What do I bring to the track?

What do I bring to the track?

Ever get to the track, start riding, and suddenly need something that is sitting on your shop bench?  It happened the other day, my son pulled off after two laps and started waving frantically at me.  Rode over to check it out, and both of his seat bolts were loose. No problem, except when I went into my tool kit, there was not an 8mm socket to be found.  I had this vague recollection of tossing it into a parts bowl as I finished up my last job… and NOT putting it back into the socket rack.  I’ll cover “benefits of putting your tools away” in another post, but it also pointed out that in our hurry to get out the door, I didn’t check my “RIDE LIST”.  (the pic is my son hitting a corner at the local track)

My ride list is a list of stuff that I like to have with me at the track, things that I need from time to time.  I post the list in the garage where I will see it, and I check it off every time we go out (well, almost every time).

So here it is, my RIDE LIST.  Feel free to add your own items, but it might be a good start:

Gear:

• Helmets
• Pants & pads
• Knee guards
• Socks
• Gloves
• Boots
• Chest protectors
• Neck braces
• Goggles
• Tear-offs

(yes these are obvious items, but I have arrived at the track without socks or goggles because I didn't 'check my list".)

Tools:

• ¼” and 3/8” drive socket sets
• Metric Wrenches  (note, I will usually put 8 mm & 10 mm sockets, ratchet, and 10 mm & 12 mm wrenches into a small zipper bag, as those are the items I am most likely to use, and I can get to them quick, or even run them out to a stranded bike if needed)
• Plug wrench
• Tire pressure guage
• Socket that fits the read axle nut (I stick in on a ½ breaker bar, and toss the whole thing in the kit)
• Safety wire pliers
• Needle nose pliers
• Set of large pliers & channel locks
• Flat & Phillips screwdrivers
• Hammer
• If you’re a woods rider, you might carry tire irons, and a patch kit.

Consumables;

• Quart of motor oil (I don’t bring pre-mix, as I always pre mix the gas before we leave)
• WD40 (I use the Auto-Zone store brand MPL, its cheaper)
• Duct tape
• Electrical tape
• Cable ties
• Safety wire
• Chain lube
• Carb Cleaner
• Brake fluid (comes in handy if your fluid boils and your brakes start fading)
• Windex (to clean goggles)

Parts:

• Spare clutch and brake levers
• Extra master link (I save the ones from an old chain, it will do in a bind)
• Bag of bolts (I keep a few M5 bolts of different sizes in a zip-lock bag)
• Spark Plugs (for 2-strokes.  I just don’t find a need to carry 4-stroke plugs around)
• Some people will keep a spare air filter oiled up and in a zip-lock.  I just have never found the need for it.

Misc

• Extra Change of Clothes, Shoes , and socks
• 1-2 old Towels  (your wife will kill you if you take the nice ones)
• Healthy Snacks (fruit, energy snacks, nuts, banana's and PB&J are great energy food!)
• Drinks (sports drinks are OK, but nothing beats pure water. lots of it.)
• Paper Towels
• Sun block (the spray on works best)
• Chairs
• Cooler
• Pop-up shade tent (I use one from Costco – REALLY good on those hot days.bring stakes and use some bungie's to keep it down - the wind WILL take it away)

I know this looks like a lot of stuff to haul around, but I try and keep it simple by compartmentalizing: 

• I have all my tools in one bag that I can check real quick and toss on the trailer.
• I put all the consumables into a 5 gal bucket (it fits good on the trailer, and keeps them together)
• All spare parts are also in the 5 gal bucket
• I keep all of our gear in a large plastic tub in the garage, then the night before we’ll pack it into a gear bag.  Goggles go into an old helmet soft-bag.

As I noted, I always pre-mix our 2-stroke gas before we leave.  I found the easiest way is to get one of those pre-mix measuring cups (Ratio Rite), and put in enough pre-mix for 2 or 3 gallons of fuel into my gas container (depending on how long we will be out), then I put a piece of tape on the container telling me how much gas I need to add, then I just click it off at the pump on our way to the track. (use the highest octane fuel you can get).

While at the gas station, I’ll also pick up a bag of ice and a case of water – most stations sell it for $4 a case. (And I also have to get my energy drink, cause at my age it’s the only way I can keep up with two teenage boys.)

Well, that’s is for now.  I might do another post on “day of”, getting out the door.  But the main point in all this is:

1. Have a list that works for you
2. Check it before you roll out the door, because the one thing you forget will be the one thing you need.

Keep it roostin…

Clay