What's up with hood pins?

[gran racing]

Why do people use hood pins on IT cars that only participate in sprint races?

Jeff Lawton's recent hood pin (or lack there of?) incident got me thinking about this subject again. He's far from the only person who this happened to; even some great teams with real crew have experienced the hood in the windshield trick.

While walking around the grid at races (primarily thinking about the ARRC and IT Fest) I see many cars with hood pins have them taped so it doesn't hurt their car's aero. Not that makes the whole thing even more silly.

What advantages are there of having hood pins that outweight the disadvantages? In the beginning of my racing, I considered putting them on my car but only because I thought they were cool and would make my car one step closer to a real racecar.

[Knestis]

I've seen more than a few SS cars have hoods fly up after relatively minor nose-to-tail bumps. The '80s SSGT Camaros and Firebirds were particularly susceptible, it seemed like. The ADDITION of hood pins would help prevent that but replacing the stock latch with pins just moves the point of failure. They are lighter than the stock latch and cable, however.

K

[mbuskuhl]

Why do people use hood pins on IT cars that only participate in sprint races?

Personally, convenience and peace of mind. I don't have to reach in the drivers door, pull the release, then walk to the front of the car. Easier to just stand in front of the hood, pull 2 pins and lift. The stock latch is removed. There is also something about visually seeing 2 pins latched that gives a more comforting feeling than a hidden latch.

[erlrich]

And as Kirk mentioned, they are lighter than the stock latch and cable.

[gran racing]

How much lighter are they really? 1/2 lb?

[erlrich]

How much lighter are they really? 1/2 lb?

Just guessing, more like 2-3 lbs. when you add the cable and everything.

[spnkzss]

Convienience for working on the car and added safety. If there is contact, I'm not worried about my hood pins releasing. I remove the factory release mechanism (actually just the pin from the hood that goes into the mechanism), but I leave the factory latch as added protection from me being a dumb a$$ and forgetting my hood pins. This way the hood comes up 3-4 inches only, scares me, makes me pull off, put hood pins back in, and continue. This instead of a broken windshield.

[mcgyverit]

When I was converting my SSC car to IT the inspection person at that time recommended it for a safety thing for the workers to be able to get under the hood in case it was damaged during an accident to put out a fire without having to go inside the car to release the cable. Seemed logical at the time.

[spnkzss]

When I was converting my SSC car to IT the inspection person at that time recommended it for a safety thing for the workers to be able to get under the hood in case it was damaged during an accident to put out a fire without having to go inside the car to release the cable. Seemed logical at the time.

Speaking of that also, that is another reason I left the factory latch. Most engine fires you don't want to open the hood, and if you do you just want enough for the extinguisher to get in there. With the latch still in place it gives them just enough of a reminder that this is as far as you really want to go so you don't fuel the fire. Whether it works or not, again, it makes me feel better.

[tom91ita]

Speaking of that also, that is another reason I left the factory latch. Most engine fires you don't want to open the hood, and if you do you just want enough for the extinguisher to get in there. With the latch still in place it gives them just enough of a reminder that this is as far as you really want to go so you don't fuel the fire. Whether it works or not, again, it makes me feel better.

i had the engine oil fire at mid-o at last year's IT fest.

i think hood pins are a good idea. i was not even aware i had the problem until i stopped. and when i realized what was going on, i was focused on getting out and would not want to be bothered with having to release the hood, etc.

i will have always have hood pins for easy access if the workers want it.

i have also adopted a practice of only stopping on pit lane after a race where i see a fire bottle. you just don't know.

[924Guy]

When I was converting my SSC car to IT the inspection person at that time recommended it for a safety thing for the workers to be able to get under the hood in case it was damaged during an accident to put out a fire without having to go inside the car to release the cable. Seemed logical at the time.

I saw this happen last year on a Prod car... don't know 'bout y'alls cars, but I know it's very hard to get at the release latch inside the car with a cage in the way. Not to mention if the driver's non-responsive or trying to get the hell out of a burning car - don't want to have to send someone back in to open that latch!

Having seen plenty of Rabbit hood latches fail and lose the hood, and since I have a Rabbit hood latch - I'm happy with the pins, no guessing if the latch is secured or not!

[RSTPerformance]

My father had the hood open on him a few years ago. It cost him the NERRC and NARRC championship (All he needed was 2 points) in AS.

We now use the factory safety latch (incase the hood pins are forgot or fall out) and hood pins. We use the hood pins that stay attached to the hood and are in a slide so that they can not be lost and so that it is just part of the normal routine when closing the hood to ALWAYS put the hood pins in. We tape them on my brothers car because for some odd reason they tend to back out once in a while.

We don't use the original cable latch because of the location of our rollcage and to prevent the delay it would cause incase of an incident where someone whould have to go into the car to open the hood in an emergency.

Another suggestion for those with crew is to have a grid routine... We always retorque our wheels and check the truck, doors and hood to make sure they are securely fastened.

Raymond "to the first time I have ever said this: wow jeff, that was fast " Blethen

[tom_sprecher]

Hood pins are simple and foolproof as long as some fool doesn't forget to put the pins back in.

In the case of a serious wreck you can count on them holding the hood down and when needed allowing the easy release of the hood. Ask me how I know.

[dave parker]

"Hood Pins are the way that we get to see who is paying attention and who is not."
said to me by a very long time racer who shall remain nameless after a windshield was broken by a hood at test day at Summit Point (it was his windshield).
Ever since then I personally check my pins on the grid before the five minute warning.
We are all human and make mistakes, the key is to not make the same mistake twice.

cheers
Dave Parker
WDCR HP#97
2007 MARRS HP Champion