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Do You Trailer To The Track?

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Old 02-03-2009 | 05:10 PM
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Do You Trailer To The Track?

Track season is upon us and I've been thinking about starting to trailer the car to the track in stead of driving it there.

As I don't have a truck I'd need to rent or borrow one but I can't seem to find a company that rents a truck with a trailer hitch outside of a moving truck which I'm not keen to use.

Do you guys generally drive or trailer your cars to the track?

Thanks.
Old 02-03-2009 | 07:11 PM
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we all drive to the track
OD
Old 02-03-2009 | 07:14 PM
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I also drive, but larger U-haul type places should have P/U trucks with a hitch and a tow dolly.
Old 02-03-2009 | 07:45 PM
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I drive to the track
only 45 minutes to Summit Point!!
I want to go to VIR this year and that would require a trailer
Old 02-03-2009 | 07:56 PM
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I'm looking for a trailer Getting to the point that a 5hr drive with no backup to get home if I have a problem isn't looking so good
Old 02-03-2009 | 09:07 PM
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Well I drive the RX8 to the track towing a trailer so I don't have to cram 4 track wheels and all the rest of my weekend tools and **** in the car (though I'm told it can be done). I made the tire trailer so its a dam sight cheaper than a trailer to put the car on. But I'm only an hour and a half from the track.
Old 02-03-2009 | 11:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Senna
Track season is upon us and I've been thinking about starting to trailer the car to the track in stead of driving it there.

As I don't have a truck I'd need to rent or borrow one but I can't seem to find a company that rents a truck with a trailer hitch outside of a moving truck which I'm not keen to use.

Do you guys generally drive or trailer your cars to the track?

Thanks.
I trailered mine 20 hours to Sebring last month. Makes driving the 8 on the track a lot less worrisome. I will probably continue to trailer it. Eventually everyone has an incident at the track that is going to require work that you won't necessarily want to do prior to a long drive home. Better to have a trailer there than have to pay for a tow.

Also I'm looking forward to not having to occasionally skip a final session just so I have time to change out my pads/tires before driving home. With a trailer I can just drive the 8 off the track, onto the trailer, and then drive it home.

It's also kinda nice to have all the spare space in the truck so I can have all my spare parts, extra tires, and auto tools at the track with me. And somewhere to sit in if a rainstorm drops in.
Old 02-04-2009 | 12:15 AM
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I drive to the track, it would be great if I had a trailer, but I really can't justify that to the wife right now.
Old 02-04-2009 | 01:42 AM
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^ As it is we've got four cars and three are mine so getting the wife to agree to a cheap truck seems a bit much.
Willow Springs is about 3 hours from here and I really dislike the idea of not having a back up to haul myself and the car home if something happens. The space for an extra set of wheels and tools would be great. I actually stuffed the set of stock wheels in the back once (seats removed) and that was a big PITA so I'm not doing that anymore.

Expo-I'm going to give your suggestion a try, there's a big Uhaul place close by here.

RK-I just leave my HP Plus pads on full time and doubt I could muster up the motivation to switch out pads or much else for that matter at the end of the day.
Old 02-04-2009 | 01:46 AM
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Let us know what you find. 5 hours is quite a drive indeed.

