Tow Hook.
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This is the real race car hook look. If you look closely all real race cars have tow hooks that are brightly colored so the turn marshals can hook up the truck that is going to tow your dumb ass out of trouble.
It is a good look. I dig it.
If you want to complete the look you need an arrow pointing to the hook too.
It is a good look. I dig it.
If you want to complete the look you need an arrow pointing to the hook too.
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44 Posts
I've never been a fan of tow hooks unless the car is actually tracked. An acquaintance of mine had one at his rear bumper, he was rear ended and according to insurance, the car(fairly new too) became a write off because the impact (which normally would be just rear bumper damage) at the tow hook compromised the structural integrity.
Anyone care to spread insight on this?
Anyone care to spread insight on this?
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I've got to find a sale on insight first... running low right now. After, I'll spread my insight everywhere!
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267 Posts
Paint the existing one black and no one will ever notice it.
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Make it rain insight, like dollar bills at the strip club!!!!!!!!I've got to find a sale on insight first... running low right now. After, I'll spread my insight everywhere!
I found the screw-in front tow hook in the spare tire area and this got me thinking about this again. And I also went to the Petit LeMans over the weekend and saw lots of tow hooks too.
After considering painting it red or getting a real race hook it dawned on me that is was actually a very bad idea. The tow hook mounts on any production car are attached to the subframe and not to the energy absorbing assemblies of the "bumpers". These assemblies are designed to collapse and protect you from G forces and be replaced if the collision does not compromise the subframe. If you were to get in to an average collision the tow hook would be protruding past the "bumper" assemblies and would transfer the energy to the subframe without providing any protection and it would almost assuredly damage the subframe which will total most modern cars.
After inspecting 43 real race cars with race hooks they are more recessed now on the GT cars and sit behind the bumpers, some of the prototype cars still have them protruding but they don't have bumpers and rely on the cockpit monocoque for safety.
But I'm not giving up so easily. I still like the subtle track look that isn't too flashy and only race enthusiasts will "get".
It seems to me that plastic tow hooks would provide this look without compromising safety. A lot of plastics can be flexible enough to bend on impact but have enough sheer strength to be capable of light towing duty.
After considering painting it red or getting a real race hook it dawned on me that is was actually a very bad idea. The tow hook mounts on any production car are attached to the subframe and not to the energy absorbing assemblies of the "bumpers". These assemblies are designed to collapse and protect you from G forces and be replaced if the collision does not compromise the subframe. If you were to get in to an average collision the tow hook would be protruding past the "bumper" assemblies and would transfer the energy to the subframe without providing any protection and it would almost assuredly damage the subframe which will total most modern cars.
After inspecting 43 real race cars with race hooks they are more recessed now on the GT cars and sit behind the bumpers, some of the prototype cars still have them protruding but they don't have bumpers and rely on the cockpit monocoque for safety.
But I'm not giving up so easily. I still like the subtle track look that isn't too flashy and only race enthusiasts will "get".
It seems to me that plastic tow hooks would provide this look without compromising safety. A lot of plastics can be flexible enough to bend on impact but have enough sheer strength to be capable of light towing duty.
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