I would like to direct this question to folks who drive their ITR long distances to the track.

If you're like me, you're probably packing a lot of large heavy objects to take with you - four (or more) track tires/wheels, tool box with tools, brake pads, rotors, etc. And they all fit nicely in that roomy hatch, particularly with the rear seat down (if you still have one). I'm concerned about what happens to those objects in the event of a frontal crash. The seat belt and airbag will likely protect me from the sudden deceleration of the car, and keep my body from having an impact with the windshield, dashboard, engine, etc. But what about those large heavy objects behind me? They start the crash traveling the same speed as the car, and I would think that they then become projectiles whose momentum gives them the capacity to continue forward and crush and kill the driver and passenger. (Right?)

So my question is whether any of you might share any suggestions for what to do about it. I can think of a couple - put in a roll cage, although that only protects against the largest objects... or, don't take a passenger and put everything heavy on the passenger side (although it might not all fit). Any other ideas? Chain the tires/wheels to the brace at the back of the hatch, maybe? (Not sure what kind of chain...) Other suggestions? What do YOU do?

TIA...

 

you could use the spare tire compartment and use the rear carpet to cover it, which should do a good job of keep everything down. the tires and wheels on top should also help to keep everything down. i suppose that with a rollbar, the tires and wheels would not be a problem.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nightrider &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you could use the spare tire compartment and use the rear carpet to cover it, which should do a good job of keep everything down.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The one tire in the spare tire compartment would have its momentum blocked by the walls of that cavity, but that still leaves three other tires. In the event of a frontal collision, all their momentum is forward...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nightrider &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i suppose that with a rollbar, the tires and wheels would not be a problem.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Agreed (as I mentioned), which means you would only need to position the smaller objects (e.g. rotors) so that they're not directly behind anyone.

Other ideas?

 

Mybe it would be wise to invest in a small trailer, such as one common with autocrossers?

 

The answer seems simple to me. 35lb tire and wheel traveling at 50mph + back of your head = joo owned.

I'd suggest running a rope through all of your heavy objects and securing it to the rear trunk brace. Might not stop stuff in a severly bad crash but it couldn't hurt.

 

I put my tires up against the rollbar.. four in a row. I suppose having 2 piles of 2 (laying the rim flat instead of four in a row on the tread) would achieve the same result.

I pack everything else behind the seats and behind the tires.. and don't pack anything higher than the tires. Toolbox - behind passenger seat. Jack/jack stands/large containers/etc - all behind the tires and as low as possible. The rollbar certainly helps... but even without, having 2 piles of 2 stacked tires on top of the back seats (which are pushed down) is fairly safe. The tire and the rug on the back of the seat seem to stick well. I'm sure if they continued on at 70mph in the event of a catastrophic crash, it may not matter much, but in a more reasonable scenario, I believe they would stay put, or at least hit the mid-section of the front seats and cause minimal damage.

Basically any kind of protective 'layer' like tires is a good idea. Everything else should go behind the tires or behind the seats... as LOW as possible.

 

I tend to put the wheels right behind me. Then folding chairs, clothing bags, and tools in the rear.

This has always been a concern of mine - now I've decided to tow to far away events. A little more hassle - but a nice comfy ride home with a/c.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ActiveAero &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'd suggest running a rope through all of your heavy objects and securing it to the rear trunk brace. Might not stop stuff in a severly bad crash but it couldn't hurt.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah I'd tie down w/ bungee cords if I were you

 

**** I just erased everything I just typed !


Any way, My car is pretty stripped with nothing behind the front seats and the rollbar. But I always pack my heavy stuff like toolbox and jack on the floor right behind the seats with the tires resting on top and against the rollbar and a neatly packed track kit with all my spare parts, rotors, pads, fluids, windex, numbers, drop cloth, whatnot in a large Rubbermaid box/bucket secured with a bungie cord (sp?) And anything lighter like seats or carpet or whatnot behind all of that and it seems relatively safe for the average fender bender you'd encounter on the road.

But, yes I have thoguht about the concern of a major accident with all that **** flying around the cabin and after one or two thoughts, just don't even want to consider it after I try to pack as neatly, safely and tightly as possible.


So I just bought a tow vehicle a few weeks ago and solved more than one problem like this.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris N &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">having 2 piles of 2 stacked tires on top of the back seats (which are pushed down) is fairly safe. The tire and the rug on the back of the seat seem to stick well.</TD></TR></TABLE>

FWIW, this is more or less what I do now. If I am only bringing four tires, I have one stack on the folded-down passenger-side rear seat, and the other stack on the driver side but at the rear, behind the shock towers (so there is at least something to deflect their forward momentum). If I bring five or six, then I have the other stack on the folded-down driver-side rear seat.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

The one tire in the spare tire compartment would have its momentum blocked by the walls of that cavity, but that still leaves three other tires. </TD></TR></TABLE>

i was suggesting to put the smaller objects in the spare tire compartment. all the posts above have been helpful hopefully though.

 

Simple & Cheapish...

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=870677

 

Why not get a mate to follow you in a sedan / wagon / van etc and promise you'll let them shotgun while you make a few laps. Save weight (fuel / stress) and your heads got a better chance at staying on its block if accident occurs.

Or some sort of safety net / bag that you can put all your objects into and somehow fasten it to your car temporarily and then throw some thick covering over for the extra holding weight.

 

I really wouldn't worry about it too much. Seats are supposed to take some of the impact aren't they? If you have a race car, you might even have kevlar seats, which are probably very safe. Anything could happen on the road, but it might be even more dangerous driving with a six pack in the back, so just don't crash...

 

I have a AP rollbar, and I mount my race tires vertically (as if they were rolling down the street) against the harness bar.. then I run a rope through the spokes and fasten it tightly @both ends.

Anything else is usually in a bag, my jack tools etc..

But I do use the OE spare tire holder to help fasten down the lug wrench, and a socket set for daily driving.

 

wait, get a friend to follow you and save gas? how does that work?

 

All this fuss for nothing. Wear your helmet while driving to the track. DUHH.

 

I use a towing vehicle to pull the R, or, if not available, I put the small but heavy items into the passengers footroom and lash the set of trackwheels to the cross of the rollcage in the back.

Anyway, though I hope nothing bad happens, when my time has come, I will take it.