Tow Hook Options

[koatic]

I have 2 weeks until my track day and just got an email from the track, with the other inspection requirements it states the following.

"Please install tow hooks on both the front and back. Do not use aluminum tow hooks, they can break easily. "

The way it is worded I am thinking this is a courtesy "Please" thing as optronix mentioned but will get clarification from track if it is actually a requirement.

I know several people track there DE5 but no solution in this forum yet. I am aware of the underneath tow hooks but nothing in the back other than the jack point.

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[optronix]

That looks fantastic! My only concern is if it will actually fit our cars and line up properly with enough depth.

Agreed, has anyone tried this yet, or received a response from Evasive?

 

[ZeroGSR]

Evasive said they haven't tried to fit it, so the assumption is it will NOT work. Just looking at location, I don't think it will without major modifications, in which case probably better to just fab your own.

 

[koatic]

Evasive responded to me and said it won’t work because ITS bumper is longer and it would not line up properly.

Thank you for the update.

 

[optronix]

Bumping this thread. Has there been any updates on this in the past few months?

Failing that, I'll float the question out to a local fab shop or two.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

Bumping this thread. Has there been any updates on this in the past few months?

Failing that, I'll float the question out to a local fab shop or two.

I haven't seen anything its specific, but I've seen quite a few other cars that don't sport direct tow hooks that just drill into the crash beam, tap it, and install a fairly standard tow strap like the kind you can get from Pegasus.

Most tracks and organizations I'm familiar with don't require a tow hook since they usually have wreckers on site. It's really only for your benefit so they don't have to wreck your bumpers by pulling it out via the control arms. That said, I have seen A LOT of oem type tow hooks bend when used and tear through aluminum threads, rendering them entirely useless unless you redrill and retap for a larger one. I would recommend steel, or having a shop weld something in if you're concerned for recovery. Otherwise the wreckers usually do a careful job.

 

[optronix]

I haven't seen anything its specific, but I've seen quite a few other cars that don't sport direct tow hooks that just drill into the crash beam, tap it, and install a fairly standard tow strap like the kind you can get from Pegasus.

Most tracks and organizations I'm familiar with don't require a tow hook since they usually have wreckers on site. It's really only for your benefit so they don't have to wreck your bumpers by pulling it out via the control arms. That said, I have seen A LOT of oem type tow hooks bend when used and tear through aluminum threads, rendering them entirely useless unless you redrill and retap for a larger one. I would recommend steel, or having a shop weld something in if you're concerned for recovery. Otherwise the wreckers usually do a careful job.

I'm just running into the same issue that others have mentioned- can't get out of the novice group without a tow hook:

Tow hooks: front and rear
Highly recommended for Novice
Required for all Intermediate and above
Must be easily accessible without manipulation of body work
Factory tow hooks are allowed
Removable hooks must be installed prior to on track activities

If I can end up making it out to one of the events I'll prob just stick to Novice and ask during tech if they would have kicked me down if I tried to get by with the factory "invisible" tow hooks.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

I'm just running into the same issue that others have mentioned- can't get out of the novice group without a tow hook:




If I can end up making it out to one of the events I'll prob just stick to Novice and ask during tech if they would have kicked me down if I tried to get by with the factory "invisible" tow hooks.

I see. That does seem track specific and not organization specific...?

In that case I would drill and tap the rear jackpoint for a permanent tow hook like this, https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=5178

If it's not long enough you can get a stainless shank extension and use some red loctite to ensure it stays as one piece.

For the front, just drill through the bumper cover and tap the front bumper. That will be the simplest/safest method.

 

[optronix]

I see. That does seem track specific and not organization specific...?

Well, that's actually a pretty good question. The Friday at the Track (FATT) is run by SPMP themselves... but that's not necessarily to say that another org like, say, PCA for example wouldn't have their own rules that I could skirt around. I could look into that, because honestly the timing of this specific event doesn't work for me anyway and the next one isn't until at least June.

But I've done the FATT before and had a GREAT time, so it's definitely something I'd like to think would be available to for the foreseeable future. I'm fine with being in the Novice group for now because I haven't stayed consistent with my HPDEs, but after another one or no more than two and I'd like to start moving up into the more appropriate group, so removing this restriction is interesting to me.

Also I was under the impression that the FL5 had a front tow hook, this thread reminded me that they do not. That also is interesting to me...

