Doing my first track day on a go-cart track sprint course around 1.3km. Have helmet, extinguisher and battery sorted as well as the wheel alignment and suspension set-up. What tools etc would be recommended for the astute competitor?
1st track day. What to take...
- Thread starter cheeks
- Start date
Help Support 4GTuner:
Well, the basics are the best to start with.
- Something to tighten wheel nuts (Hard driving and heat will loosen your wheel nuts every time)
- Spark plug socket (You never really know if your gaps are good until you get right into it)
- Distilled water to top up cooling system
- A good jack and axle stands
- Rags
- Enough basic tools to do minor work (tighten belts/hoses/bodywork etc)
- Duct tape, miles and fucking miles of duct tape
- Food and water for you
- Pen and paper to write down all the shit you should have brought this time
- Your best attitude with your common sense attached
Depends on what you want to do?
I take a wheel brace, jack and stands and a tyre pressure gauge.
If I can't fix it by borrowing stuff of someone else there I may as well go home.
Other people some how manage to load their whole garage into their boot which they never use and then spend 1 hour packing up again to go home.
Also unless you have a fire extinguisher that's is over 2kg all it will be good for is spraying in the air to signal to people that you need help. If you do mount it in the car ensure it is mounted properly and not with the flimsy thing that it comes with. Imagine if that got loose in an accident.
I have this
I would also make sure that you have you life insurance and income protection at a suitable level prior to going on the track. If you attempt to do this after you have started participating the costs and availability is significantly reduced.
Assuming you will be wearing a HANS device as well?
Oh and make sure you empty out your car, don't want to spread your spare change across the track when/if you roll.
I take a wheel brace, jack and stands and a tyre pressure gauge.
If I can't fix it by borrowing stuff of someone else there I may as well go home.
Other people some how manage to load their whole garage into their boot which they never use and then spend 1 hour packing up again to go home.
Also unless you have a fire extinguisher that's is over 2kg all it will be good for is spraying in the air to signal to people that you need help. If you do mount it in the car ensure it is mounted properly and not with the flimsy thing that it comes with. Imagine if that got loose in an accident.
I have this
I would also make sure that you have you life insurance and income protection at a suitable level prior to going on the track. If you attempt to do this after you have started participating the costs and availability is significantly reduced.
Assuming you will be wearing a HANS device as well?
Oh and make sure you empty out your car, don't want to spread your spare change across the track when/if you roll.
Great info above, I've only got a bit to add:Geo&Kez said:
- Zip tipes;
- Plenty of drinking water (it's amazing how hot you get and in the excitement forget to keep hydrated);
- Tyre pressure gauge and 12V air compressor - ask your tyre guy what pressure you should be running and as soon as you pull in after a session check the pressures and bleed them off to this recommended pressure again;
- Spare fuses and globes (have seen guys knocked back from scrutineering because their brake lights didn't work and they were madly scrambling for replacement globes and fuses);
- Spare bottles of power steering fluid and gearbox oil;
- 20L jerry can of extra fuel (don't want to get caught short!)
Certainly agree with the above as well. Although trying to worry too much about too many things on your first outing can overwhelm you. Don't try and make setup changes to your car after your first run, obviously make sure you have a nominal type pressure in mind, just don't start making changes until you are putting good consistent runs together first and have a solid benchmark to work from. ENGINR makes a good point about globes and fuses too. At and CAMS/ASSA event, your car must be 'roadworthy' ie your brake lights, reverse lights etc must be in working order. I have had the drive home in shame because of simple things like that.
BMGTZ
Grumpy old man from the school of hard knocks
a trailer.....if you didnt break it you werent testing hard enough
http://roadraceengineering.com/blog/?p=1234
This is a good read on track day prep.
Also includes a quite detailed checklist.
This is a good read on track day prep.
Also includes a quite detailed checklist.
It's a big read!
For a first ever track day - I'd just go with what's been suggested here in this thread and go into it with a good and positive attitude and look to enjoy yourself.
Don't get caught up trying to keep pace with the other cars - run your own race and drive at a speed you're comfortable with. If you feel like you're being pressured by the guys behind you who are faster, wait for the right opportunity and then wave them past (usually on the straights - it's poor practice to overtake on the corners and you should maintain your racing line).
If you find yourself catching other drivers, show them a bit of courtesy and drop back enough to give them some space then overtake when it's safe to do so (usually on the straights).
Find your own bit of track and drive in that.
Do a cool-down lap before pulling into the pits, when they flag the end of your session slow down and drive your car consistently and try not to use the brakes. This will save your pads and discs.
When you're in the pits - don't just park your car and leave it - remember to roll it forwards and backwards a bit to avoid generating hot-spots on your discs from the heated pads.
For a first ever track day - I'd just go with what's been suggested here in this thread and go into it with a good and positive attitude and look to enjoy yourself.
Don't get caught up trying to keep pace with the other cars - run your own race and drive at a speed you're comfortable with. If you feel like you're being pressured by the guys behind you who are faster, wait for the right opportunity and then wave them past (usually on the straights - it's poor practice to overtake on the corners and you should maintain your racing line).
If you find yourself catching other drivers, show them a bit of courtesy and drop back enough to give them some space then overtake when it's safe to do so (usually on the straights).
Find your own bit of track and drive in that.
Do a cool-down lap before pulling into the pits, when they flag the end of your session slow down and drive your car consistently and try not to use the brakes. This will save your pads and discs.
When you're in the pits - don't just park your car and leave it - remember to roll it forwards and backwards a bit to avoid generating hot-spots on your discs from the heated pads.
Cranked
Donating Members
Ur car....
evo-gsr
Well-Known Member
Ha ha you beat me to it Seano! :thumbsup:
