Backup plan when stuck at the track - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

ayau · 07-23-2014, 01:13 PM

For those of you who don't have a trailer to tow a car with a mechanical failure, what's your backup plan for getting you and your car back home?

I was at Road America recently and had a clutch failure. Luckily I made some friends at the track event who lived nearby and towed it to their house and hitched a ride back who was also heading back home. I still need to pick up the car from his house, which is about 4 hours away, but at least I was able to get home.

7thgear · 07-23-2014, 01:16 PM

AAA?

we have CAA... I can get 1 free tow per year for up to like 300km or something and 3 or 5 tows of another smaller distance.

for me this covers a lot of venues.

Dave-ROR · 07-23-2014, 01:22 PM

AAA, or if needed uhaul truck and trailer. If it's possible to store it somewhere close, then a actual shipper works also.

For a clutch, I would have just dropped the trans and replaced it there

ayau · 07-23-2014, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7thgear

AAA?

we have CAA... I can get 1 free tow per year for up to like 300km or something and 3 or 5 tows of another smaller distance.

for me this covers a lot of venues.

Yeah, ended up using AAA to tow the car to his house. We get a couple tows each year and only the first 100 miles are covered. Any track event that I go to is more than 100 miles, so it would get pricey the farther you go.

7thgear · 07-23-2014, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayau

Yeah, ended up using AAA to tow the car to his house. We get a couple tows each year and only the first 100 miles are covered. Any track event that I go to is more than 100 miles, so it would get pricey the farther you go.

check your contract options, 100 miles sounds like the lower spectrum option

ayau · 07-23-2014, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

AAA, or if needed uhaul truck and trailer. If it's possible to store it somewhere close, then a actual shipper works also.

For a clutch, I would have just dropped the trans and replaced it there

All the Uhaul trailers were fully booked that day. Go figure, lol.

My mechanic skills are pretty limited. I would have needed someone to help me replace the clutch.

Pat · 07-23-2014, 01:38 PM

Many auto insurance policies have towing coverage. Look into what your carrier offers. I've used mine a few times with no money out of pocket.

kster1 · 07-23-2014, 01:44 PM

At least for northern California, there is a AAA Premiere option which has a 200 mile tow.

ayau · 07-23-2014, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kster1

At least for northern California, there is a AAA Premiere option which has a 200 mile tow.

Yeah, I see that too. Might be a nation wide policy. Looks like 200 would be their max though.

renfield90 · 07-23-2014, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat

Many auto insurance policies have towing coverage. Look into what your carrier offers. I've used mine a few times with no money out of pocket.

Depending on who your auto insurance is through this can be a dangerous game..."I'm sorry, you said you're at a race track?"

iLuveKetchup · 07-23-2014, 02:14 PM

What happened to the clutch?

ayau · 07-23-2014, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iLuveKetchup

What happened to the clutch?

It stopped disengaging and couldn't get it into gear while the car was on. This was on the ITR with 138k miles. Mechanic friend dropped the tranny and found some broken pressure plate pieces inside the casing. He's thinking it must have overheated and shattered.

CSG Mike · 07-23-2014, 02:57 PM

Everyone that tracks should get AAA. You can piggyback tows to get a single "big" tow.

E.g. use your 200 mile tow, and call in a second 200 mile tow where the car would be dropped off to get a 400 mile total tow.

White64Goat · 07-23-2014, 03:08 PM

Regular AAA membership is 3 miles or nearest repair facility for free and pay after that per mile. AAA Plus is 100 miles towing. Never heard of AAA Premium (at least on East Coast).

Saw some new club on TV a couple of weeks ago and they offer 100 miles towing on basic package, but can't remember their name.....

