Must have tools for the track.
#2716024
11/15/19 09:39 AM
11/15/19 09:39 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,021 MN
JERICOGTX
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,021
MN
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What tools does everyone bring to the race track? Over the years, I’ve always unloaded my tools from my garage to my trailer when I go racing. I’m tired of it, and going to have a dedicated tool box in the trailer finally, and thought this would be interesting to see what others bring to the track.
69 GTX
68 Road Runner
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Re: Must have tools for the track.
[Re: JERICOGTX]
#2716029
11/15/19 09:50 AM
11/15/19 09:50 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,021 Tulsa OK
Bad340fish
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,021
Tulsa OK
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A full socket and wrench set, screwdrivers, and a selection of pliers is my mandatory list. I am trying to get mine where I don't take anything but a tire gauge and hand held inflater. I need to break free from the tools or get a little trailer, i don't trust leaving my tool box and stuff in a pile in the pits as much as I used to. Street car problems!
68 Barracuda Formula S 340
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Re: Must have tools for the track.
[Re: JERICOGTX]
#2716045
11/15/19 10:28 AM
11/15/19 10:28 AM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,454 Glendora Ca.
Just-a-dart
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,454
Glendora Ca.
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It is very easy to haul around hundreds of pounds of stuff that you might need, when the room would be better served with a cooler and a microwave.
I take the basic sockets, wrenches and specialty tools for odd things on my car (like12 point sockets, for 12 point headed bolts) Meter and repair stuff for common electrical and fuel and water repairs.
"Just a Bracket car dressed up like a streetcar"
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Re: Must have tools for the track.
[Re: Sammy]
#2716046
11/15/19 10:29 AM
11/15/19 10:29 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 667 IL
Dart451
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 667
IL
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https://www.montezumastorage.com/After helping friends that had the triangle box, I just bought a one for the track and love it. I still use open trailer so wanted the smaller box to fit under bed cover. When I get enclosed trailer I will get the larger size and just leave in there. You can find them cheaper then prices listed. I got a new 26x18 for $240. Menards sells that size also, exact same box just rebranded.
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Re: Must have tools for the track.
[Re: JERICOGTX]
#2716047
11/15/19 10:37 AM
11/15/19 10:37 AM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 874 Missouri
jwb123
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 874
Missouri
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I guess I am superstitious, but if I ever needed it, I bring it. Lots of times my buddies helped me with a tool or spare part, so If I borrowed it I bring it now. My superstition is if you have it you won't need it, so if you have everything nothing will ever break. I will give you one example of my luck. Sitting in the staging lanes and I notice one slick is losing air, so go get a air tank and get it back to the pits. Pull off the tire and its got a small nail in it. I run tubes, and a buddy has a new racing tube, Take the slick into town and no tire shop will break the bead on the slick so I can install the new tube, they claim to much liability because it's a race car? Finally one of the workers overrides his boss and breaks the slick down, so I can fix my car. So now I have a harbor freight tire changer in my trailer, have never had another flat. I do draw the line, many years ago I had a swarm of bees land on my car and cover about half of it, I managed to get in it and drive to the tracks maintenance shed and wash them off with a hose, by the time I had gotten back, the car two spaces down had them on his car. The track actually called a bee keeper to remove the bees. I never did buy a bee suit to put in the trailer.
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Re: Must have tools for the track.
[Re: JERICOGTX]
#2716049
11/15/19 10:43 AM
11/15/19 10:43 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,772 Keymar, MD
DusterKid
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,772
Keymar, MD
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Full wrench and socket set, allen wrenches, various pliers, screwdrivers, duct tape, electrical tape, hose clamps, zip ties, feeler gauges, electric ends and crimper, nut drivers, spark plug socket, distributor wrench for a small block, timing light, jack, jack stands (I also have little wood platform for the bottom so they don't sink into the ground when used).
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Re: Must have tools for the track.
[Re: JERICOGTX]
#2716081
11/15/19 12:13 PM
11/15/19 12:13 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 152 Minnesota
R3 Racing
member
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member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 152
Minnesota
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We carry a lot of spare parts and tools. Special tools and parts include valve spring tester, valve spring removal tools, leak down and compression tester, drive shaft for oil pump, gaskets, alternator, starter motor, distributor and wires, valve springs, rockers, pushrods, belts, and more. We learned the hard way through some of our travels over the years that you need to be prepared. It may not be easy to find someone with a spare rocker and a pushrod when you need them between rounds. When we were traveling with the dragster and the Avenger, we even had a spare powerglide and converter plus flex plates. When you drive 1500 miles to race for four days, you need to be self sufficient. The rule is to never remove tools from the trailer unless it is absolutely necessary. My shop and trailer have complete sets of most hand tools.
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Re: Must have tools for the track.
