Hi Guys,

I'm looking into fitting a front towing eye as its required for Brands Hatch, just wondered what other people have done

I don't think it would be a problem if I had a full roll cage as I would use that but with the nose cone being so long on the MNR I can't just bolt on a towing strap

Many Thanks
Simon

Lotus Elan (rear)



[Edited on 23/7/15 by lsdweb]

or look at the radical ones they are long as well

why cant they use the roll hoop, is this a new rule?

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Originally posted by lsdweb
Lotus Elan (rear)



[Edited on 23/7/15 by lsdweb]

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Thanks for the suggestions guys but I could see that lotus item bending and braking my nose cone. keep them coming though

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Originally posted by bi22le
why cant they use the roll hoop, is this a new rule?

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It's not going to be easy to mount anything given the design of the MNR nose. Where do they put one on the MNR race cars? Could you bolt something to the lower wishbone front mount?

Brands marshalls were happy to use my roll bar last year untill I pointed out I had a towing eye... which came as a shock to them. Are you sure it's required. Most track day briefings include "be sure to fit your towing eye" but don't have it as a hard and fast rule. They apply it to tin-tops butnot caes where they have roll bars or wishbones they can put the rope through.

Thats a good question, i've not looked at the MNR Race cars yet.

I was at brands a few weeks ago for a Opentrack evening event with a friends mk2 Escort, there was a guy there with a clio or something smiler that didn't have anything and they sent him home unless he could find one to borrow. After that I think its worth sorting one out so I don't have any problems when I eventually go somewhere that isn't Lydden Hill lol

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Originally posted by adithorp
It's not going to be easy to mount anything given the design of the MNR nose. Where do they put one on the MNR race cars? Could you bolt something to the lower wishbone front mount?

Brands marshalls were happy to use my roll bar last year untill I pointed out I had a towing eye... which came as a shock to them. Are you sure it's required. Most track day briefings include "be sure to fit your towing eye" but don't have it as a hard and fast rule. They apply it to tin-tops butnot caes where they have roll bars or wishbones they can put the rope through.

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Originally posted by HowardB

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...Brands marshalls were happy to use my roll bar last year untill I pointed out I had a towing eye... which came as a shock to them...

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How have you fitted that Adi?

I have a loop welded to the front x member, but that is way back, and below the bodywork,....

thanks

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I got two screw in eyes from the scrap yard (Vauxhall ones I think) and drilled/tapped 2 tubes to match the thread then welded the tubes to brackets. The front bracket is shaped to locate in the chassis towing loop with a plate that bolts on top. For the rear I drilled through the lower diff cage and welded in a threaded top-hat bush through it and the bracket bolts to that.

They've been used to... tow me out of the gravel at Brands, recover me to the pits when a coolant hose blew at Blyton, to tow me to the next perol station when I ran out of fuel in France... and to attach to another Furys damaged bonnet hinge and use mine as a slide hammer to pull it straight!

Front...


Rear (can't see much due to the diffuser)...


[Edited on 24/7/15 by adithorp]

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lsdweb - 24/7/15 at 11:59 AM

That's the way most of the Elan racers do it and they don't seem to have major problems. It's a part that Tony Thompson (one of the renowned Elan experts) sells so it can't be that bad.

The Elan has a relatively short chassis in comparison to the bodywork so this is probably the best solution.

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Originally posted by bi22le

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Originally posted by lsdweb
Lotus Elan (rear)



[Edited on 23/7/15 by lsdweb]

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And surly that is a token gesture that will be bent up and into the body work in seconds if being towed out of a gravel trap.
.

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adithorp - 24/7/15 at 12:50 PM

Circuit recovery tend to use a long rope (so they don't have to go in the gravel) attached at towbar height so the pull is pretty horizontal. Can't see there being enough vertical component to be an issue.
The problem with using the roll bar to tow out of a gravel trap is it pulls down (because of the tow vehicle attachment being low) and tends to force the car down into the gravel.

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bi22le - 24/7/15 at 03:32 PM

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Originally posted by adithorp
Circuit recovery tend to use a long rope (so they don't have to go in the gravel) attached at tow bar height so the pull is pretty horizontal. Can't see there being enough vertical component to be an issue.
The problem with using the roll bar to tow out of a gravel trap is it pulls down (because of the tow vehicle attachment being low) and tends to force the car down into the gravel.

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On similar lines to this I have seen brands tow cars out using both upper and lower wishbones (separately), one damaged one was just straight through a wheel.

With the damaged one they went for the roll bar (rear loop only), pulling forwards, but the nose was diving into the gravel and pulling the body work all over the place, they moved it to the front wheel and just dragged it diagonally out, very thoughtful of them.

I use one of these when winching my car up onto my trailer. I have only used it once to test it. Winching by hands takes forever so I dont bother and just drive it on.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Winch-tow-strap-recovery-ratchets-trailer-brother-strap-/190627602024?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c624a5e68

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Dopdog - 24/7/15 at 07:54 PM

As Adi said the force is to pull not to lift, it does not need to be industrial strength.

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