speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member
"Nice Cortina mate"
Posts: 2,302
Club RR Member Number: 118
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Motorsport accident recovery?speedy88
@speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member 118
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Dec 29, 2011 16:38:06 GMT
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Hi, I was wondering if there was anything available out there that people use wherby if you end up disabling your car on a drift day or other competative event that you can get a RAC-esque tow home?
I only ask as I'll be starting drifting next year and there's a small chance I might blow a piece of my drivetrain up. In which case I'll be very stuck.
Of course theres the option of getting someone to tow me to the local supermarket where "I just broke down" but I can't really rely on others.
I'd love to do a trailer but I don't have the appropriate licence.
The car will be road legal and driven to drift days to and from my unit.
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MonzaPhil
Posted a lot
Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought
Posts: 2,456
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Dec 29, 2011 17:00:51 GMT
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Normally I thought it was called "push it to the nearest road and call the RAC....."
"Hello, my car has become inexplicably "disabled" next to Silverstone......"
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This is now a clicky linky!  |
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86mike
Part of things
Posts: 453
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Dec 29, 2011 17:09:22 GMT
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As far as I was aware, there is no special requirement for towing a trailer? I have a normal licence and have towed trailers lots of times.
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mattg
Part of things
Posts: 175
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Dec 29, 2011 17:23:16 GMT
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As far as I was aware, there is no special requirement for towing a trailer? I have a normal licence and have towed trailers lots of times. unfortunately they changed it for new drivers at some point in the 90's so you can't pull anything over 250kg I think it is without an extra test. I had the same problem but fortunately have a mate who passed before this happened who has helped me out when i've needed to trailer something. |
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Dec 29, 2011 18:18:21 GMT
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Not sure how widespread it is but I've heard of guys who take their tow wagons to some 'open' track days and some run what you brung airfield events around here (Crail and Knockhill, I'm thinking of) and pop up with helpful offers when a stuffed car gets taken off the track.
They probably charge a considerable premium and may not offer the most reliable or professional service but if you're out of other options, what else can you do?
Maybe have some numbers in your phone of a local (either to you or the track) 'dial-a-tow' operators and do a bit of phoning around before the event to get some quotes?
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speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member
"Nice Cortina mate"
Posts: 2,302
Club RR Member Number: 118
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Motorsport accident recovery?speedy88
@speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member 118
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Dec 29, 2011 18:39:08 GMT
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Yeah that's not a bad idea actually, probably the most sensible too as I wouldn't have to pay out potentially if nothing goes wrong!
Also a sign saying "£20 to anyone who'll tow me to Tescos" could work a charm
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Last Edit: Dec 29, 2011 18:40:05 GMT by speedy88
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Dec 29, 2011 19:04:06 GMT
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I remember being at Knockhill for a corporate event and there being a couple of stuffed cars sitting leftover from the track day the previous weekend.
Do tracks let you leave disabled cars onsite for later recovery?
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Dec 29, 2011 19:44:37 GMT
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I've seen stuff which got rolled stay in the pits area at the Pod etc. for a while until it could get picked up.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member
"Nice Cortina mate"
Posts: 2,302
Club RR Member Number: 118
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Motorsport accident recovery?speedy88
@speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member 118
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Dec 29, 2011 19:45:40 GMT
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Probably depends on the track but I'm very sure that each track would be used to it happening all the time. Santa Pod for example is pretty good about it as they're open pretty much every day anyway and they've got plenty of space down the side for a couple of cars. I think I've got my answer  |
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Dec 30, 2011 19:04:30 GMT
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I assume it relates to this: Basically it limits you to 750kg gross trailer weight (or whatever they call it now), which is also the max unbraked trailer weight for everyone. or upto 100% of the cars kerb weight aslong as the total is still less than 3500kg's. Not that it matters much as 90% of car trailers will require a 4x4/van and blow all that out the water. |
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Iain
Part of things
Posts: 351
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Dec 30, 2011 19:27:36 GMT
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Last Edit: Dec 30, 2011 19:28:53 GMT by Iain
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Dec 30, 2011 19:37:10 GMT
