Most HPDE, Time Trial, and other road course groups are requiring front and rear tow hooks for all cars, to speed up "extractions" when someone has an off track excursion, runs out of fuel on track, or suffers some other breakdown. For most cars there are some simple "screw in" tow hook options, but many chassis do not have an easy to install tow hook from the factory - like the C6.
There area few "bolt on" tow hooks and straps for these cars, but many of those require permanent holes be cut into *painted* sections of the bodywork. Others require the removal and replacement of well engineered crash beam structures - often replaced with little tubing with a hook on there.
Even for the HPDE groups that don't yet require tow hooks, if you have an "off" or some other breakdown that necessitates your car being "brought in on the hook", the wrecker driver will find a way to drag your car back to the paddock. Sometimes they have to pull you out of a muddy ditch or tire wall, or maybe it is a simple "flat tow" via on a strap to the pits. If whatever they hook onto damages your car's costly paint or bodywork, that's on you - nothing should slow down an event because you brought an under-prepared car.
We looked at the variety of options for front and rear tow hooks for the C6 Corvette chassis, didn't love what we found, so we came up with some new options. This entry is for our "bolt on" rear tow hook kit for the 2005-2013 C6 Corvette with the steel frame (base + GS).
This hook is made from 3/16" thick steel, CNC plasma cut and bent on a fixture - all in-house at Vorshlag. We then add a powder coat finish in gloss red. If you want a set raw, just pick the raw option - but it will take extra time for a raw steel set that you can have painted or coated in whatever color you want. The front tow hook has the added benefit of making your C6 easier to winch into and out of your trailer - which can save time and your back. Ever tried to crawl out the open window of a C6??
The front tow hook comes through some black plastic in the lower grill, and the rear tow hook comes through the lower black plastic insert section of the rear bumper. cover. There is minimal trimming of the black plastic required at either end. This tow hook can be removed without having to do any bodywork or repainting the bumper if you want to put the car "back to stock" later. The rear tow hook is admittedly a bit more difficult than the front, as four M8 threaded nut inserts must be installed.
INSTRUCTIONS
The C6 Corvette rear tow hook installation requires removing the lower bumper cover section out back, drilling some holes, installing some nutserts, and even marking and cutting a slot in the lower rear plastics.
There are many more steps shown in the two links below:
Please read those instructions linked above carefully before buying either the front or rear C6 tow hook kits. We cannot offer returns for tow hooks that have been installed and scratched up (ie: no longer new), and it is a huge waste of time if you get it and "change your mind". We will have a restocking fee if you want to return these, and they have to come back to us perfect, so again - PLEASE read the instructions.
OPTIONS
RAW FINISH
These tow hooks come by default with a gloss red powder coat finish. If you want another color, great - order a raw steel version and have it coated or painted to the color you want. There is no cost savings there, and it will add extra time to have one made in raw (we normally make these in batches). Call ahead if you are in a hurry and want raw finish, to check our fab schedule.
TOOLS
The rear tow hook has one tricky step where you need to drill some holes and install four M8-1.25 threaded nut inserts.
We can supply both the M8 nutsert installation tool (Dorman 963-266DF) and a HSS reduced shank 17/32" drill bit, if you chose this option. It will save you time chasing down these tools and makes the installation possible. If you have the tools to install a M8 rivnut, great, you won't need to pick this option.
