I am getting ready fro my first HPDE in March at Summit Point. I remember reading that they want you to have tow hooks in case you end up in a gravel pit. I don't know that they are required for novice groups but it's something that could prevent additional damage and generally not end up being the douche with the buried car causing an extended yellow flag.

If someone could help me out with pics of the install and a good source it would be much appreciated

See if you can find any good hook point, like a sway bar or something that won't cause body damage. Does the track you're on have gravel pits? Most car's don't even know their hook points, I just tell the guy "swaybar" and then they don't ask any more questions.

There are factory tie downs behind the front and ahead of the rear wheels, but these could be hard to reach if you're buried in gravel, and the openings could be a little small for their tow hook. Hell, any hook point could be hard to reach though.

There are to bolts on each side of the front frame horns that the front bumper supports bolt to. You could run longer bolts on one side and add a hook there, stick it sideways. I can't think of any good place in rear besides the swaybar, that might work if you hook up outboard of a swaybar bushing, to keep it from buckling the middle of the swaybar, assuming the cable won't do body damage. Don't use any aluminum suspension parts.

You don't need them, but they're nice.

You can wrap a strap around the front crossbeam under the radiator, I've done it lots of times with no issues.

If you want a tow hook, you can buy a fancy one from several places (DRM, LG, ) or you can just make one out of steel cable. One of our cars just has a cable poking through the nose and attached to the front bumper attachment.

Sorry, no pics, though. I can get some this weekend if you still need them.

Thanks guys.

That gives me few ideas to go on. I never really thought about a strap, that would prolly work great. And, if I don't get to it I'll tell'em sway bar.

When I do get to it, I'll post here what I did.

I know there is at least one sand trap at T1.

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Option 3 is to brake earlier and stay on the track :tongue:

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Haha...good advice....


Matthew

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The goal here is, when they need to tow a car off track (whether its stuck or just broken), to not spend 30 minutes dicking around with the driver that's more concerned about his paint getting scratched by the tow strap than about the track time he's taking away from the other drivers.