going to streets of willow tomorrow... what to bring...?
 

I have no idea what to bring other than myself, my car, my helmet, and maybe some fluids for my car...?

You need a "track box"...

It also depends what kinda lapping you're going to do.

Minimum:
yourself
car
helmet
any other required safety gear
basic tools
duct tape (really handy)
DRINK (you need to keep hydrated, especially in sunny weather)
tire pressure gauge
notebook - you'd be surprised writing things down can come in handy

Recommended:
few bottles of oil (if you're running stock oil metering, you'd be surprised how much oil it drinks)
couple bottles of anti-freeze
couple bottles of water
couple bottles of brake fluid
jack (to lift the car)
jackstands (don't be stupid)
track mat (to lie on) or clean cardboard
reserve gasoline (not all tracks have gas available) - also depends on the length of driving

Not necessary, but it really helps:
FOOD
Tent or tarp to get away from the sun
portable chairs
air tank + air tools
spare belts
spare radiator hoses
spare vacuum hoses
spare clamps
spare spark plugs


-Ted

holy cow! that's a lot of stuffs! i'd better start rummaging and see what i've got...

thanks ted.

Ted's recommended list +

Rags
Something to clean your hands with
SPare shirt
glass cleaner
Sandwiches and Fruit (I can't eat greasy track food often)

Make sure you torque your wheels before you go, and set your airpressure now (you'll want the guage later to check it)

(edit missed a few things Ted already had)

i don't have any belts or hoses... and it's too late to go get some.... dang, i'm gonna have to prepare a lot more next time....

Yeah, sorry, I wrote the list at 6am in the morning. :)
I forgot the change of clothes! A towel is nice also, as you're going to sweat, no matter how cold it is outside! Rags is a definite must - DOH, how could I forget that! Silkworm has been doing this a lot, so trust his comments!

Yeah, sorry to barrage you with the long list, but we went through this a few times and try to learn quick! It sux having stuff missing! The list is broken down into 3 parts, and you really need the MINIMUM stuff, so don't feel too bad! :)


-Ted

i've got the minimum and some of the recommended stuff... the only stuff that REALLY helps that i'ma be able to scrounge together is the food :)

thanks guys!!

You can always spot the "real" racers because they know what comforts to bring :) For the car bring fluids and basic tools along with a tire gauge. If you can manage to bring more, do it. Since I swap tires so often I have a jack and stands along with extra lugnuts (in case you lose one!), wheel studs and a thread die for the studs; just in case.

For yourself you need food, water, a chair and some shade if you can swing it. Hand cleaner and rags are a must as is sunscreen. A mat, dropcloth, tarp etc to lay on in case you need to get under the car. I always bring a clean shirt for the end of the day and (don't laugh) a clean pair of socks. Why socks? Because if it rains that day and you spend your time slogging around in it your feet are bound to be wet. Nobody laughed anymore when I drive home with dry feet while everyone else was still squishy last time it rained ;)

lol, i guess everyone's gonna point and go "look at the newb!!!" hahaha :) good stuff. alrite, i'm out! later guys!

PCS:

Another good thing to have w/ you is an AAA Membership - upgrade to the DELUXE package w/ 100mile towing - makes getting a broken car home from the track a whole lot less painfull.

I agree! Totally worth it for this aspect alone.

This is info I got from a AAA tow truck driver.

Assuming that you are a DELUXE member AND you have to tow beyond the standard 7 miles (at least, I think it is 7, I could be wrong)....you are placed at the bottom of the list to be towed. Why? Because the tow truck driver will ONLY get paid by AAA for the standard 7 miles. Therefore, ANY additional miles come directly out of the tow truck driver (or company's) pocket. I guess this is part of the disadvantage of being a AAA licensed towing company. If I was the towing company, I would hate these calls.

When I found this out, I tipped the tow truck driver as best as I could (I needed a tow of 25 miles).

So be prepared to wait for some time before the tow truck driver gets there.

Dom,

Good point, didn't know that.. Wow, that really sucks for them.

I do agree with the AAA, especially if you don't tow your car, sooner or later you're going to break something.

Don't worry about looking like a newb, everyone has to start somewhere :)

PauLC

man you guys forgot the biggest thing to bring to Willow, sunscreen. That place is a damn oven it gets wayyyyyyyy too hot out there. With the weather you guys have been getting down there I'm going to guess it will be 100+ at the track (and still 100+ in the shade). Water and sunscreen are needed then.
The AAA Plus is a awsome idea as well. It isn't that much more than regular AAA service and worth it if you track your car alot.

One more thing regarding the AAA Plus membership.

You have to be a member of AAA for one year in order to upgrade to the AAA Plus.

Yeah, sunscreen - another miss from Prague, CZ which is hitting below 0C temps right now, and it SNOWED during the day with a very light flurry. You guys are right - my current environs just made me totally forget. :D


-Ted

What are you doing in Prague? I thought you were in Hawaii? I remember you made a post showing you helping Higgi w/ his cars.

Also, make friends. The more friends you can get in a group, the less you have to bring as you can divide up what you need:

http://mahjik.homestead.com/files/FD...k1/image01.jpg

Then you know buddy #1 will have a jack, buddy #2 will have widget #2, etc.. You'll carry less stuff and have a better time. ;)

Working, basically. :)
I'm "helping" hIGGI rebuilt 7 FC engines and installing 3 Haltechs. So far, we got 6 out of 7 engines done (one NA, the rest are all turbo 13BT's) - the last 7th one is not that important. I'm starting the Haltech installs right now, and one E6K should be done by the end of today. There's still one more E6K install and an E11V1 install yet to come. I've been here 6 weeks, and I'm scheduled to leave in a week. Time is getting tight at the moment!


-Ted

nice, well... sunscreen wasn't too big of a deal.... the sun wasn't that bad... i don't have AAA therefore, can't get AAA+, which would have helped... i blew my radiator... the plastic top of the core just split wide open... it was weird b/c i wasn't overheating or anything, it just went POP and spewed coolant all over the place. I ended up having to rent a u-haul and towing my car home like 100+ miles. btw, uhaul is EXPENSIVE. Oh well... time for a new rad. I think i'm going w/ a fluidyne... anyone know a good place to pick one up? or is it the same price everywhere?

http://www.absoluteradiator.com/


-Ted

ted's list + silkworm's list:

Don't forget sun screen, and foldable camp chair and camera

Pliers, some 3 in 1 oil and some Gauze pads. Also some 30 weight ball bearings and a case of Prestone anti freeze. No better make that Quaker state. (Fletch)

Don't forget to clean windows, there's a tremendous buildup of gunk on them. Classic.

it wasn't actually too bad at streets... my windows were fine, until i got coolant all over my windshield.