Hey everyone,

Let me start off by saying I go to track events semi-frequently, but unfortunately the place I go is about 2 hours away. Preparing for events is generally pretty tedius, and considering the distance from home, any forgotten items can be a night ruiner for sure. As a result, I decided to create an aviation-style checklist for just such an occasion. Mine is for drifting; although obviously it can be applied to autocross, road courses, drag racing, road trips, or basically anything that merits long or hard drives.

I thought it may be helpful to share with you guys. Feel free to add anything or share your own personal preperation method!









Before Drive

• Inspect oil level
• Inspect coolant level
• Inspect brake/clutch fluid level
• Inspect air filter
• Check tire pressure and adjust accordingly (primary and secondary set)
• Inspect tires (primary and secondary set)
• Inspect brakes (front and rear)
• Install secondary wheels
• Torque lug nuts to 108 ft/lbs (as per tsb)

Required Supplies for Event

• 2 quarts of oil and shop rags
• Primary and secondary wheels
• Hydraulic floor Jack
• Lifting supplies (3 boards, 2 bricks)
• 4-way lug wrench
• Tire pressure gauge
• Wheel lock key
• Helmet
• GoPro, charger, and sticky mount

Before/After Drift

• Inspect all fluid levels
• Inspect tires
• Change tires (as required)
• Check tire pressure
• Position GoPro accordingly

After Drive

• Unpack car
• Inspect oil level
• Inspect coolant level
• Inspect brake/clutch fluid level
• Inspect air filter
• Check brakes (front and rear)
• Install primary wheels
• Torque lug nuts to 108 ft/lbs (as per tsb)
• Adjust Pressure on primary set
• Assess wear on secondary set

Background information to certain potentially misunderstood procedures on this specific checklist:

• I generally run my street tires in the front all night and bring along 4 extra rims/tires to swap out in the rear as required. That's why there's several places referencing the primary or secondary set.
• I check the air filter after as well because oil usually ends up in the air box during hard driving, especially when its filled on the high side. This is with my experience at least.
• Due to the long drive (and my lack of a trailer) I inspect the car before I leave, once I get there, after the event is over, then once I get home.

Hope you all enjoyed!

 

Something for Shade
Something to sit on
IR thermometer, for tire temps
Notebook for writing it all down
Water
Air compressor, 12v is fine
cooler
bug spray
ant killer
brake fluid
glass cleaner
get a catch can
I run 90 ft lb for lug nuts

 

nice list! notebook really helps. water is a great idea, we try to bring a case of bottle water/gatorade dehydration is bad!

also if it applies; check the radios/tire pyrometer the night before, we're always flirting with dead batteries...

 

Good suggestions! The notebook and pyrometer sound especially useful, although I'm not sure what temps to be looking for with this particular application. Guess its time for more research haha.

Fluids go without saying; but fortunately if I'm dumb enough to forget there's a concession stand open where I go... usually

 

the tire temps you want depend on the tire, usually the manufacturer has that info on their website.

 

Good list! Add premix and laser pyrometer for brakes and probe pyrometer for tire temps.

 

Never tracked before, but just in case i want to, then these are good advice...thanks!

 

I'm hoping to do this one at GingerMan

CGI Motorsports

once or twice this year (first track experience since Mid-Ohio 2-day training years ago). I'm looking for all the suggestions I can get, so thanks!

 

just remember the water on the list is for you and not the car. for a track day/HPDE event you really should check the car over a day or three before the thing, so at the track you don't need to open the hood.

remember you're at the track to drive.

 

I'm going to a drift event this weekend at the Modified Shootout, so it looks like I'm gunna get some use out of the list. Food, water, and push pins have been penciled in among other things. Depending on how comprehensive the list is, I may or may not have to add more items/procedures after the weekend. More later!

 

I didn't end up attending the event; my car started misfiring and smoking the night before but runs fine now. Weird. Looks like I've got other things to worry about haha.

 

sounds like you two need to go have a quiet talk!

 

interesting, anytime I do a track event Unless it's local, I trailer the car. Everything I need is in the trailer. If you break the car, you still have a ride home. More importantly, you get the car home.