Recovery/towing eys

[wombat172a]

Having been to a few track days now I'm familiar with the instruction that you should always fit your towing eyes before heading out on track. And I never have done, for the simple reason I don't have one to fit, which is probably a bit naughty really.

I'm fairly certain that at somepoint I'm going to end up the kitty litter, but I'd rather avoid the embarressment of not having a way to get my car out easily. So have people fitted front/rear towing eyes to their cars, and if so how? I assume all of the racers have?

[Number 7]

Whether they were designed for the purpose I don't know, but on the chassis adjacent to the forward end of the tie bar mountings (the ones which adjust the caster) there are 2 circular cut outs. On the odd occasion that I've needed to tow mine (not as a result of a gravel trap yet thankfully) this is where I attach the rope. The problem that you've really got if the car does end up in the gravel is that there is minimal clearance to get to these eyes on solid ground (I'm referring to 400/450 cars with the under spoiler), let alone when the wheels are sunk by a few inches. The only thing I've come up with is a length of tow rope already attached to one of these eyes, then coiled up with small velro straps, and lodged inside the under spoiler near the back of the driving lights, so I might have a chance of reaching it from the side just in front of the front wheel should I need to. I don't think there's anything easy that you could do at the back though.

7.

[Wedg1e]

From memory, early Tasmins had a V-shaped piece of round bar welded centrally on the cross-member for yer tow rope... no use for the present discussion but I thought I'd mention it

[matt-man]

wombat172a said:

Having been to a few track days now I'm familiar with the instruction that you should always fit your towing eyes before heading out on track. And I never have done, for the simple reason I don't have one to fit, which is probably a bit naughty really.

I'm fairly certain that at somepoint I'm going to end up the kitty litter, but I'd rather avoid the embarressment of not having a way to get my car out easily. So have people fitted front/rear towing eyes to their cars, and if so how? I assume all of the racers have?

Hey chris, how you doing? Once my wedge is on the road, we really should meet for a blast!

Good to hear you are getting some track days under your belt - how doyou get on with noise??

[wombat172a]

Number 7 said:

Whether they were designed for the purpose I don't know, but on the chassis adjacent to the forward end of the tie bar mountings (the ones which adjust the caster) there are 2 circular cut outs. On the odd occasion that I've needed to tow mine (not as a result of a gravel trap yet thankfully) this is where I attach the rope. The problem that you've really got if the car does end up in the gravel is that there is minimal clearance to get to these eyes on solid ground (I'm referring to 400/450 cars with the under spoiler), let alone when the wheels are sunk by a few inches. The only thing I've come up with is a length of tow rope already attached to one of these eyes, then coiled up with small velro straps, and lodged inside the under spoiler near the back of the driving lights, so I might have a chance of reaching it from the side just in front of the front wheel should I need to. I don't think there's anything easy that you could do at the back though.

7.

I think that could be a fair idea actually, I'll have a look and see on friday. If it's in a good position I might remove one of the driving lights before getting on track so that's it's accesible, then refit after the day is done.

[wombat172a]

matt-man said:

wombat172a said:

Having been to a few track days now I'm familiar with the instruction that you should always fit your towing eyes before heading out on track. And I never have done, for the simple reason I don't have one to fit, which is probably a bit naughty really.

I'm fairly certain that at somepoint I'm going to end up the kitty litter, but I'd rather avoid the embarressment of not having a way to get my car out easily. So have people fitted front/rear towing eyes to their cars, and if so how? I assume all of the racers have?

Hey chris, how you doing? Once my wedge is on the road, we really should meet for a blast!

Good to hear you are getting some track days under your belt - how doyou get on with noise??

Yea I'm doing good, good to hear from you! I'm replacing the camshaft with a mild performance one on friday so the car should hopefully run a bit better. Noise isn't too much of a problem, I running a sinfully large silencer (which I do my best to blast the wadding out BTW), and a pair of bolt in track silencers. Last time at Cadwell I was recorded at 84db with all this fitted - disturbingly quiet really.

Quite keen for a blast too! Are you doing Thunder in the Tunnels this year?

Edited by wombat172a on Tuesday 21st September 08:53

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

wombat172a said:

Having been to a few track days now I'm familiar with the instruction that you should always fit your towing eyes before heading out on track. And I never have done, for the simple reason I don't have one to fit, which is probably a bit naughty really.

I'm fairly certain that at some point I'm going to end up the kitty litter, but I'd rather avoid the embarressment of not having a way to get my car out easily. So have people fitted front/rear towing eyes to their cars, and if so how? I assume all of the racers have?

old cars, inc. the Tasmins had loops on the chassis etc, but newer car change the design to have a tow eye you screw into the chassis. its this they are asking you to fit, no need on the older cars, due to them being part of the chassis (you can access the front chassis loop via the wheel arch then pass the cable under the splitter). but as said you may want to have a accessible loop at the front of the car , this is required for all racers, unless you have a tow point with easy access, a lot of the Racers have an extra welded bar with a loop forward of the bumpers, I do on my racer.

[matt-man]

wombat172a said:

matt-man said:

wombat172a said:

Having been to a few track days now I'm familiar with the instruction that you should always fit your towing eyes before heading out on track. And I never have done, for the simple reason I don't have one to fit, which is probably a bit naughty really.

I'm fairly certain that at somepoint I'm going to end up the kitty litter, but I'd rather avoid the embarressment of not having a way to get my car out easily. So have people fitted front/rear towing eyes to their cars, and if so how? I assume all of the racers have?

Hey chris, how you doing? Once my wedge is on the road, we really should meet for a blast!

Good to hear you are getting some track days under your belt - how doyou get on with noise??

Yea I'm doing good, good to hear from you! I'm replacing the camshaft with a mild performance one on friday so the car should hopefully run a bit better. Noise isn't too much of a problem, I running a sinfully large silencer (which I do my best to blast the wadding out BTW), and a pair of bolt in track silencers. Last time at Cadwell I was recorded at 84db with all this fitted - disturbingly quiet really.

Quite keen for a blast too! Are you doing Thunder in the Tunnels this year?

Edited by wombat172a on Tuesday 21st September 08:53

84 db? Wow! So more like whisper in the tunnels?!

When is it? Mine is in bits at the moment but really up for it! Ive missed every one! Last time i recall it rained (so decided to trade it in for a hangover instead!)