taking toolkits to track

[veehexx]

how do you guys handle your various tools and spares when attending solo without a group of friends or support vehicles? I've no problems getting the various bits to the track, but since the car doesnt allow for towbar fitting for a trailer, it's a 'throw it in the boot and remove at circuit' option. Rain is one thing - i guess a tarps sheet or similar will handle the rain. But while it does seem extremely rare based on other thread discussions, there's always the concern of theft.

i'm planning the circuits around an hour of west midlands; donington, abingdon, silverstone (expensive though) and mallory. Having only been to abingdon so far, there's very little to chain&padlock things to.

[tsinc]

You can just rent a garage for the day. Gives you a place to put the car in the shade too if it's a sunny day

[E-bmw]

Been to many tracks in this country over the last 12 years & never heard of anything going missing.

I too always just put it in a pile behind the car with a sheet/boot carpet etc over it.

Top tip:
Get chatting to the attendees around you & there will inevitably be at least one of them round when you aren't and tell them when you are going out, you will be fine.

[1781cc]

Was going to ask this myself as it'll be the first time I will be out with a spare set of slicks and tools to swap them over... chatting to others is a good tip, I usually do this anyway, but its a good point made.

[xjay1337]

I take nothing other than a torque wrench, tyre pressure gauge and tyre inflator.

[Dinoboy]

I saw a guy with a good idea at a hillclimb last year. Small heavy duty tarp with metal eyelets on the ground behind his car, sat his toolbox and gear on it then just lifted it up round everything and put a small padlock through 4 of the eyelets. Anyone determined with a Stanley knife could of got into it in 30 seconds but I suppose it stops anyone casually lifting something as they walk past.

[CrashBang]

xjay1337 said:

I take nothing other than a torque wrench, tyre pressure gauge and tyre inflator.

I am with you, less the torque wrench, but plus cable ties!!

Recently at Coombe I saw some lads with what looked like a small one man pop up tent, which they transferred all of their kit into, hardly theft proof but it kept everything concealed and out of the elements.

[CrutyRammers]

From the TDers I've met, it's hard to imagine anything going walking, but you never know I suppose. I take a travel toolkit and there's nothing in there that's worth particularly much, so little incentive for anyone to bother.

[xjay1337]

CrutyRammers said:

From the TDers I've met, it's hard to imagine anything going walking, but you never know I suppose. I take a travel toolkit and there's nothing in there that's worth particularly much, so little incentive for anyone to bother.

You'd think, And most track days are sweet

I haven't experienced it first hand but I'm told of someone who had a set of TD's with nearly new R888s stolen......

[Wingo]

CrashBang said:

I am with you, less the torque wrench, but plus cable ties!!

Recently at Coombe I saw some lads with what looked like a small one man pop up tent, which they transferred all of their kit into, hardly theft proof but it kept everything concealed and out of the elements.

Small pop up tent, stuff is out of sight and kept dry. The only downside being the regular "are you camping wags"?

£15 or so from a supermarket.

Wingo.

[motorhole]

I use something like this:

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/GARDEN-STORAGE-BOX-OUTDOO...

Takes 5 mins to clip together when you get to the track and same to take apart. Easily fits in the boot of my E30. Big enough to keep literally everything out of the weather - jack, tools, fluids, spare clothes. Whack a padlock on it and whilst not super secure, it'll stop any (mega rare) opportunists just lifting your stuff and walking.

[veehexx]

motorhole said:

I use something like this:

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/GARDEN-STORAGE-BOX-OUTDOO...

Takes 5 mins to clip together when you get to the track and same to take apart. Easily fits in the boot of my E30. Big enough to keep literally everything out of the weather - jack, tools, fluids, spare clothes. Whack a padlock on it and whilst not super secure, it'll stop any (mega rare) opportunists just lifting your stuff and walking.

i like that idea. hard wearing, rainproof and lockable and hard to pickup. I was looking something down the line of a larger Stanley Mobile Work Center/workshop things.

like everyone has mentioned, theft does seem to be extremely rare. I think i remember reading about the r888 theft somewhere but wasn't that at an open paddock European circuit somewhere?
Based of my BTCC attendance, (i've yet to do a trackday at one) the racetrack events seem to have something solid around to be able to bolt a chain to.

This is definitely something for my own peace of mind rather than experience or perception of other attendees. y'all seem like a good bunch at these events

[iguana]

It's not a theft free environment, I know wheels have been pinched from Goodwood of all places & also Donny.

[motorhole]

iguana said:

It's not a theft free environment, I know wheels have been pinched from Goodwood of all places & also Donny.

Just chain your spare wheels together. Someone trying to move 60kg + of wobbly unstable load is going to look pretty conspicuous.

Again, chains can be cut, boxes can be broken into. But I can't imagine folk have the leisure of time unobserved to do such things in trackday paddocks so I figure it's about deterring opportunists.

[Kev_Mk3]

I take a pop up tent with me as small on space. I put what tools I take with me in it so 1. out of sight what I have 2. out of the rain if it rains.

Generally take spare pads, oil, socket set, zip ties and few screw drivers etc with a jack.

[Gord1]

I had a rack of 1/2 inch sockets and an extension bar taken a couple of weeks ago. I lent some Allen keys and a spanner to some lads I hadn't met before, while I was out on the track they returned them, but when I got home a rack of sockets and an extension bar were missing.
I only use that tool box for track days and I always pack the same items, so I know they were taken. It might seem trivial, but there's something personal about another track goer stealing your tools, the box will be padlocked in future.

[1781cc]

motorhole said:

Just chain your spare wheels together. Someone trying to move 60kg + of wobbly unstable load is going to look pretty conspicuous.

Again, chains can be cut, boxes can be broken into. But I can't imagine folk have the leisure of time unobserved to do such things in trackday paddocks so I figure it's about deterring opportunists.

This is what I am planning - my brother has a huge chain that used to secure his quad to the drive, its about 40kg, lets see them try and move that + 4 wheels

[veehexx]

i think we've got more "i've had kit swiped" responses in here than my entire searching on the subject to date! I wouldn't say it puts me off bringing my own tools, just reinforces my original concern of it being a possibility. If only people had a bit more integrity and consideration for others when they help out

i have heard of that wheel theft issue on one forum; cant remember which track but sounds suspiciously like we're talking about the same incident. i'll be run-what-i-brung on the tyre front though; going cup2's on next tyre change so no 2nd set at the track.
i do plan on bringing the luxury stuff like battery impact guns, and low profile alu jacks. Aside from them being the most sensible option to work on the car if needed, both are a noticeable wedge of cash to replace should they go missing. ok, i could bring a breaker bar instead of impact gun, but the jack is a must unless i go out to buy something else - car doesn't have jack kit and only comes with tyre goo. For the off chance of kit growing legs, it doesn't make any financial sense to me to double up on a toolkit for what likely wont be used for the majority of trackdays.

[Tommie38]

I’ve heard of things being stolen but never had anything taken myself. I chain spare wheels together with a lightweight chain (easy to cut but a deterrent and easy enough to carry around) and pack only what I think I will need.

Generally I will throw single sockets into a bag rather than bring the whole socket set. Total value of the tools I need is no more than £30-£40, so not a massive loss in the worst case.

To be honest, I think most of us with road cars can get a bit carried away with removing weight. For a typical front engined road car, having a couple of KG of tools safely packed in the wheel well is hardly going to ruin the handling.

[motorhole]

Was at Oulton Park today with my 'garden box' - so some pics!

All loaded up in the car: https://flic.kr/p/28b3YTR

Box unpacked, assembled and loaded: https://flic.kr/p/29tGYyU