage title theft recovery with a leather GS-R interior and a 2000 ITR drivetrain. I should've gotten numbers off the engine and transmission. The badges were painted red and the chin spoiler was an SiR style chin spoiler that was color matched.

What an awesome share, I love how the community steps up by contributing background info and more. It reminds me of all the cars that have changed hands within the community + associated stories.

OP - Standing offer for a round of beers for your loss. You weren't the first, (highly) likely not the last, but we're here for you.

Outrun,

Thanks for posting pics and details about the car.

Did you buy it from the original owner? Wondering who put it back together before you got it.

Which state did you buy it from?

Thanks!!

It was at a used car dealer when I got it. I think they probably buy shells or theft recoveries at auction and then get more parts to put the car back together. They had a rear ended black ITR and a yellow ITR with no interior at the time I got #106. This was in California. The dealer specialized in Japanese cars, mostly Hondas and Acuras.

Sister car #105 was in Temecula, CA at one point.

Good info!

Why didn't you keep it very long?