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So you can drive a 1750kg car + 1750kg trailer on a post '97 licence? I'll eat my hat if that is true. 750kg is the limit as quoted on the DVLA site. What you are describing there is C1+E which is not an automatic right since '97... No, because that situation would mean A) The car's unlaiden weight is 1750 meaning it's gross is much more = over 3500kg B) 1750 is the car's gross meaning the trailer is actually more than it's unlaiden weight. What i mean is, My Sierra = 1150kg unlaiden and 1650kg gross, u could put a trailer with a gross weight of upto 1150kg on the back of it on a "B" entitlement. That would then make the whole lot 1650kg + 1150kg = 2800kg, less than 3500kg with a trailer upto 100% of the cars unlaiden weight  |
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Dec 30, 2011 19:43:35 GMT
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So you can drive a 1750kg car + 1750kg trailer on a post '97 licence? I'll eat my hat if that is true. 750kg is the limit as quoted on the DVLA site. What you are describing there is C1+E which is not an automatic right since '97... would you like some seasoning with that? For example:
a vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.25 tonnes could be driven by the holder of a category B entitlement. This is because the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and also the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle
Whereas
the same vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes when coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.5 tonnes would fall within category B+E. This is because although the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is within the 3.5 tonnes MAM limit, the MAM of the trailer is more than the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle
Vehicle manufacturers normally recommend a maximum weight of trailer appropriate to their vehicle. Details can usually be found in the vehicle's handbook or obtained from car dealerships. The size of the trailer recommended for an average family car with an unladen weight of around 1 tonne would be well within the new category B threshold. |
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1977 datsun 810 180b estate |
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Dec 30, 2011 19:48:10 GMT
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So you can drive a 1750kg car + 1750kg trailer on a post '97 licence? I'll eat my hat if that is true. 750kg is the limit as quoted on the DVLA site. What you are describing there is C1+E which is not an automatic right since '97... Unfortunately not, as it's the gross train weight that has to be under 3500kg, not the curb weight of car + gross weight of trailer. So for instance if you've got a 1400kg car, with a 2100kg gross weight, then you could tow a trailer with a gross weight of 1400kg, as the gross train weight would be 1400kg + 2100kg = 3500kg. As far as I'm aware, it's possible to down-plate a trailer, which means that with the new type of licence, it is possible to tow a light car with a faily light trailer. For example, something like a Brian-James Clubman has an unladen weight of about 300kg, my Passat is rated to tow 1200kg, and has a curb weight a little more than that, so I could down-plate a Brian-James clubman to 1200kg gross, leaving a load capacity of ~900kg, enough for a small/light car. This happens to be exactly how I plan to shift my mini about once it's done/near completion.  |
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Dec 30, 2011 20:33:11 GMT
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Thinking about it, unless things have changed since we last spoke, Marks likely planning on drifting a Volvo 740, which he's not going to be able to tow on a modern licence unless he cuts half the body off, haha, and that's without considering his daily being a 205. ;D
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speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member
"Nice Cortina mate"
Posts: 2,302
Club RR Member Number: 118
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Motorsport accident recovery?speedy88
@speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member 118
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Dec 30, 2011 21:35:08 GMT
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Nope, it'll be a 360 which weighs about 1050kgs...
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Iain
Part of things
Posts: 351
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Dec 30, 2011 22:37:36 GMT
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Yes, BUT that is all included within the 'licenses before 1997' part. Click 'up' a level in the website... your bit there is within the 'pre 97' part, my original exerpt was from the 'post 97' bit. Otherwise there wouldn't have been any change... Bizarrely it is linked from the previous page under Pre-97, but that page simply lists Category B, which all post 97 licenses have? |
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Dec 30, 2011 22:59:56 GMT
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Nope, it'll be a 360 which weighs about 1050kgs... Ah, cool, might be possible then. If you shaved a few kg off it then you could stick it on the lighter Brian James clubmans (load rating of 1000kg) behind a ~1400kg car with the right gross weight. Have you still got the 740? Might be about right to tow it. |
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speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member
"Nice Cortina mate"
Posts: 2,302
Club RR Member Number: 118
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Motorsport accident recovery?speedy88
@speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member 118
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Dec 30, 2011 23:06:26 GMT
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Not exactly, but it doesn't stop me getting another one.
Interesting ideas floating around now, I guess I kinda wanted the 360 to be roadgoing anyway but we'll see.
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Dec 31, 2011 10:16:48 GMT
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i passed my test in 2003 and i got pulled towing a mk2 golf on an a frame with an astra van, car was tax n tested but didn't run (so qualified as recovery ;D), i was asked how far i was going, they checked the weights of vehicles and i was sent on my way, no problems. Same happened with a t25 shell i was scrapping, this time on a trailer behind a pajero, i was followed to the weigh bridge that time but was somehow  within the limits of my licence/vehicle choice. |
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1977 datsun 810 180b estate |
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within the limits of my licence/vehicle choice.