I have separate tools that travel, but I don't have different sets for the different cars. I just keep a set in my daily driver, and it moves to the truck if I'm driving it somewhere.
Photograph by Tom Suddard
So, I now have this go-kart. No, this is not a backhanded solicitation for free or discount chiropractic services (but hey, call me), just an observation on how we pack tools for a weekend at the track.
See, I did my first race not long ago with my new-to-me kart. Went great. Thanks for asking. Gambled on slicks, then it started raining on the pace lap and I crashed into a giant plastic barricade.
Even so, I found the whole thing fairly low-stress, which was kind of the whole intent of the endeavor.
But I also realized that I brought way too many tools with me. Much like an ’80s Toyota, modern race karts only have like four different fasteners on them. You need 10, 13 and 17mm wrenches and sockets, 3, 4 and 5mm hex wrenches, and the usual assortment of screwdrivers and pliers and tape and zip ties.
Maybe there’s something I’m missing, but that’s really about it. The entirety of tools I’d need to completely strip and rebuild the kart would fit in a small tote.
So why did I take multiple boxes of stuff?
I think there’s a few questions to be asked here when preparing a tool assortment for the track, so let’s go through some of them:
1. What do you need to perform before, after and between session tasks? This is going to comprise the bones of your pack-out, as these will be the most frequently handled tools.
2. What do you need to perform the most likely repairs you’ll face THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO PERFORM AT THE TRACK? That second part is important, and we’ll get to that shortly. But if you’ve been tracking a certain vehicle for a while, you probably already know what the most likely failure points are–and what needs to be engaged to solve them.
But you also have a limit to what you’re willing to attempt to rectify at the track or autocross site, and your tool assortment should reflect this if your sanity is to be maintained.
Are you really going to use that welder? Or those reverse thread taps? Or that sunscreen? Why clutter your truck, or trunk, with aspirational devices?
3. Do you pare down your primary shop tools, or do you assemble a “track only” set? Lots to chew on here, especially if you live near a Harbor Freight where tools are cheap and plentiful–and sometimes even good. Stealing tools from your home base for your track set opens up the possibility of losing them or using them in harsh conditions. It also means you have to pack and unpack those tools every time you head to the track.
But it also lets you work with stuff your hands are already familiar with and that your wallet–or at least your credit rating–has already absorbed.
On the other hand, having a dedicated set of tools for event use–or even for specific-car use–has some appeal. You can kit out just what you need and not compromise your primary work environment.
4. Do you just assemble a small assortment of car-specific tools, then pair it with a consistent generic set for track weekends?
This is kind of what I’ve been doing with our BMW 435i, as it does have a few very specific tool requirements for even basic jobs (like all those different-size E-Torx fasteners all over the place).
So I have a small, BMW-specific assortment that goes in a separate tote when the BMW goes somewhere. It also includes the various digital tools that modern BMWs frequently need, like an iPad with the tuning software, the Foxwell scan tool and an assortment of wireless and wired dongles, because you never know when you’re going to accidentally step on one.
Sorry, I don’t have any real answers here. This started out as a “here’s the tools you should take to the track” quickie tech piece, but I quickly realized I had more questions than answers, as it seems like there’s no simple solution here and multiple options.
I think I’m going to assemble a specific kit for the kart, though. It needs such a small variety of tools for most jobs, and I have a pretty clear idea of what I’m willing to do at the track. Change wheels and tires? Yes. Which is advice I should have taken from myself before the rain came last week. Switch out a bent axle? Probably not.
The schedule moves so fast that I probably wouldn’t get it done on my own in time and not miss a heat. And if some nice folks volunteer to help–there are always LOTS of nice folks at a kart track, I’m discovering–they’ll probably have their own tools.
For the BMW? Man, I dunno. I’m kind of getting tired of packing and unpacking the same stuff every time, but I also don’t relish the idea of duplicating the kind of rare and pricey tools that the BMW seems to rely on for a travel box.
