>Ahhhhhhhh....
>
>time for the "towing the roadster" stories again.
>
>I flat towed my 2000 for several years to auto-x & hillclimb
>races. Used big clevis pins through the roadster bumper mount plates
>for awhile if just going for a short tow to an auto-x.
>Saved time in bolting & unbolting the tow bar
>to "remount" the front bumper to be class legal for SCCA auto-x.
>However, this was a bad idea, as even a tiny bit of slop
>in the fittings will quickly wear into BIG widened out holes
>in the soft steel bumper mount plates.
>
>Went back to bolting everything up solid, then using double nuts.
>Always hooked up the roadster and towed down the road
>a few miles, then pulled over and double checked that the
>tow bar was tight & secure and the brake lights worked.
>
>Towing the 2000 back to Idaho Falls from an SCCA divisional
>auto-x race in Wendover, NV many years ago,
>pulled off the Interstate to stop for dinner with friends.
>First turn off the highway and I hear a horrible ripping sound
>and the roadster breaks loose, passes my tow vehicle,
>rolls through an intersection, then rolls backwards through the same
>intersection,
>comes to rest in the ditch, off the side of the road without hitting any
>other cars !
>
>Later examination showed that tow bar "lost" a very large bolt on one side,
>when I turned off the highway, the other side of the tow bar
>ripped loose just beyond where the safety chain was attached,
>leaving me dragging half a tow bar and safety chains down the road.
>I always suspected someone tampered with the tow bar,
>as there appeared to be a bolt missing with no local damage to the
>attaching points,
>and those bolts were double nutted & lock tite.
>
>Just another race adventure !
>
>Anyway, we pushed the lost roadster to the side of the highway exit ramp.
>Other racers folowing us pulled off to eat also.
>One of the wives thought it was real considerate of me
>to leave the roadster at the exit ramp,
>so they would know where to stop & join us for dinner !
>
>John Atchison
>69 2000
>Idaho Falls
>
>
>At 11:28 AM 12/27/01 -0600, you wrote:
>>Lou,
>>
>>Gary commented on adding a hitch to the roadster.
>>Pretty much had the same thing, but used a big
>>3/8" x 1" steel bar across the bottom inside of
>>the bumper for reinforcements. Big flat 1/16"
>>(about 3" x 6") steel plate on both sides of the
>>trunk floor to help distribute the load.
>
>
>
>>If you mean flat towing the roadster, behind
>>a tow bar: yes quite easily done.
>>
>>WIth the front bumper off, I bolted up a 2" angle
>>iron, with the tow bar bolted up to it.
>>
>>CAUTION: The tow bar will put all its weight into
>>the bumper bracket mounts. Thin 3/32" metal that
>>are meant to only hold up the bumper. While I have
>>flat towed the roadster using them, I am extremely
>>cautious with those mounts, as they will fail if
>>rusty or a poor welding job. Best to have a 1/4"
>>plate welded to the frame and the bumper plate to
>>reinforce that area.
>>
>>Sigh, a few folks have "lost" their roadsters from
>>having the mounts fail!
>>
>>Thankfully we didn't loose a roadster, but a friends
>>RX-3 as we bolts up the tow bar with a combination of
>>metric & SAE hardware. Yes, 3/8" nuts with 10mm bolts.
>>It held for 1200 miles (up and down I-5 from CA to WA).
>>On the way home (after a rally), The windblast from
>>a passing semi started the towed rally car to weave
>>back and forth on a down hill section. Pulled the bolts
>>off one side, then broke the other. Watched that car
>>PASS US down hill, tracking straight. Across the
>>median, across on coming lanes (5 am -- thankfully
>>no traffic) coming to stop on a hill opposite of
>>us. Just about relieved, when it ROLLED over landing
>>back on the freeway on its roof! Vivid image of that
>>one, and the first time a rally buddy had NOT rolled
>>his car but actually placed really well on the
>>Olympus event. I've always been a little more
>>cautious since).
>>
>>Cheers,
>>
>>Tom Walter
/// datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net mailing list
|