Conversely I'd hate for someone to see your post and think you are correct.

The mod is in fact functional. The OEM tow hook just isn't that strong. It works fine if you are on asphalt/concrete and just need to be pulled straight, but people have reported it break before, especially if there is any angle put on the pulling force, like in a ditch on the side of the road or the track. Needless to say, when it breaks, there is potential to cause extensive damage to the vehicle and anyone that happens to be around the vehicle at the time.

Personally I prefer the kind that bolts onto the front sub-member. I had the J's Racing before and now I have the GT Motoring one. I obviously don't go unbolting it when I'm not at the track and I've had to use it on several occassions. I must be a poser then

 

Tow hooks are required/strongly recommended at a lot of different tracks, as they save a lot of time/effort when towing a car which has gone off track and is stuck. Minimizing towing time is very important on the track, as an offed car results in the other cars on the track either coming to a total stop, or requiring them to drive very slowly.

No idea the strength difference between OEM and aftermarket, though I imagine after market is built stronger. Before track season starts again, I'll be going the route of the front sub-member tow hook, which is more discreet so I can leave it on all the time without it looking silly on the street.

 

Wrong. Tow hooks are used to pull your car out if you run off the track and they're used to help ramp your car on a flatbed so they don't damage your front end. That's why our cars have a front and back tow hook location and a stock tow hook in the trunk. Generally you should only need to be using the front to be pulled back onto the track because if you need the rear one chances are you've just ran off the track going too fast and have just f'ed up your car and/or yourself. I have no comment on the strength of the stock hook because I've never had to use it, but I can see how it would be weaker than the aftermarket ones.

 

i always have my car towed by flat bed, are we supposed to push it up?

aftermarket bumpers, at least mine, don't have space for the stock tow hook to screw in, so I have to take off front bumper, to screw in tow hook, to have a place for the winch to pull it onto the flat bed.

 

if they want to hardpark with it, they will.

and as a safety equipment, let's hope the mfg did their homework on installation point.

Ever see an ebay hook attached to the bumper with self tapping screw?