07-23-2014, 01:13 PM	#1
ayau Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: Some rust bucket Location: Polar ice cap Posts: 3,058 Thanks: 312 Thanked 1,045 Times in 556 Posts Mentioned: 37 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Backup plan when stuck at the track For those of you who don't have a trailer to tow a car with a mechanical failure, what's your backup plan for getting you and your car back home? I was at Road America recently and had a clutch failure. Luckily I made some friends at the track event who lived nearby and towed it to their house and hitched a ride back who was also heading back home. I still need to pick up the car from his house, which is about 4 hours away, but at least I was able to get home. Last edited by ayau; 07-23-2014 at 01:31 PM.

07-23-2014, 01:16 PM	#2
7thgear i'm sorry, what? Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: Canada Location: I rock a beat harder than you can beat it with rocks Posts: 4,399 Thanks: 357 Thanked 2,506 Times in 1,268 Posts Mentioned: 40 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	AAA? we have CAA... I can get 1 free tow per year for up to like 300km or something and 3 or 5 tows of another smaller distance. for me this covers a lot of venues. __________________ don't you think if I was wrong, I'd know it?

07-23-2014, 01:22 PM	#3
Dave-ROR Site Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Drives: Stuff Location: Florida Posts: 10,317 Thanks: 955 Thanked 5,965 Times in 2,689 Posts Mentioned: 262 Post(s) Tagged: 8 Thread(s)	AAA, or if needed uhaul truck and trailer. If it's possible to store it somewhere close, then a actual shipper works also. For a clutch, I would have just dropped the trans and replaced it there __________________ -Dave Track cars: 2013 Scion FRS, 1998 Acura Integra Type-R, 1993 Honda Civic Hatchback DD: 2005 Acura TSX Tow: 2022 F-450 Toys: 2001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo, 1994 Toyota MR2 Turbo, 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 Parts: 2015 Subaru BRZ Limited, 2005 Acura TSX Projects: 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited track car build FS: 2004 GMC Sierra 2500 LT CCSB 8.1/Allison with 99k miles

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
key keeps getting stuck	Covo_86	Issues \| Warranty \| Recalls / TSB	14	04-21-2014 08:55 AM
Got stuck in the snow	DoopaTroopa	Mid-Atlantic	40	03-06-2014 06:16 AM
I'm Stuck In A Dilemma	ALbadboy	BRZ First-Gen (2012+) -- General Topics	30	02-25-2013 07:02 PM
Do you plan to track your car?	gmookher	Tracking / Autocross / HPDE / Drifting	28	12-13-2012 08:57 PM

07-23-2014, 01:44 PM	#8
kster1 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Drives: 2013 BRZ Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 316 Thanks: 229 Thanked 212 Times in 121 Posts Mentioned: 16 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	At least for northern California, there is a AAA Premiere option which has a 200 mile tow.

07-23-2014, 02:14 PM	#11
iLuveKetchup My VTEC fluid is full Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: EFF JAY Location: NYC Posts: 935 Thanks: 149 Thanked 268 Times in 183 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	What happened to the clutch?

07-23-2014, 02:57 PM	#13
CSG Mike Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: S2000 CR Location: Orange County Posts: 14,531 Thanks: 8,920 Thanked 14,177 Times in 6,835 Posts Mentioned: 966 Post(s) Tagged: 14 Thread(s)	Everyone that tracks should get AAA. You can piggyback tows to get a single "big" tow. E.g. use your 200 mile tow, and call in a second 200 mile tow where the car would be dropped off to get a 400 mile total tow.

07-23-2014, 03:08 PM	#14
White64Goat Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: 13 BRZ CBS LTD MT, 02 WRX Location: Fred. Co. Md. Posts: 2,346 Thanks: 65 Thanked 1,111 Times in 627 Posts Mentioned: 19 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Regular AAA membership is 3 miles or nearest repair facility for free and pay after that per mile. AAA Plus is 100 miles towing. Never heard of AAA Premium (at least on East Coast). Saw some new club on TV a couple of weeks ago and they offer 100 miles towing on basic package, but can't remember their name.....

User Name		Remember Me?
Password