Towing a C8 at the track
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 410
Likes: 288
Towing a C8 at the track
Luckily, I have not needed to be towed at the racetrack with the C8. I have read somewhere that the C8 cannot be towed if the engine is not running. And you cannot shift to neutral without the engine running.
Is this true? So, what happens if you need to be towed from a gravel or sand trap, or worse by the tow truck and the car will not start?
Is this true? So, what happens if you need to be towed from a gravel or sand trap, or worse by the tow truck and the car will not start?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,425
Likes: 567
From: new orleans
Tire dollies. I used to bring them with me to the track. A lot of rescue crews will just pull it on the wrecker and let the tires drag. oh and a front and rear tow hook, not the pretty kind the real kind.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 410
Likes: 288
I have the tow hooks. I don’t think any tow crew will wait for someone to go get tire dollies, but maybe.
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,586
Likes: 1,698
From: Converse TX
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 1,593
there are two issues here...
The first is the car must be in neutral to tow... this is done by hitting the N button, but the engine must be running... if you get stuck in the kitty litter, and stall, restart the engine and hit "N" and you should be OK... this is only a problem if the battery dies and there is no power... then the Trans defaults to "Park", and you have a REAL problem... but this shouldn't happen at the track.
The second is where to hook up the tow vehicle... this is where tow hooks come in.... this is cheap insurance, and as pointed out in this thread, there are several good choices... If you track the car, I'd definitely invest in a good set of front and back tow eyes... these are easily installed and removed for the weekend
The first is the car must be in neutral to tow... this is done by hitting the N button, but the engine must be running... if you get stuck in the kitty litter, and stall, restart the engine and hit "N" and you should be OK... this is only a problem if the battery dies and there is no power... then the Trans defaults to "Park", and you have a REAL problem... but this shouldn't happen at the track.
The second is where to hook up the tow vehicle... this is where tow hooks come in.... this is cheap insurance, and as pointed out in this thread, there are several good choices... If you track the car, I'd definitely invest in a good set of front and back tow eyes... these are easily installed and removed for the weekend
Racer
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 422
Likes: 350
From: Mount Dora, FL
Luckily, I have not needed to be towed at the racetrack with the C8. I have read somewhere that the C8 cannot be towed if the engine is not running. And you cannot shift to neutral without the engine running.
Is this true? So, what happens if you need to be towed from a gravel or sand trap, or worse by the tow truck and the car will not start?
Is this true? So, what happens if you need to be towed from a gravel or sand trap, or worse by the tow truck and the car will not start?
1. True, you can not place the DCT into neutral, if the engine is not running. Well, you can, but you have to remove everything in the trunk the air filter box and someone has to sit in the trunk unlocking the DCT with a special tool and hold it the entire time the vehicle is being pulled/pushed.
2. If the engine is running and you place it into neutral, then shut the engine off, DO NOT open the drivers door. If you do, then close it, the DCT will probably shift into park. There is a combination to get this to work, I don't remember the specific one.
3. If you are in a gravel or sand trap and the engine is still running, should not be an issue to get it towed out, if they will do it with the engine running, so you can place it into neutral. Even in sand or gravel and the DCT is in park, it should not hurt anything to pull it trough that material, unless it builds up in the direction being pulled.
4. If you need to be towed and the engine will not run/start, they are going to need tow "skates". It looks like a wedge of plastic that will slid on the track surface, which enable the car to be pulled onto the tow vehicle.
YMMV
Regards
Last edited by EC145Pilot; Oct 3, 2022 at 08:28 PM.
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