Track Checklist

[toddgreene]

Does anyone have a checklist (that you'll share) of equipment and spares to carry to the track.
I've started a list. It would fill up a NASCAR-sized hauler if I could carry everything.
Fortunately, I don't have an 18-wheeler.

I've got three categories: Essentials, Wants and Luxuries (if I have the space).

Essentials are tools, air, gas, tires, jacks, basic hardware, small replacement parts, etc...
Wants are spare bumper covers, fenders (plastic Honda), axles, rotors, calipers, etc...
Luxuries are spare engine, transmission, engine hoist, welder, etc...

I hope to be competitive one day.
But probably won't ever run for points.

What do I really need?

Thanks,

Todd

[gran racing]

Money / credit card, local yellow pages, & a cell phone. ;)

[racer_tim]

Essentials are tools, air, gas, tires, jacks, basic hardware, small replacement parts, etc...
Wants are spare bumper covers, fenders (plastic Honda), axles, rotors, calipers, etc...
Luxuries are spare engine, transmission, engine hoist, welder, etc...


I'd include axles, rotors, calipers, a-arms, shocks, struts, hubs, starter, alternator, transmission, spare head, throttle body in your Essentials list. I can replace an entire front corner @ the track with the spares that I bring. Don't forget the extra set of wheels / tires in case you get a flat, and brake pads.

Wants: Don't bother with bumper covers and fenders. You can make local repairs at the track to just get you back on the track. Tech might make a log book entry, but it won't put you on the trailer.

I woudn't bother bringing an engine hoist, if you HAVE to change the motor @ the track, there will be plenty of help from your friend / competitors.

I also bring a generator, air compressor, awning, ice chest, and food.

[Greg Amy]

Race car = on trailer. Sucks to get to track and realize you forgot it...

[Z3_GoCar]

Race car = on trailer. Sucks to get to track and realize you forgot it...

Don't forget racing license, vehicle log book, driving suit, helmet, gloves, carbon-x balaclava, socks, and shoes.

In addition to the above, I also bring:

A small tool box with spare plugs, oil, and filter, distilled water, a mini air compressor and pressure gauge, four jack stands, my racing jack, two fuel jugs, a cover for the race car, two camp chairs, an EZ-UP, an ice chest with water. I also have to pack my trailer ramps. If something big breaks, I'd just as soon trailer it and go home rather than thrash it back togeather and miss something and cause something else to go wrong.

James

[gran racing]

Oooooh! I forgot a very important tool in getting your car fixed if something should happen - BEER! It's pretty amazing how effective a tool that can be for after the necessary repairs are made.

[toddgreene]

Don't forget racing license, vehicle log book, driving suit, helmet, gloves, carbon-x balaclava, socks, and shoes.

If something big breaks, I'd just as soon trailer it and go home rather than thrash it back togeather and miss something and cause something else to go wrong.

James

Good Point... Very applicable to my situation,

Todd

[joeg]

I take everything that can be replaced on the car within a reasonable amount of time and the tools to change it.

For example, I do not take spare clutches, headgaskets, waterpumps, etc. because changing those involve many hours and I prefer to just go home.

Think about two things--how to pack your spares (keeping them dry yet accessible) and having a spare ready for installation. For example, take wheel bearings. If you have the "press-in type, carrying just the bearings simply ain't going to be much help. You need a spare spindle and hub ready to bolt in. This theme carries all the way to fasteners and small bits--ready to go on ...quickly. Would you takej ust spare CV joints and boots as spares rather than a complete spare axle??

Keep things tidy because a bucket of bolts is not conducive to efficient part swapping.

After a while, you can figure out what needs to be taken and not taken, but I live by the philosophy of taking everything that I can change in a 5 hour period. Usually if you have it, it will not break on the car.

It's like majic.

Cheers.

[mustanghammer]

Basically what everyone else said - parts for easy fixes only.

What has made going to the races easier for me is to keep everything that goes to the track separate from the tools and supplies that I use at the shop. So I maintain two sets of tools, consumables, fluids and spare parts. That way I don't forget stuff and I can keep my track supplies packed all of the times in labeled totes.

[dave parker]

Many people will laugh at this but it works:
A running drivable (preferably street legal,if possible) version of the car that you are racing for all those little bits that you never knew that you are going to need.

Especially if you are doing endurance racing.

cheers
Dave Parker

[toddgreene]

Many people will laugh at this but it works:
A running drivable (preferably street legal,if possible) version of the car that you are racing for all those little bits that you never knew that you are going to need.

cheers
Dave Parker

I'm not laughing... I already have one... but not running...

Todd

[MMiskoe]

If it is just spares, decide if you would bother fixing it at the track, then pack what you have. This can also be determined by how far it is from home. When I'm at the track that's 18 miles from home I will bring the car home for major repairs. When its a 10 hour tow, then more stuff gets brought. Same for the type of race. A 24 hour enduro (2000 miles from home) requires different spares than a single sprint race.