[Re: R3 Racing]
#2716083
11/15/19 12:19 PM
11/15/19 12:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,361 Las Vegas
Al_Alguire
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,361
Las Vegas
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I have two enclosed trailers. Both have FULL large toolboxes, equipped as close to my large chest at home. I travel to race and nothing worse than not having a needed item 500 miles from home. Same for the heads up car, we have spare everything and tools to replace everything. Cant be 2000 miles from home at Norwalk and not be able to get something repaired because we didn't bring the tool. If you just run local bracket track a few miles away, then IMO just small socket set, some screwdrivers and wrenches should be enough. Anything major just take it home.
"I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know."
"It's never wrong to do the right thing"
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Re: Must have tools for the track.
[Re: BradH]
#2716088
11/15/19 12:48 PM
11/15/19 12:48 PM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,560 Downtown Roebuck Ont
Twostick
Still wishing...
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Still wishing...
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,560
Downtown Roebuck Ont
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Just get you a Snapon franchise and tow to the track with the tool truck. Use the inevitable tool sales to subsidize the race operations and legitimize writing off the race car on your taxes.
Kevin
Last edited by Twostick; 11/15/19 12:48 PM.
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Re: Must have tools for the track.
[Re: BradH]
#2716089
11/15/19 12:50 PM
11/15/19 12:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,237 North Central, Indiana
Roughbird72
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,237
North Central, Indiana
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This is my track check list for what limited racing I do. If this won't cover the problem I may have, I figure it's best to put the car on the trailer and fix it at home.
( ) TOOLS - wrenches, screwdrivers, socket/ratchet sets, plier set, allens, hammer & pry bar ( ) JACK / JACK STANDS ( ) AIR TANK / TIRE GAUGE / TIRE PLUG KIT ( ) TIMING LIGHT ( ) CHEMICALS - oil, ATF, carb cleaner, WD40, hand cleaner & funnels ( ) FUEL SYSTEM - fuel, carb accessories, hose clamps & extra hose/line ( ) Shop towels, Large towels/Fender cover ( ) ELECTRICAL - ohm/voltage tester, test light, extra plugs & electric connector assortment ( ) Fastener assortment, duct tape & electrical tape ( ) Helmet / Jacket ( ) Drain pan & 1 gallon jug ( ) Flash lights ( ) Logbook ( ) Shoe polish
72 Plymouth Roadrunner 11.08@123.25
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Re: Must have tools for the track.
[Re: BradH]
#2716100
11/15/19 01:31 PM
11/15/19 01:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,673 On the parachute mount
n20mstr
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,673
On the parachute mount
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BASIC TOOLS,
but best thing to have....a PAD AND PEN
then whatever you need, write it down, eventually you have everything...lol
....BAD A$$ STREET CAR.....
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Re: Must have tools for the track.
[Re: bonefish]
#2716121
11/15/19 03:01 PM
11/15/19 03:01 PM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,824 MI, usa
dvw
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,824
MI, usa
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Bring the tools to fix the issue you have parts for. If you don't have the part. You don't need the tool. Spare parts are expensive. So is travel, fuel and entry. Weigh it out. The best thing you can do is keep up the car before you leave for the track. That being said no reason not to have sockets, ratchets, extensions, end wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, allen wrenches, hammers. Extras that I consider necessary? Weather station, voltmeter, test light, terminals, wire, bolts & nuts, duct tape, jack, jump box. Parts? carb parts, coil, cap, rotor, plugs, plug wire, line lock rebuild kit, starter, water pump, tire plugs, spare slick tube, valve springs, oil, brake fluid, trans fluid, water. If it needs more than that chances are I'm going home. If you have an enclosed trailer the Harbor Freight tool cart carries all you'll ever need for less than $200. Doug
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Re: Must have tools for the track.
[Re: BradH]
#2716163
11/15/19 05:54 PM
11/15/19 05:54 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,021 Tulsa OK
Bad340fish
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,021
Tulsa OK
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For those of us who still drive the car to & from the track, an absolute "must have tool" is a Visa card w/ enough credit line to pay for having it hauled home after you blow it up.
Sad, but true. No doubt. My Dad has a nice trailer he could come get me with but my driveway is steep and impossible to push a dead vehicle up. My plan(thankfully untested) has always been to have a rollback drop it in my garage if I tear it up too bad to drive home.
68 Barracuda Formula S 340
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Re: Must have tools for the track.
[Re: Bad340fish]
#2716164
11/15/19 05:59 PM
11/15/19 05:59 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,021 Tulsa OK
Bad340fish
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,021
Tulsa OK
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A full socket and wrench set, screwdrivers, and a selection of pliers is my mandatory list. I am trying to get mine where I don't take anything but a tire gauge and hand held inflater. I need to break free from the tools or get a little trailer, i don't trust leaving my tool box and stuff in a pile in the pits as much as I used to. Street car problems! I should also add that I don't like to work on my car at the track. Short of changing tires I very rarely ever put a wrench to it that is not in my garage. That is one of the perks of EFI, it motivates me to do more tweaking and testing and I never have to get into the tool box.
68 Barracuda Formula S 340
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