Originally Posted by dannobre
I'm looking for a trailer Getting to the point that a 5hr drive with no backup to get home if I have a problem isn't looking so good
Old 02-04-2009 | 02:03 AM
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come to nz - I have 3 tracks + a dragstrip all within 45 mins drive
Old 02-04-2009 | 09:33 AM
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I drive to the track. A set of track wheel in the back seat, tools, jack, jackstands, and clothes in the trunk. And you still have room for a passenger in the front. Just don't total the car at the track, then you'll need to make sure you have AAA Premium or be S.O.L.
Old 02-04-2009 | 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by KAtC10
I drive to the track. A set of track wheel in the back seat, tools, jack, jackstands, and clothes in the trunk. And you still have room for a passenger in the front. Just don't total the car at the track, then you'll need to make sure you have AAA Premium or be S.O.L.
Something like THIS
Old 02-04-2009 | 11:11 AM
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I take a ez-up, toolbox, jackstands, jack, various electronics, and normally an overnight bag.
Old 02-04-2009 | 11:55 AM
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Yep the 8 has pleanty of room to haul stuff to the track. I only have to change out the front pads as I run the carbotec bobcats in the rear at all times and the xp 8's up front and they are drivable on the street--so i dont have to change them out again immediatly when i return home. fronsta re a 30 min job.
I hear ya about the long distance thing and that makes a lot of sense. Most I drive for track is about 3 hrs. And if something does happen i guess i could u haul it back?
OD
Old 02-04-2009 | 11:56 AM
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expo dude how did you get those kirbys in there? Big job?
OD
Old 02-04-2009 | 12:06 PM
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Originally Posted by olddragger
Yep the 8 has pleanty of room to haul stuff to the track. I only have to change out the front pads as I run the carbotec bobcats in the rear at all times and the xp 8's up front and they are drivable on the street--so i dont have to change them out again immediatly when i return home. fronsta re a 30 min job.
I hear ya about the long distance thing and that makes a lot of sense. Most I drive for track is about 3 hrs. And if something does happen i guess i could u haul it back?
OD
Yeah I'm able to get a crapload into the car. For AutoX I have 275/18/35s and I can get all 4 in my back seat but usually drop 3 in the back and one in the front seat. Usually put my tools and air compressor in the rear. I don't change pads for AutoX and just use my HP ceramics.

For the track I don't have to change my pads since the Cobalt Friction XP2/XP5s work fine on the road (LOUD but functional) but I don't ever recommend wasting them on long drives back from the track.

Again being able to just bring the car off the track, drive it up onto the trailer, and then worry about changing tires/pads at home makes it a helluva lot easier to get off the track grounds without getting yelled at.
Old 02-04-2009 | 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by olddragger
expo dude how did you get those kirbys in there? Big job?
OD
The kirkey's are mounted to wedge engineering mounts, they bolt in easy. I CHANGED my setup a little and now putting in the belts takes longs.
Old 02-04-2009 | 12:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Senna
Track season is upon us and I've been thinking about starting to trailer the car to the track in stead of driving it there.

As I don't have a truck I'd need to rent or borrow one but I can't seem to find a company that rents a truck with a trailer hitch outside of a moving truck which I'm not keen to use.

Do you guys generally drive or trailer your cars to the track?

Thanks.
Did you check these guys? http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/showVehicles.do

A buddy of mine rented a truck there and towed his car to KS and back for Natls. Even if you found a place that rented trucks without hitches, you can buy a hitch cheap enough, and make sure you always rent the same brand of truck so you can reuse it.
Old 02-05-2009 | 01:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Brettus
come to nz - I have 3 tracks + a dragstrip all within 45 mins drive
NZ is beautiful but the only reason I'm going there is for your avatar!!
Old 02-05-2009 | 01:08 AM
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Yep, I did the AAA premium thing just for this reason.

Originally Posted by KAtC10
I drive to the track. A set of track wheel in the back seat, tools, jack, jackstands, and clothes in the trunk. And you still have room for a passenger in the front. Just don't total the car at the track, then you'll need to make sure you have AAA Premium or be S.O.L.
Old 02-05-2009 | 01:13 AM
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I called them and they said no way, no how would they let me tow anything, but I hadn't thought about adding my own hitch until you mentioned it...I may have to revisit that idea. ...hmmm Thanks.


Originally Posted by ULLLOSE
Did you check these guys? http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/showVehicles.do

A buddy of mine rented a truck there and towed his car to KS and back for Natls. Even if you found a place that rented trucks without hitches, you can buy a hitch cheap enough, and make sure you always rent the same brand of truck so you can reuse it.
Old 02-05-2009 | 10:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Senna
Yep, I did the AAA premium thing just for this reason.
Same here. Except last year it got used getting my friend's totaled S2000 back home. I guess better to use it for a friend than need it myself!
Old 02-05-2009 | 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by olddragger
we all drive to the track
OD
no "we" don't ....


Last edited by TeamRX8; 02-05-2009 at 07:46 PM.
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