If you list is everything you want to bring, spares or not, just go through everything in you mind that you will do and write down everything from your alarm clock in the morning to your toothbrush before going to bed. It might be a big list, but a couple of pages of paper are way easier to waste than an hour looking for a Walmart to sell you fresh underwear at 10pm.

Don't forget things like your 'factory' shop manual and parts to fix problems on the trailer - the stuff you don't ever plan on needing.

[JLawton]

Keep packing until you have no more space or run out of towing capacity.

[gran racing]

Todd, I had a non-running donor car and found it very useful to take it completely apart and collect all of the useful items on it. There have been several race events where after the qualifying day (for multi-day events at LRP I go home for the night) I ran into an issue and just went down into my basement and picked-up the part. The negative side is my basement now has tons of car parts in it and my wife calls it a second garage. :(

[67ITB]

Keep packing until you have no more space or run out of towing capacity.
This from the guy that borrowed just about every part he ever put onto his GTI!!! How someone drives a VW and does not have a 13 mm wrench is beyond me!!


back to the question at hand.

I would bring whatever the known "problem areas" of your particular car are. and make sure that they are 100% ready to be installed. H20 pump w/ T-stat, gasket, O-ring..... CV axles with new nuts and bolts, control arms w/Ball joints, spindles w/ the same wheel studs that your use on all 4 corners.......

its always the small stuff that will bite you in the ass. you have all the time in the world to prepare for repairs right now, so when your trying to change a H2O pump between sessions your not scrambling to locate a gasket or O-ring

The list of spares I carry is WAY to long to post, but I usually end up supplying every VW at the track in one way or another. But I would rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.


Matt Bal

[Rabbit07]

Nitrogen Bottle, Tools, Jack, Jack Stand, Heater (When its cold!), 2 cases of brake cleaner, oil, water, P/S fluid, trans fluid, control arms, hubs, struts,steering rack, head lights, tail lights, brake rotors, pads, master cylinder, calipers, brake hoses, water hoses, clutch, trans, halfshafts, throttle cable, clutch cable, shifter cables, exhaust, radiator, spark plugs and wires, engine harness, PCM, injectors, belts, alternator, P/S Pump, P/S hoses, gaskets, Nuts and bolts, ect..............

I don't like to go home after spending the $ to get there.

[JeffYoung]

Kirk I think posted a good thought. Once you have raced for a few years, you get a feel for the weak areas of your car. Those should be the critical spares (and things you should replace regularly BEFORE failure).

[erlrich]

Wow, you VW and Honduh guys sure keep a lot of spares with you! For the Nissan I try to keep those items that are known potential problems, and/or have needed replacing at the track in the past. My parts list includes:

- Valve stems

:D

Oh, and I would add one thing to Greg's list - "race car, with KEY, on trailer". Don't ask.

Note to self - may need to rethink spare parts list once the Camaro hits the track.

[JeffYoung]

One time, I put the log book on the trailer. Like, right on the rear of my open deck trailer. Like, just laying there. And then I like, just drove off. And like, I got to the track without a logbook. But I put it on the trailer.

Organization is key too. Not good to have stuff if you can't get to it. Enclosed trailer certainly helps with that.

[Wreckerboy]

As above, I carry only what I need to support what I am willing to do. Within that, however, I carry a lot. Thank heavens the rig isn't bigger.....

Organization is key. Larger Rubbermaid boxes are next to that in terms of importance - they stack neatly, and keep everything dry. Also, if there is a spill, it's in the container, and not on your nice carpeting. I label each box as to it's contents.

I have checklists for damn near everything. It makes life so much easier that my wife can and does the packing for a race weekend. I'd share them, but the reality is everybody's check list is unique to them. For example, I have a box labeled "Admin" which contains my shop manuals, my license materials, and my stopwatch and clip boards. There are other boxes that are filled with nothing but spare parts. Then again, I drive a Miata, so those are probably not necessary. There is a box filled with fluids. Another box is filled with nothing but tools that I will probably never use at the track again, but needed once like a cooling system pressure tester, so I won't be caught out again.

[shwah]

Many people will laugh at this but it works:
A running drivable (preferably street legal,if possible) version of the car that you are racing for all those little bits that you never knew that you are going to need.

Especially if you are doing endurance racing.

cheers
Dave Parker

I can vouch for this one - I took the entire fuel pump assembly off of a street car and mounted it to my race car at the track the night before my first win.:eclipsee_steering:

[rabbidmk1]

I have the luxury of using an enclosed trailer. Because of that I am able to bring almost and entire spare car this season.

on average here is what I store in my trailer.