 

[optronix]

Just checked, at least one PCA region that does HPDE at Summit does not appear to require a front tow hook:

https://pcapotomac.org/images/PCA_PotomacTechForm.pdf

Really hit or miss with this issue.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

Well, that's actually a pretty good question. The Friday at the Track (FATT) is run by SPMP themselves... but that's not necessarily to say that another org like, say, PCA for example wouldn't have their own rules that I could skirt around. I could look into that, because honestly the timing of this specific event doesn't work for me anyway and the next one isn't until at least June.

But I've done the FATT before and had a GREAT time, so it's definitely something I'd like to think would be available to for the foreseeable future. I'm fine with being in the Novice group for now because I haven't stayed consistent with my HPDEs, but after another one or no more than two and I'd like to start moving up into the more appropriate group, so removing this restriction is interesting to me.

Also I was under the impression that the FL5 had a front tow hook, this thread reminded me that they do not. That also is interesting to me...

Yeah, the manual for the civic and the Integra states to use a flatbed or front wheel clamp tow.

How you're supposed to get the car onto a flatbed without a tow hook is another story.... Typically I've seen the tow truck operator use a steel cable wrapped around control arms or hook onto the subframe. The civic has two front hook points, but I haven't looked to see if the its has the same points. I don't recall seeing them, though.

If they tow you by the control arms, chances are your day is done and it's time for an alignment.

Since the its is NAR market only it is not required to have a single tow hook. The ROW cars typically require hook points, which is why the ctr has a few dedicated points.

 

[JCG]

Resurfacing this tow hook/strap issue for HPDE. Has anyone found a functional tow hook/strap that can be installed in the DE5?
I’m trying to do track days at Sebring (sometimes Daytona) every 5-6 weeks and am getting worried about the inevitable (likely a “when”, not an “if”) 4-wheels-off-the-track situation and having the emergency crew rip my bumper because there’s no tow hook/strap.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

Resurfacing this tow hook/strap issue for HPDE. Has anyone found a functional tow hook/strap that can be installed in the DE5?
I’m trying to do track days at Sebring (sometimes Daytona) every 5-6 weeks and am getting worried about the inevitable (likely a “when”, not an “if”) 4-wheels-off-the-track situation and having the emergency crew rip my bumper because there’s no tow hook/strap.

There are hook points underneath, but they certainly don't make things too easy. The only good option is to have someone weld on a mount point to the crash beam and then thread a hook through the grill into the mount point. That's my current plan, just haven't gotten to it yet. I'd rather not drill a hole in the bumper...

 

[selentia]

Resurfacing this tow hook/strap issue for HPDE. Has anyone found a functional tow hook/strap that can be installed in the DE5?
I’m trying to do track days at Sebring (sometimes Daytona) every 5-6 weeks and am getting worried about the inevitable (likely a “when”, not an “if”) 4-wheels-off-the-track situation and having the emergency crew rip my bumper because there’s no tow hook/strap.

There are hook points underneath, but they certainly don't make things too easy. The only good option is to have someone weld on a mount point to the crash beam and then thread a hook through the grill into the mount point. That's my current plan, just haven't gotten to it yet. I'd rather not drill a hole in the bumper...

Why not do what they did with the Pikes Peak DE5? It looks like they just used the HPD/HRC FL5 strap and trimmed off some of the front grill. Requires drilling a hole in the crash beam and trimming some plastic behind the bumper.

.

https://dreamshop.honda.com/s/product/hrc-tow-strap-kit-20222026-civic/01tUT00000AehBlYAJ
https://www.civicxi.com/forum/attac...4710fg2jg000_install-guide_v01-bw-pdf.259916/

 

[Victorofhavoc]

Why not do what they did with the Pikes Peak DE5? It looks like they just used the HPD/HRC FL5 strap and trimmed off some of the front grill. Requires drilling a hole in the crash beam and trimming some plastic behind the bumper.

.

https://dreamshop.honda.com/s/product/hrc-tow-strap-kit-20222026-civic/01tUT00000AehBlYAJ
https://www.civicxi.com/forum/attac...4710fg2jg000_install-guide_v01-bw-pdf.259916/

You could certainly do that if you want a flap constantly poking out of the front. It would scratch up the bumper fairly quickly and wear it down a lot after time. I prefer something to thread in only when necessary since this is just a street car that sees track time 6-10 weekends per year. My other car gets permanent mounting because it's not a street car...

I guess you could shove it back through the grill when not needed, but the fabric hooks would still damage the bumper/grill with any towing done with them because they're flexible.

Would certainly work though

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