So I guess I’m interested to hear your thoughts on this. How do you solve the home/away dilemma?
I have separate tools that travel, but I don't have different sets for the different cars. I just keep a set in my daily driver, and it moves to the truck if I'm driving it somewhere.
I have a checklist for what I take to the track. No separate toolkit because I don’t want sub-par tools when I need them, but it’s quick to assemble.
As for what I’m willing to fix at the track - I’ve changed transmissions between sessions when doing time trials. So that toolkit is fairly comprehensive as you can imagine. The QuickJacks are a must. A visit to any out of town track is a significant time and money investment and I’m not going to lose it.
If I was caring for a kart which is the simplest possible vehicle, I could see having a dedicated toolkit.
I just take this dewalt set with me when I go to the track. It has basically anything you would need to get most any job done. However, it is not always the "perfect" tool for the job.
Cheap too.
Edit. Well, it was about $50 cheaper 2 years ago...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0767PMCD8?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
Keith Tanner said:If I was caring for a kart which is the simplest possible vehicle, I could see having a dedicated toolkit.
Yeah this is definitely what got my mind going. The BMW does have a fair bit of specific tools that it likes, so when it's going somewhere where it might need to be fixed, I pack out a setup from the main shop. But the kart can be entirely rebuilt with a set that could almost live in a tool roll, or certainly a small box. It's so tempting to just assemble a box that lives with it and never have to worry about repacking my main box when I get home.
wvumtnbkr said:I just take this dewalt set with me when I go to the track. It has basically anything you would need to get most any job done. However, it is not always the "perfect" tool for the job.
Cheap too.
Edit. Well, it was about $50 cheaper 2 years ago...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0767PMCD8?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
I have a very similar Harbor Freight set of these that's my "trailer" toolbox. It normally lives in the trailer, but also goes on the gold cart around the house to fix stuff around the property. Malfunctioning gate opener? Misaligned screen door? Moaning well pump? That's the box that springs into action. Maybe I just get another one of those and it lives on the kart stand.
As long as you remember to swing by HF and get 3 or 4 more 10mm deep sockets.
I have a rally toolbox that I take when I'm crewing for other teams- it's under the checked bag weight limit so I can fly with it too. It's in an Apache case with generic foam and built in layers, this is enough to do just about anything on most cars and while the layout has gone through several iterations the contents have been the same for a while:
For something like a kart I'd definitely build a similar setup.
I live in a small walk-up apartment in NYC, so in fact, most of my tools live in a box in the trunk of my car. If I can’t keep it there, I don’t need it. So, every time I drive off to the track, I’ve already got my toolkit with me!
When I'm going to the track I'm towing my car there in an enclosed trailer. As I see it, one of the major reasons for having that kind of trailer is that you can just leave your track gear in it between events and thus minimize the amount of packing and unpacking that you need to do. With that in mind I have a trailer-specific set of tools that duplicates what's in the garage.
My race car is also a BMW, so about those car-specific tools? My trailer lives in my side yard, it's parked 4 feet from the side door on my garage. I buy one copy of the vehicle-specific tools, they live in the trailer, and in the event that I want to use them in the garage I just walk out there and get them.
And yes, I agree with bringing only the tools necessary to do the jobs you're expecting to do. OTOH, that category depends on a lot on the significance/length of the event and how far I towed to get there. A random track day event at Laguna Seca (65 miles from my house) doesn't rate pulling the transmission in the paddock, but a 2000 mile tow to the Runoffs would. Then there's endurance racing...
It depends. If I'm travelling for a competitive event, I'm bringing as much as I can so I can finish the event. If its just hpde I'll usually travel light and pack up and go home if something breaks too badly. I'm not up to heroics then. If its in a trailer I can keep packed, its a lot easier to just hook up and drive. If I have to run around and find stuff and pack it into the back of a car, I'm more likely only to bring common tools and borrow stuff like a jack from someone with a trailer if I end up needing it.
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