Dan Darst

Do we leave PDK in neutral or park? Will apply parking brake either way. Bot Rennline tie down hooks and installed.

Slantnose!

No PDK here...but I always leave my car(s) in gear and with brake on.

Homeles

^^^^ +! THIS

gbree

Definitely NOT in gear. Especially on a manual transmission car. I always leave my race car in neutral when I trailer it. I thought this was a common consensus.... Do you really want the wear on your drivetrain? If you have your car in gear, any movement it may do results in the car trying to turn the crank and thus move the pistons either up or down without proper lubrication.

911sccab

In gear. If the car is moving on a trailer enough to turn the engine, you're about to have much bigger problems than the engine.

Homeles

^^^ +1 If it's tied down correctly, it'll never move!

gbree

It is very small movements, but movements none the less. I promise that the majority of experienced racers DO NOT tow in gear.

gbree

When you initially tighten them, the straps will stretch after driving a bit. You will then have to retighten them after a few miles, assuming you don't want the car moving back and forth. I'm sure you can figure out what's going on while the straps are stretching out. Even after the car is completely tightened, there is still going to be a small amount of movement occurring. If you really want the extra wear, no matter how small, on your drivetrain, be my guest. I'll stick to leaving it in neutral. Why not?

sracer

I've towed race cars tens of thousands of miles...always out of gear to prevent any wear or load on the drivetrain. Common practice by racers, just ask. Also: 4 tie downs, always, never two. And I've never had an issue with loosening, just cinch them down very tight. If you loaded the car hot from the track, tied it down and left, checking after the tires cool a bit might be a good idea.

Slantnose!

So...with the handbrake on and tied-down, the drivetrain will have excessive play?
Sounds like a personal preference thing like whether to cross the straps or not.

Homeles

Not sure how it would move with the parking brake on. If the rear wheels are locked with the brake on, how would any moment of the car occur damaging the drivetrain?

Please explain.

sracer

uhh...race cars don't have parking brakes!

chuck911

The race car ritual is interesting. The guys who put by far the most wear and tear on the drive train, full throttle more often than not, and routinely wear out things like transmissions most everyone else considers indestructible, these are the guys worried about a little rocking back and forth?

On second thought I'm wrong. Not interesting. Fascinating.

gbree

Correct

gbree

I can't teach you physics in one post, but I promise you that extremely small movements will occur, even if you can't see them... But if it's not tied down correctly, you CAN see the car move back and forth, and that's where it gets very serious. Feel free to PM me and I'll give you my number for an in depth explanation if you are serious.