Tow wires fitting (NOW SORTED THANKS)

[iowlee]

Trying to plan ahead here, has anyone managed to find suitable mounting points for tow wires as recommended by the powers that be?

I currently have a single tow strap fitted.(Front and rear)

I know that it is not yet a necessity but as we all know when recommendations are made they soon, typically, become requirements.

 

I thought It would be easier than this! The rear doesn't seem hard to overcome, with a horizontal bar being easily accessible or added to. The front however, all I keep thinking is that I will lose my nose cone whichever way I mount them. Unless a 'frame' is fabricated inside the nose?

 

Lee

[Paul Morcom]

Hi Lee,

 

Not sure if anything new has come out from the Powers (MSA?).  But all the Westfields that I know, including mine, with a full cage simply mark up the front and rear top bar of the cage with yellow tape to indicate the area to attach to and the words "TOW".

 

I'm sure a current Westfield SS driver will post to confirm above or say if rules have changed.

[Terry Everall]

For sprinting and Hillclimbing its exactly as paul states

[iowlee]

Hi, sorry should have been more specific it will be for circuit racing

 

I can't see how the cage idea is within the acceptable criteria.

 

I know that it is only a recommendation at the moment but I am aware that regularly a recommendation then turns into a requirement.

 

(Q) Racing

Date of implementation:
01 January 2017
Q19.1.3.
a) There must be substantial towing
eyes securely fixed to the main structure
of the vehicle, front and rear, within the
confines of the body to enable the
vehicle to be moved. Cars of periods A
to F and single seater racing cars are
exempt from this requirement subject to
a suitable towing point being clearly
identified. Towing eyes must have a
minimum internal diameter of 60mm.
Towing eyes/towing points should be
painted a contrasting bright colour
(dayglo red, orange or yellow, marked
with an arrow and the word “tow”.
b) The following configuration and
specifications are strongly
recommended:
Vehicles to be equipped with two front
and two rear towing eyes positioned
equally either side of the longitudinal
center line.
The towing eyes to be made of steel
wire rope of at least 6mm diameter steel
wire rope with a 6x19 wire core.
Each towing eye to have a breakingstrain
of at least 2 tons and allow the
passage of a cylinder with a diameter of
60mm, situated 25mm forward of the
adjacent bodywork - 100 mm above and
below this hole must retain clearance to
enable the recovery crews to attach
straps and shackles.
They must be clearly visible, marked
with an arrow and the word “tow” and
the wire painted in yellow, red or orange
to contrast with the vehicle colour
scheme.
The towing eye to be fixed to a structural
part of the chassis with a minimum of
M10 (Grade 8.8) fixings, the inner part
must be flexible in order for the towing
eye to be retracted inside the bodywork
profile.
Towing eyes should be situated 25mm
forward of the adjacent bodywork with
clearance of 100 mm above and below
to enable recovery crews to attach
straps and shackles.
A “pull-cord” to be attached to the towing
eye to enable the marshals to access it.
The end attached to the chassis may be
either ‘thimble’ or ‘open-loop’ style.
Reason: At the request of Race
Committee, to provide a
recommendation for additional towing
points. This recommendation is
available for clubs to specify in their
championship regulations and is
included in the 2016 Championship
Regulation Master Format for Clubs to
utilise.

[iowlee]

[Paul Aspden]

M10 fixing to a chassis will be great fun on a Westfielod

[Terzo204]

I agree Paul, It's not possible without the fabrication of a fixing point IMO. I think an M10 bolt through the chassis would put too much of a point load on the chassis member.

 

Iolee - I fixed my strap (I had a fixed eye fitted but it protruded beyond the bodywork on the rear) to the chassis rail you mentioned above.

 

Mike