2-4 spare axles (my old car used to eat them up 4 times a weekend!)
Spare IT spec engine
2 Transmissions
2 clutches
1 complete engine harness
2 ecu's
2 of every sensor
2 distributors
2 control arms
4 "softer" rain spec springs
2 knucles with wheel bearings and hubs installed
2 complete gasket sets
a LARGE assortment of nuts and bolts
Throttle cable and clutch cable
2 front rotors, brake lines and pads
2 rear rotors, lines and pads
2 front and 2 rear calipers
1 master cylinder
1 alternator
4 wheels and tires
4 rains
16 wheel studs and lug nuts
LOTS OF RACERS TAPE!!! :023:

As far as tools. My trailer has it's own dedicated tool set. Including a tire pyrometer, VAG COM laptop diagnostics tool, Wideband 02 and any other tool needed to fix my car.

I used to rather put my car on the trailer and go home but quickly learned that each weekend is on average a $1000 investment whether I finish or not, so why not give it my all and get it on the track.

[quadzjr]

^^ I beleive that spares list sums it up.. Personally I don't have the finicial backing nor the room to hold all those spares.. but that pretty much covered everything.

[Spinnetti]

Don't forget racing license, vehicle log book, driving suit, helmet, gloves, carbon-x balaclava, socks, and shoes.

In addition to the above, I also bring:

A small tool box with spare plugs, oil, and filter, distilled water, a mini air compressor and pressure gauge, four jack stands, my racing jack, two fuel jugs, a cover for the race car, two camp chairs, an EZ-UP, an ice chest with water. I also have to pack my trailer ramps. If something big breaks, I'd just as soon trailer it and go home rather than thrash it back togeather and miss something and cause something else to go wrong.

James

This is more like it, and exactly what I do. Travel light.

The track is the wrong place to do major work. If you are not ready when you get there, or need major work once there, its probably better/safer/cheaper to live to race another day and go home. <Knock on wood>, but in 17 years, the worst I had is the o2 sensor break out of the header, needing a piece of pop can and a couple hose clamps. Rest of the time I kinda fidget wondering if I should be wrenching on cars like everybody else.

[tac911t]

Oh, and I would add one thing to Greg's list - "race car, with KEY, on trailer". Don't ask.


I put a spare key to the race car in the binder that holds the log book. The binder goes in the duffle bag with the race suit. As said before, if you have it with you, you will never need it!!

I also tape a spare key for the tow vehicle in the glove box of the race car. I think I used it once, when the key was in a jacket on the other side of the paddock.

[thedemoguy]

Does anyone have a checklist (that you'll share) of equipment and spares to carry to the track.
I've started a list. It would fill up a NASCAR-sized hauler if I could carry everything.
Fortunately, I don't have an 18-wheeler.

I've got three categories: Essentials, Wants and Luxuries (if I have the space).

Essentials are tools, air, gas, tires, jacks, basic hardware, small replacement parts, etc...
Wants are spare bumper covers, fenders (plastic Honda), axles, rotors, calipers, etc...
Luxuries are spare engine, transmission, engine hoist, welder, etc...

I hope to be competitive one day.
But probably won't ever run for points.

What do I really need?

Thanks,

Todd

First I would stop using your "(plastic Honda) axles" :blink:

[lawtonglenn]

Assuming the Murphy-type Law "whatever tool you
forget, that is the tool you will need"...

and its Corollary "whatever tool you bring, you won't"...

whenever I pack the truck, I always make sure I take
with me the Biggest Baddest Prybar in the world.....:D

[Flyinglizard]

I make a master list in the setup book, noting parts #s and quantity, For rentals; I bring the clutch disc and tools, brake pads X 2 each, axles, make sure they are the right size ,100/90etc.
Rubber stuff, belts, hoses, cam seals, VC gasket,
radiator if you can fit it. , STOPLEAK .
Distribrutor, ignition wires, coil,plugs,module , I add one module mounted in the car, I can just unplug and plug in the other. I have not had any fail at the track in 15yrs of Dubs. Wire and connectors.

Head gasket, but every time it hurt the gaskset, the head was hurt. I just tape one to the roof of the van .
Front spindles and bearing ass. tie rod ass and the tools to change them . Caliper kits, Oil filter, mobil one,etc antifreeze and water. Clutch cable
Timing light
Oil cap, fuel cap, radiator cap!! sounds stupid dont it!!
hammer, big enough to keep the car knowing who is going to win.
MM

[benspeed]

I like to bring the porta power dent puller, slide hammer and bondo - that way I know there will be no contact :-)

Best forgetfulness story - a GT1 friend came to NJMP last summer and realized he forgot his passenger side door. That dude felt pretty foolish.

Most important - get a list of inspection duties and tape it to your race car and make sure you check off ALL of the safety stuff before you load the car. I'm not the best mechanic (I've moved up from suck) but having this inspection checklist has really kept me out of a few jams BEFORE I got to the track.

[JohnW8]

Running in PDX's the guys who were constantly working on their car between sessions were usually the guys that cause your rungroup to be cut short due to a hose clamp that wasn't tightened thereby covering the course with fluids etc etc. Things get missed in an all out thrash, and I don't want to be that guy. I'll take what I can for minor repairs, and cuss alot when I find out I forgot a certain whatzit. Personally, if I tear it up so bad that I need to replace control arms, or front sections, I'm going home.