Towing my track car?

[stef1808]

whats your opinion on this, could use some advice.

I've got a striped e46 m3 which is solely used as a track weapon. I've got 2 routes to take:

keep the fixed full buckets I've got now, do a full cage and further weight saving (doors, radio etc) - getting a trailer and license and towing it around
Or
Keep it as it is and fix some sliding semi buckets (club sport spec)

I love the road trip to 'ring/spa/uk tracks which for me is also part of the fun, but having an almost full on race car sounds great also.

Does anyone do any towing? Is it really boring ??

[Output Flange]

I tow my race car around - wouldn't do it any other way.

I used to drive my old M3 track car to and from tracks. It was full race-spec, so it was hot, noisy, uncomfortable and I probably looked a bit of a dick.

If you can tow, tow. It also means you don't have to tip-toe round on track worried about driving home with bald tyres etc.

[Darranu]

For me it's the cost implications as well.

By the time I've insured, taxed and MOT'd my track car it's just cheaper to buy a trailer and tow it there.

When it's time to do something else I can always sell the trailer, which should only loose very little in value compared to the amount saved over the course of a few years not having to shell out for all of the above.

[iguana]

stef1808 said:

Does anyone do any towing? Is it really boring ??

Yes approx 100k miles per year & yes it is


I do often tow or truck my track m3 about, but it has also been driven all over Europe for track days too, as far as Monza, can get 8 spare wheels & 1 loose tyre in a caged e36 plus tools plus spares plus passenger, without a pas can get another pair of tyres.


But for me its good that not all folks trailer as I'd not get so much Spa & 'ring recovery work if they all did, PS most common car I get back from 'ring is a 46 M3....

[mackay45]

iguana said:

Yes approx 100k miles per year & yes it is


I do often tow or truck my track m3 about, but it has also been driven all over Europe for track days too, as far as Monza, can get 8 spare wheels & 1 loose tyre in a caged e36 plus tools plus spares plus passenger, without a pas can get another pair of tyres.


But for me its good that not all folks trailer as I'd not get so much Spa & 'ring recovery work if they all did, PS most common car I get back from 'ring is a 46 M3....

46 M3s are probably one of the most common cars at the Ring though from my trips there, so that's not a massive surprise. What tend to be the common faults that mean they end up coming home on a trailer?

[stef1808]

iguana said:

Yes approx 100k miles per year & yes it is


I do often tow or truck my track m3 about, but it has also been driven all over Europe for track days too, as far as Monza, can get 8 spare wheels & 1 loose tyre in a caged e36 plus tools plus spares plus passenger, without a pas can get another pair of tyres.


But for me its good that not all folks trailer as I'd not get so much Spa & 'ring recovery work if they all did, PS most common car I get back from 'ring is a 46 M3....

i know, youve already towed a car for me from the 'ring
wont be needing you though if i get my license

[ds666]

I tow my sprint and hill climb single-seater with an e39 m5

[nick1275]

ds666 said:

I tow my sprint and hill climb single-seater with an e39 m5

Good effort!

Going back on topic, I wouldn't think about driving my track car to a track day again. Luckily the first day I towed it to a day, the fuel pump packed up on track. No need to worry about getting it sorted there, just threw it in the garage when I got home and worried about it later. Can always take spare wheels/tyres, fuel, tools etc.
The only annoyance I find is storing the trailer.

[stef1808]

It's getting the license which sounds like the worst part for me. What's that like?

[iguana]

mackay45 said:

. What tend to be the common faults that mean they end up coming home on a trailer?

9 out of 10 just get crashed into Armco, other than that I'd have to think, err on one an SMG box had a wobbler, & couple of engines let go.

[Output Flange]

stef1808 said:

It's getting the license which sounds like the worst part for me. What's that like?

Not too bad actually. I did a two day course with an instructor (albeit spread over three non-consecutive days!) and found it really helpful. The hardest part for me was going back to driving like you're on a test again - it's very different to how most people actually drive!

There's a reversing manoeuvre to learn, an unhitching/rehitching procedure and then some directed and undirected driving. Nothing too difficult.

Obviously bare in mind the max towing weight of your tow car and the plated weight of the trailer you buy - the former must be at least as big as the latter.