Trailering a Panoz

I tried tie downs per the GTS manual, but I need arms about six inches longer to do this for the front of the car. I used a wire going to the track to tread a wrap around the front frame. Then at the track I saw that several cars use wraps through the front wheels, so i tried that going home. It seemed very secure. Are there any problems tying down the front this way?

I tried tie downs per the GTS manual, but I need arms about six inches longer to do this for the front of the car. I used a wire going to the track to tread a wrap around the front frame. Then at the track I saw that several cars use wraps through the front wheels, so i tried that going home. It seemed very secure. Are there any problems tying down the front this way?I sure hope not because that's the way I do it...

I have been doing it that way as well. I is alot easier than going to the frame.

David

I don't like using wheel straps because I fear yanking the car out of allignment... that said I'm sure the G-forces seen on track at speed are alot more than a strap can create.

I have an open trailer so it's a bit easier for me to get to the parts of the car. I got 4 axle straps to go w/ my 5000lb rachet straps. In the front just behind the wheels you'll see where the large frame tube has a V in it. I loop the axle strap through there on both sides and then run the rachet straps to my D-hooks in the front cris-crossing the straps. In the rear I don't use the Panoz specified parts... I go fruther up to the 3-bar joint just behind the fuel cell... I'll snap some pics if needed next time I trailer my car. I criss cross front and rear... car doesn't move on the trailer at all. It's similar to how I trailered my Z06 using T-hooks in the factory chassis holes.

Pulling on the wheels isn't great for the alignment. On our GTS car we made the front clip removable. You need to cut the front uprights and weld some square tubing and cross pin. The all you do is pull the pins, unhook the brake ducts, remove the 2 front bolts that hold the valence down and in 2' the hood and front clip are off. Very easy to load the car (no scraped air dams) and place the axel/frame straps.

Kevin

Any chance of getting pictures of that? That sounds neat,but kinda hard for trailering.

My car is stored up at the track, but I will get some pics. Basically there are 2 square steel uprights (1.25" stock I think?) that hold on the front clip....so you cut them weld on some 1.5" square tubing on the bottom end and you have a male-female conection. Cross drill for a .25" pin and you can remove the ENTIRE front clip in 2' (disconect 2 pins, 2 brake duct hoses, remove 2 5/16 bolts above air dam near brake duct inlets) and it all comes off. W/O the clip you can easily roll on to trailer, get to radiator, place axel/frame straps etc. Just and idea but it really makes trailering easy.

IMHO the best way to secure a Panoz or any race car is to use the over-the-tire straps. This keeps the car in place, allows it to ride on its' own suspension and does not pull anything out of alignment.

We operate a fleet of enclosed transporters and this is the way Porsche has asked us to secure their cars. Works great.

The only drawback is that you need to outfit your trailer with logisitics track on the bed. This process makes tying the car down a quick and easy procedure.