Tools for the track, what do you bring?

[forkmeupscotty]

I guess this applies to autocross or any other forms of motorsports.

I've been autocrossing almost 2 years now and just began doing track days.
I'm just curious what tools/equipment/spares are must have, nice to have, and probably overkill?

The tools I bring a pretty simple, for now:

Torque wrench, breaker bar, sockets
Tire pressure gauge, pump

I might look into getting data loggers and pyrometers in the near future, although at this point, investing in more seat time to tighten the loose nut behind the wheel will probably be the biggest improvement.

[LotusCC]

Torque wrench- Check
Pressure gauge- Check
Air tank- Check

So far so good:-)

GOOD TO HAVE
Upgraded toe links
Baffled oil pan
Baffled fuel tank
Low profile jack w/hockey pucks
A good pyrometer
Turtle wax bug and tar remover
RainX
Oil
Video camera with mounting hardware.
Extra fuel if gas stations are not close by. (Especially important for track days. Fuel starvation)
Food and H2O

OVERKILL
2 post lift
150 gallon compressor
Air tools
2 level car carrier with grill and personal chef
Tire blankets

NICE TO HAVE
Data logger
Pit crew (friends that happen to be car guy/girls)
Rain tire/wheel set up

MORE SEAT TIME would be at the top of the list.
I saw an instructor take a complete POS miata (bald junkyard tires, some rust, oxidized paint, torn up top, beat up roll bar around the track at an insane speed. He proudly told me he bought it for $1,500. He was passing everything, Vettes, Porsches, BMW's etc..... His bio states "It's better to drive a slow car fast than to drive a fast car slow." Seat time and skill trump go fast parts:-) Skill and go fast parts is my ultimate goal.


Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

[jds62f]

I bring some oil, brake fluid, breaker bar, hex keys, wrenchES, contractor garbarge bags (for rain), pancho, extra set of pads, tire pressure gauge, torque wrench, a couple microfiber cloths. Theres probably stuff I'm forgetting but thats most of it. All fits in a tote that rides in the passenger seat.

[kestrel74]

spare brake pads

[addertooth]

Bring an atractive female to help corner balance your car, unless you have already had it corner balanced. My times are always faster with a passenger.

[forkmeupscotty]

Well, looks like I have most of it covered so far.. including the hot chick.
I have the in-car camera setup that I forgot to mention already, I may run some sort of smartphone GPS app or something until I get a proper datalogger.

Glass&bug cleaner/rag, check
Oil, check
Oil starve/fuel starve... I'll look into it.

extra brake fluid/pads.. I'll need some

maybe blue tape/trakk tape..

Hmm. it WOULD be nice to have a truck/trailer setup to bring EVERYTHING I can probably think of, but I travel light.. for now.

Looking to get a quality pyrometer.. and all I see is the Longacre needle probe type pyrometers, which I think costs a bit much than it should... Any suggestions?

[Shoof]

What would you need a Pyrometer for? To determine tire temps outside the surface or inside the tire?

....Because my wireless retrofit TPMS system I have on my car tells me how much pressure AND the temps in the tires. Would this work as a good alternative to needing a Pyrometer?

[da40flyer]

A pyrometer is used to get tire temps just under the tire surface at 3 locations, inside-middle-outside of tire to assist with determining proper tire pressure and suspension settings.

[kverges]

I bring everything but the part or tool I need

[<@¿@>]

Originally Posted by kverges

I bring everything but the part or tool I need

That always seems to be the case…no matter how much you bring, you will never have it all. So that’s why the F-1 guys have so many 18-wheelers…each!

[forkmeupscotty]

Originally Posted by Shoof

What would you need a Pyrometer for? To determine tire temps outside the surface or inside the tire?

....Because my wireless retrofit TPMS system I have on my car tells me how much pressure AND the temps in the tires. Would this work as a good alternative to needing a Pyrometer?

Because I'm a data freak.
I like to have more data than I know what to do with them.
In reality, I don't have any sort of datalogger. Hell, I don't even use a stopwatch since I'm still kind of new at this.
The plan for now is, be aware of what's ahead of me and survive each session and start driving consistently before trying to chase something. I only have one track day under my belt so far, after all.

I'm hoping the temperature data will give me insight to how I use the tire. I could be under driving them or over driving them. I could maybe afford an extra camber at the front. Maybe I'll increase or reduce tire pressure. Maybe I fell out of the optimal temperature range.. etc etc etc.

I like your TPMS setup, though. Looks interesting...
But cars from 2008 and on, including mine, comes stock with TPMS due to the gov't regulation. It's pretty dumb, though. It's basically like a O2 sensor as in you are either within the accepted range or not.
I'd be curious about your system's accuracy and sample rates and how it reads the temperature.
Ideally, I'd want an IR sensor that'll give me live temperature data like how the F1 guys do.
IRN8 C - Automotive sensors, test departments sensors, IR tire temperature - Texense sensors - By Texys
But for me, a 4 channel system like this will do.

Of course, it'll still be way out of my budget, though

[Shoof]

Originally Posted by forkmeupscotty

I like your TPMS setup, though. Looks interesting...
I'd be curious about your system's accuracy and sample rates and how it reads the temperature.

The psi reading is spot on to my hand held pressure gauge, as I did my first HPDE last month and was constantly readjusting the tires to the recommended hot pressures. Biggest problem I had was every time I pulled in for the session, I immediately aired down the tires to be 26F/28R because they were heating up significantly. The tires didn't cool down all that much in between sessions, that when I went out for the next session, the pressure was up again to about 29.4F/31.2R, and I would air it down again to 26/28 Hot. I borrowed a fellow's Pyrometer just for the heck of it to see what kind of readings I would get. The hottest reading was the inside of the driver's rear tire, which neared 150 degrees. The temps on the interior of the tire as shown on the sensor display is nowhere close to the exterior readings I was getting with the pyrometer, of course...

[pray4mojo]

Originally Posted by Shoof

What would you need a Pyrometer for? To determine tire temps outside the surface or inside the tire?

....Because my wireless retrofit TPMS system I have on my car tells me how much pressure AND the temps in the tires. Would this work as a good alternative to needing a Pyrometer?

Nice setup. Do you have a link to where you purchased that?

[Kermit]

Small hydraulic jack
1 jack stand
2 small tire chocks (wood blocks)
(no use having spare brake pads if you can't jack the car up and support it)
foam pad for knees
bicycle floor pump

Brake bleeder hose & empty catch can
Spark plug socket + long extension rod
Spare spark plugs
Socket wrench set
combo wrenches
screwdrivers & hex wrenches

Duct tape
Wide painter's tape
assorted hose clamps
paper towels & windex
oil
brake fluid


Most of this fits in a small tub and a tool box that is short enough (9") to fit in the trunk of my Elise. Folding chair, cooler, jack and floor pump sit in the passenger footwell.

[Shoof]

Originally Posted by pray4mojo

Nice setup. Do you have a link to where you purchased that?

Sure -

Amazon.com: Schrader SCH-BRK-4PC TPMS Retrofit Kit For Passenger Car and Light Truck (Wireless-Battery Operated Display): Automotive

Amazon.com: Schrader SCH-BRK-4PC TPMS Retrofit Kit For Passenger Car and Light Truck (Wireless-Battery Operated Display): Automotive

They also make a wired version:

Amazon

Amazon