Taking Tools with you

Taking Tools with you

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TheArchitect

Original Poster:

1,238 posts

178 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Got my first full day on track on Friday at Bedford. I'm trying to work out what to take with me. Now I'll take some drinks and bits with me but I didn't really want to take more than a rucksack of tools as I dought I would have the skills to mend it if I did take stands and a trolley jack.

All I was planning on taking was -

duct tape,
scissors,
zip ties,
pliers,
screwdrivers,
torque wrench,
Socket that fits the wheel nuts.

Would you add anything else?


braddo

10,399 posts

187 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
tyre pump and pressure gauge

Maybe a wheel chock - you don't want to use the handbrake after track sessions.

Enjoy! driving

TheArchitect

Original Poster:

1,238 posts

178 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
braddo said:
tyre pump and pressure gauge

Maybe a wheel chock - you don't want to use the handbrake after track sessions.

Enjoy! driving
Good shout! completely forgot compressor!

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
TheArchitect said:
braddo said:
tyre pump and pressure gauge

Maybe a wheel chock - you don't want to use the handbrake after track sessions.

Enjoy! driving
Good shout! completely forgot compressor!
I think it's the SEN track, in which case you might not have a power point. so fag lighter compressor or foot pump as well.
Take some oil, but if in need, just ask.....they are a friendly bunch, always keen to keep all the cars on track.

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Oh, and it's pretty flat, so no hand brake as it might warp your disks, but leave it in gear when parked.
And whatever else you forget, don't forget your driving licence and helmet. Put them in the car Thursday night, plus some cash or a card. I did 185 miles last time I was at Bedford, at 9mpg, which is 20 galleons of fuel. Plus getting home. The hot food at lunch time is quite acceptable.

And take your happy face....it's fun!

magooagain

9,907 posts

169 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Oil and water for the car,dont forget your towing eye/strap and make sure its attached to the car before you go on track.

Stay calm,us your mirrors and have a great time.

pikeyboy

2,349 posts

213 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
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Relax down the straights stretch your fingers, check your gauges and mirrors. Build up speed gradually and if possible get some tuition, if it's free that's even better.

andyiley

9,101 posts

151 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
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QBee said:
last time I was at Bedford, at 9mpg, which is 20 galleons of fuel.
20 galleons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Feck that is a lot of fuel!

Like 20 full HMS VIctory's

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
quotequote all
andyiley said:
QBee said:
last time I was at Bedford, at 9mpg, which is 20 galleons of fuel.
20 galleons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Feck that is a lot of fuel!

Like 20 full HMS VIctory's
laugh
Just wanted to get the OP's attention. First track day.
Nothing as frustrating as thinking "oh, I won't take my bank cards, don't want to risk losing them, I'll just take £20 in case I need it and a full tank of fuel should do"
I would fill up as close to the track as possible and brim the tank. There is a Shell on the A6 if you are coming from the north (and west) of the track not long before you get there. Fuel is available at the track, super-unleaded only and at a higher price than on the road......but if you were worried about fuel costs you wouldn't be doing a track day, so don't waste your time going out of the circuit to save a few pee per litre.
Track driving is totally different to road driving, especially if you are on good rubber. You spend most of your time hard on the loud pedal, or hard on the brakes, and all ideas of fuel economy vanish. SO, ok, my car is a 5 litre TVR, so I am definitely doing my bit for the environment, but I do get about 20-22 mpg normally on the road. On an average track day, with a 55 litre fuel tank, and having brimmed it on arrival, I am looking for a re-fill by about 11 am, as the tank is not well baffled (unlike the driver!) and so the car doesn't like cornering hard on less than 1/3 of a tank (so after using 8 galleons). I will then hit the pumps again at lunch time (if they are open) and maybe even again in the afternoon. Do check the timing of fuel availability - the pump is not attended all day. It is located back near where you signed on, so look for it before you head for the pit area, as being an old air base, the buildings are a bit of a warren. And then you need fuel to get home.
I'm well blessed in years, and will have got up at around 4.30 am to get to the track on time, so I don't spend my entire time on track - about three hours in total. The OP might well live nearer and be younger than me, so may well spend as much time as possible on the circuit. In which case he will use even more fuel.

By the way, do your driving in 15 minute max sessions, give the car and yourself plenty of time to cool down between sessions, as you will probably cook the brakes and have the engine running pretty hot even at this time of year, and check your fluid levels, and the cars, regularly. And your tyre pressures. Come into the pits if you feel your driving is getting ragged - avoids spinning on the next lap!

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
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Sorry, me again - just getting bored doing tax returns in the middle of the night and wishing i had the time to be there with the other TVRs on Friday - there's a whole gang going, so blag some passenger rides while your car is cooling, they are a friendly bunch and competent drivers. Tall guy in the navy blue car with the personalised reg is particularly quick.

DO NOT forget your driving licence while faffing about at home choosing which cable ties to take. You can always hire a helmet if you forget yours, but you can't hire a driving licence and without it you won't get on track. So put the licence in the car tomorrow night so you can't go without it. Some say you need both parts - I have never been asked for the paper bit at an MSV track.


mauricegb

67 posts

116 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
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When I was at Bedford a couple weeks ago they only had standard unleaded available, at £1.30 a litre. Can't complain as it was useful for a 'splash and dash' near the end of the day.

Definitely get the tuition, as my first trackday I wouldn't have enjoyed the day half as much without it.

Lorientfo

47 posts

139 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
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QBee said:
DO NOT forget your driving licence while faffing about at home choosing which cable ties to take. You can always hire a helmet if you forget yours, but you can't hire a driving licence and without it you won't get on track. So put the licence in the car tomorrow night so you can't go without it. Some say you need both parts - I have never been asked for the paper bit at an MSV track.
It used to be that you technically needed both parts of the licence for it to be valid but all the information you need for a trackday is on the photocard so you still had to request both even though nobody was really interested in the paper part. It's changed this year though so you only need the photocard now, if you forget your licence then it can be verified over the phone with DVLA providing it's still valid and not on a Sunday but that's a right pain so avoid doing that.

rdjohn

6,135 posts

194 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
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On my first trackday, I had the tools.

But, I had not changed my brake fluid and so my day was ruined and the drive home was a bit scary as well.

Have a great day, I guarantee that it will not be your last!

TheArchitect

Original Poster:

1,238 posts

178 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
quotequote all
Cheers guys, will certainly not forget my license! Carry both parts most of the time now as I have been hiring a lot of cars recently.

Great news on the TVR guys, will give me something to ogle at and to chat to as I'll be on my tod. Heading over from Oxford way so not too early of a start.

Cant wait now, done a few 30min sessions on Silverstones national circuit so looking forward to a few more corners. I have booked an instruction session as it helped me loads at Silverstone as it just gives that bit more confidence your using the right lines.

FLuid and pads have been done following Silverstone. Motul RBF600 fluid and Carbone Lorraine RC5+ pads

Edited by TheArchitect on Wednesday 28th January 20:19