First Race -- what do you need to bring? (Page 1 of 2)

You must have a fire extinguisher (a) in your car to pass tech and (b) one for fueling. Most teams have 2, but you could use the same one for both functions but it will slow down your stops. Make sure that you bring a jack and jackstands, those are mandatory to take to tech so they can get under the car to see your exhaust and gas tank. Might want to bring a wagon if you have one, it's handy for dragging your stuff to tech and also to get your fuel (&etc.) back and forth from the hot pits.

Fuel cans are necessary, but size and type are up to you. Lots of teams use the 5-6 gallon ones that you find at circle track race shops that run about $15 each, but you can use the ones you buy at Wal-Mart just fine too. Might want to make sure to bring something to drain oil/coolant into, as well as extra oil and water for the car.

Bring everything you would think that you'd need for a 2 or 3-day tailgate. Food, drinks, ice, chairs, tables, plates, napkins, cutlery. There is a very small concession stand that is open during the race on Sat and Sun, but it's not usually open early for breakfast. It gets very busy. We always bring all our food for the weekend. I don't think that there is an ice machine on premises, but I might just be spacing that. We always bring 3-4 coolers and recharge the ice at the gas station on the way back to the track in the mornings.

There is not really anyplace to get out of the heat for much time at all. The spotter positions on top of the garage row are covered but not enclosed. Your best bet is to either set up camp inside your trailer (if enclosed) or bring a pop-up shelter or canopy to keep the sun off you and your team.

Don't forget to bring spares. You can go overboard with this, so you'll just have to use your best judgment on what to bring and what to leave behind. If you live closer to the track, this is an easier decision.

It's looking like you might want to bring rain gear too, but keep an eye on the forecast. It is the height of hurricane season...

We burn about 4 gallons an hour.

Here's an extended Ford 1-ton van and what we brought to our first race:

A couple of beater bicycles will save you a lot of walking, especially at venues like MSR and Thunderhill.

A parts car is a really, really good idea. If you can't bring a parts car, bring a junkyard engine.

Look at your garage/driveway/wherever your car and bits are parked.  Now find a way to stuff all that in your truck/van/geo.  The one thing you decide you wont need and leave out due to space....yep, that's the one you'll need.

Every single non-cosmetic part you took off your car. Seriously. We ran into overheating problems with our revised setup and had to go back to stock - which was back at the garage. Fortunately it was only 45 minutes away and not all our team had even left there yet.

Every tool you own including ones that don't have anything to do with your car. You can barter them to other teams that need them. Don't forget things like a sawzall and come-along for emergency bodywork.

If you have any power tools, bring a generator just in case you can't get track power.

Every pair of clean underwear you own - because that goes in the race suit with you and gets turned into a sweat-soaked rag that you totally do not want to wear when you change back into real clothes.

All the air handling gear you can swing - at least one fan you can point at the radiator when it's in the paddock, and some stuff to point.

A shelter of some kind. We have a BIG tent that the whole car (and the whole crew) will fit under for shade. Something that just the front half of the car will fit under is plenty, though. This is especially important if you aren't bringing an RV.

If you intend to use your enclosed trailer as anything other than parking and storage space, INSULATE IT AND AIR CONDITION IT. PERIOD. We had an air conditioner running into our (black, aluminum-roofed) trailer and no insulation - if we hadn't had as much water as we did, there would have been hospital trips. You need both.

Speaking of water and hospital trips... Bring as much water as you can carry. We had 8 cases of non-booze liquid for 10 people. It was barely enough, and wouldn't have been if people hadn't gone home overnight. Water is both cheap and life-sustaining. Don't cut corners.

That said, warm water sucks. Fill every cooler you can find with ice, and figure out where you can buy more nearby.

A tow strap of your own, and a vehicle to tie it to. You DON'T want to have to push your car all the way across the paddock by hand.

PHONE CHARGERS. A lot of these racetracks are out in the middle of nowhere and even if your phone has 5 days of battery life, it'll probably drop to less than a day as it amps up its transmission power in a struggle to stay in contact with the network.

To be totally fair most of that was filled with car. A 1-ton van holds FAR more than the actual surviving cargo space in the front of the trailer.

Perfectly good joke you had to go and ruin.

That reminds me, a sharpie for everyone on your team in case you get the Bart Simpson. None shall be provided.

Something I wish we would have had: a Videographer who also has backup batteries and extra memory cards/tapes. So much is happening your first time there you miss more than half of it. With someone who just captures goings-on in video, you can watch what you missed later once you've fully recovered from the weekend.

Actually, it might be kinda fun to have a Wedding theme complete with videographer just for that purpose. When the track goes cold Saturday night, have a mock reception complete with cheesy DJ who holds such wedding reception favorites like the "Judge/Daughter --- Mother/Sonsofbitches" dance and of course, the chicken dance and The Hustle.

Motrin and beer.  Otherwise, you won't be able to sooth your sorrows after race days #1 and #2.

Things we should have brought to our last two races:

* Drip trays for fueling
* Spare master brake cylinder
* Heavy duty cutting tools (this is what you'll do if you don't have it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9GwKpsNSXA)
* 30 gallons of water (for us, not the car)
* Giant tent/canopy for shade
* Fast fueling jugs, the ones we had take about 3-4 minutes for 5 gallons, which adds up over 2 days
* A good bribe, er, gift for the judges
* Food/beer for other teams, helps grease the skids and make friends