Never considered how much damage a tow hook can cause
#1
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 2,017
Total Cats: 13
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
A guy from a OG honda board smashed into an armco @115mph. His tow hook penetrated the armco and caused his front end to shift significantly.
![Name: DSC04258.jpg
Views: 3282
Size: 288.2 KB](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/190649d1501223123-never-considered-how-much-damage-tow-hook-can-cause-dsc04258.jpg)
![Name: DSC04259.jpg
Views: 3101
Size: 317.0 KB](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/190650d1501223123-never-considered-how-much-damage-tow-hook-can-cause-dsc04259.jpg)
Tow hooks...good or bad?
![Name: DSC04258.jpg
Views: 3282
Size: 288.2 KB](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/190649d1501223123-never-considered-how-much-damage-tow-hook-can-cause-dsc04258.jpg)
![Name: DSC04259.jpg
Views: 3101
Size: 317.0 KB](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/190650d1501223123-never-considered-how-much-damage-tow-hook-can-cause-dsc04259.jpg)
Tow hooks...good or bad?
#11
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Falls Church, VA
Posts: 1,361
Total Cats: 17
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I can't figure out why the car came around like that. Right where he wrecked along the front straight is a kink and ideally you treat it like an apex, but there's little steering input required to do so. And there's no weirdness in the track surface there that I remember. Maybe he hit some debris or fluid, I dunno. It's just a bizarre place to wreck. The car looks pretty good though, considering. That should buff right out.
I have seen an RX-8 crash almost in that exact same spot, but that was a known case of money shifting- guy was in 4th and wanted to grab 5th but got 3rd instead. The loss of rear traction as he apexed the kink caused it to come around and eat the Armco. VIR will bill you for replacement, and you can keep the bent stuff as a souvenir.
I have seen an RX-8 crash almost in that exact same spot, but that was a known case of money shifting- guy was in 4th and wanted to grab 5th but got 3rd instead. The loss of rear traction as he apexed the kink caused it to come around and eat the Armco. VIR will bill you for replacement, and you can keep the bent stuff as a souvenir.
![Biggthumpup](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/biggthumpup.gif)
#12
Cpt. Slow
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/supporter1.gif)
iTrader: (25)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Oregon City, OR
Posts: 14,360
Total Cats: 1,184
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Agreed, the sideways skimming did all the damage, regardless of the tow hook.
It's weird, looking at the video then back up at the pictures, it almost appears as if they've replaced the windshield in the pictures.
I also agree with the fluid/debris theory, he doesn't seem like a terribly aggressive driver, and that spin came out of no where.
It's weird, looking at the video then back up at the pictures, it almost appears as if they've replaced the windshield in the pictures.
I also agree with the fluid/debris theory, he doesn't seem like a terribly aggressive driver, and that spin came out of no where.
#16
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
After reading some of the responses and watching the video several times and slowing down, his turning input starts well before the spin and the wheel does not move when the car started rotating. I thought at first he lost concentration as I noticed him checking mirrors as well just prior. But he does not add more input as is required to get car to come around like that. Does seem something broke causing this.
#17
Boost Pope
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/supporter1.gif)
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/smod.png)
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,340
Total Cats: 6,793
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
It does seem that only the inside layer cracked, and that the outside layer is completely intact. Damned odd, and it makes me wonder- did the airbag do that? It does seem that the damage radiates outward from a point just above the airbag enclosure.
That's been driving me nuts as well. It seems like he is fairly steady-state on both steering and throttle when it just goes sideways. I can't even see any sudden jerk in the wheel, which I'd expect if he had a front blowout or something on the front suspension just came apart.
#18
Cpt. Slow
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/supporter1.gif)
iTrader: (25)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Oregon City, OR
Posts: 14,360
Total Cats: 1,184
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I don't think so. In the first picture, it's quite clear that the windshield is cracked up on the pax side, and in the second pic you can just barely make out a few spiderwebs at the bottom of the glass.
It does seem that only the inside layer cracked, and that the outside layer is completely intact. Damned odd, and it makes me wonder- did the airbag do that? It does seem that the damage radiates outward from a point just above the airbag enclosure.
It does seem that only the inside layer cracked, and that the outside layer is completely intact. Damned odd, and it makes me wonder- did the airbag do that? It does seem that the damage radiates outward from a point just above the airbag enclosure.
It is the airbag, in an accident of mine the only thing that damaged the windshield was the passenger air bag cover flying up, I couldn't even bend the panel back, as it was now stuck between the top of the dash and the windshield.
#20
Boost Pope
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/supporter1.gif)
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/smod.png)
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,340
Total Cats: 6,793
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Oil on the track makes a lot of sense. Damned odd that I couldn't tell any change in the sound coming from the engine.