Unacceptable towing

[Dave Harmison]

Heard a F1000 got flipped and dragged by…..

a non-releasable flat tow.

At Rd America. Go figure.

[Messenger Racing]

It appears this happened. A notice has since been sent to all of the FRP drivers that they can request an "Indy Tow" instead of the solid hook.

[Dave Harmison]

After the event where a driver refused a hard-tie-tow and then the fallout from that, you’d hope someone would get the message before someone gets badly hurt or worse.

[DaveW]

After the event where a driver refused a hard-tie-tow and then the fallout from that, you’d hope someone would get the message before someone gets badly hurt or worse.

https://www.apexspeed.com/forums/sho...ight=tow+strap

[Hardingfv32]

Makes me think it is time to think about some kind front tow attachment point.

Brian

[DaveW]

Makes me think it is time to think about some kind front tow attachment point.

Brian

That makes sense, but would likely require bodywork mods, or removal of the front bodywork to hook up to a dedicated tow "ring."

I have an unused 3rd-spring bracket and/or exposed frame that would maybe suffice once the nose is off..

[Steve Demeter]

Read the link in DW's post above. The GCR says that a driver can refuse a flat tow with a non releasable attachment, unless specific class rules require a tow hook

[DaveW]

Read the link in DW's post above. The GCR says that a driver can refuse a flat tow with a non releasable attachment, unless specific class rules require a tow hook

From the June 2025 GCR:
I. Flat Towing
Formula and sports racing cars may be flat towed with a hard connection only with the driver’s consent,
unless specific class rules require a towing eye for flat towing with a hard connection. If the class’s rules do
not require a towing eye and the driver of a formula or sports racing car does not consent to being flat towed
with a hard connection, the car must be flat towed only with a connection that can be released by the driver.

[Hardingfv32]

If you do any kind of pre-event testing, that rule will not hold water if the track is running the test.

Why not just get with the program and adapt to current flat tow practices. The tow crews are simply not up to speed with what we require.

Brian

[Peter Olivola]

If you do any kind of pre-event testing, that rule will not hold water if the track is running the test.

Why not just get with the program and adapt to current flat tow practices. The tow crews are simply not up to speed with what we require.

Brian

What program is that, Brian? What current town practices are you talking about?

[Fred Michael]

From the June 2025 GCR:
I. Flat Towing
Formula and sports racing cars may be flat towed with a hard connection only with the driver’s consent,
unless specific class rules require a towing eye for flat towing with a hard connection. If the class’s rules do
not require a towing eye and the driver of a formula or sports racing car does not consent to being flat towed
with a hard connection, the car must be flat towed only with a connection that can be released by the driver.

This is all well and good until the track supplied tow crew gets there and doen't know the Club rules. They will more than likely not at alll be interested in what you are trying to telll them, especially if it's a hot tow situation

[Ed Womer]

This is all well and good until the track supplied tow crew gets there and doen't know the Club rules. They will more than likely not at alll be interested in what you are trying to telll them, especially if it's a hot tow situation

Unfortunately it is your responsibility to pay attention to what they are doing and if you don't like it get out of the car!

Ed

[s800racer]

Had to let go of a tow at VIR earlier this year. was stopped just past pit out (out of gas) and they wanted to turn me around to tow back up pit road. They sent out an off-road RV kind of rig to tow me and it had a MUCH tighter turning circle than my FF. Had to let go and explain it to them.

[Peter Olivola]

Had to let go of a tow at VIR earlier this year. was stopped just past pit out (out of gas) and they wanted to turn me around to tow back up pit road. They sent out an off-road RV kind of rig to tow me and it had a MUCH tighter turning circle than my FF. Had to let go and explain it to them.

It's important that drivers in these situations explain what their cars can and can not do to the EV crew. In this situation, they should have turned you around by pushing you back and forth before hooking up, but they won't necessarily know that's the best way to handle the situation if you don't tell them. Expecting EV crews to know and understand the capabilities and limitations of every car and type is a bit much. Especially as they hire fewer and fewer SCCA trained staff.

[Rick Kirchner]

so VARA has been using the same crew for nearly 20 years. Advanced Fire and Rescue. Years ago Cal Speedway and Willow Springs had their own crews and insisted on using them, and eventually VARA prevailed. We've used them at Buttonwillow, Willow Springs, Cal Speedway, Chuckwalla, Pahrump, Las Vegas, and the Podium Club in AZ. They go where we go.

AFR is a small business set up specifically to work motorsports events. Top notch guys, top notch equipment, and they know our cars and drivers. They are a part of every driver's meeting too.

Our entry fees aren't any higher than anyone else's. And they do hot tows too.

Don't understand why more clubs don't try to develop this kind of arrangement.

[BeerBudgetRacing]

My tow yesterday at Laguna was non-releasable. Don't know who SFR used.

At Buttonwillow, the crew there (CalClub's own I believe) always uses a releasable rope.

[SteveG]

My tow yesterday at Laguna was non-releasable. Don't know who SFR used.

At Buttonwillow, the crew there (CalClub's own I believe) always uses a releasable rope.

SFR used Laguna Seca's E-Crew last weekend.


Steve

[Fred Michael]

Unfortunately it is your responsibility to pay attention to what they are doing and if you don't like it get out of the car!

Ed

Oh, I fully agree but the track crews are not going to be easy on you

[TimH]

Jackie Steward carried a wrench with him. Should we all have a big knife?

[Steve Demeter]

If it is a SCCA sanctioned, the region should be responsible for making certain that any track crews know the rules about this issue and abide by them. Too many race cars have been unnecessarily damaged by "track crews" that are local toe truck drivers with no real training in the proper procedures. I have been on the short end of that deal at least twice.