What do YOU take with you to autocross?

[autoxes]

I've heard a variety of opinions on the matter, and this being my first year, I'd like to know what exactly everyone brings, just as a sort of reference to what I may need. I've heard everything from enough tools to tear the car down to the chassis, all the way down to just bringing your helmet along.

So what do YOU bring?

 

[KZL_99ES]

I would also like to start up this spring/summer and would be interested in what people bring too!

Good thread!
I hope more people get interested in safe and legal driving like this!

 

[Micaspd6]

I have been autocrossing since 1990 and have been on both sides of the gear fence. I think that for the local stuff you need next to nothing except a helmet and some air/gauge.

If you are at a National level then you should have some common spares; hubs, pads, plugs, extra wheels and tires, rain wheels and tires, jacks, stands, water sprayer, tools a plenty, cleaning supplies, EZ up for shade, cooler filled with ice water and some snacks, hats, umbrellas, and sunscreen!

Really though the car should be ready to go and you should be sure there is nothing that will need attention when you are there that way you can drive hard and not worry about the condition of the car or the setup.

 

[122 Vega]

If it's a local event, I take my car, jack, stands, air compressor, pressure gauge and plenty of water.

If it's a distant event, or an overnight, I take a ton of stuff cause I'm usually towing. I end up taking my Xbox and DVD player for my son and I usually take my guitar also cause I get bored at night, I don't go to banquets and go out and get all sloppy drunk and stuff. And a bunch of tools, including my toe plates, caster/camber gauge... I must have done 15 alignments in SanDiego last year...

Oh yeah, plenty of water, sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat (I use my desert bouie hat)

A lot of it depends on how modded your car is. More mods = more things to break. Stock class, I wouldn't take anything except my airpressure gauge, with my Prepared car I will likely take an extra motor to a National event!
Britt

 

[Aricjm15]

very important SUNSCREEN! everything listed above also chalk for marking your tires, Shoe polish or masking tape to mark numbers on your car.

Your first year you will probably not be very competitive, just go out and have fun.

 

[Vanimaniac]

If you drive to the event and don't change tires or anything, then bring...

-Water/food/snacks in an ice chest
-tire gauge
-license/membership card
-money
-sunglasses
-helmet
-sunscreen
-magnets/tape/numbers
-paper towels/window cleaner
-camera (gotta snap some shots of your hot ride in autocross trim!)
-extra clothes in case of changing weather
-water sprayer

If you got tires to change or other settings to change...

-jack/four way/impact wrench
-wheels/tires
-air compressor
-tools
-work gloves
(I like to store all my stuff in a big tote)

For the more hardcore guys...

-data acquisition
-video camera/mounts
-tire warmers
-tire temp gauge
-extra parts
-pit crew

Van

 

[Jeff@Tri-Point]

www.harborfreight.com could possibly be your best friend

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91039

I use the light weight aluminum jack which is a back saver... Also saves some room in the truck.

Chairs and any type of canopy can be your best friend... That's if you like to hang out. Some canopies go for under $100.00 for a 10x10 at sportsmart. Just remember tie them done if it's windy!

 

[Vanimaniac]

Chairs and any type of canopy can be your best friend... That's if you like to hang out. Some canopies go for under $100.00 for a 10x10 at sportsmart. Just remember tie them done if it's windy!

Ditto that! I had a canopy tied down at Nats back in '05. Got to my paddock spot the next morning and it was in pieces. At least it was still tied down! I ended up tossing the whole thing in the garbage.

Lesson: If you buy a cheap canopy and it's going to be windy. Just take it down!

Van

 

[livelyjay]

- Weather specific gear
* Cold = jacket, umbrella, gloves, hat, etc
* Hot = tank top, shorts, sun screen
- Large water jug filled with ice water
- Number and letter plates
- Tools
* Jack
* Jack stands
* Portable hand tool kit
* Portable air compressor
* Tire pressure gauge
* Tape - painters and duct tape
- Extra parts
* Vacuum line
* Nut & bolt kit
* Oil
* Coolant
* RTV
- Laptop and OBD2 reader
- Two captains chairs with cup holders
- Lunch, snacks

 

[livelyjay]

www.harborfreight.com could possibly be your best friend

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91039

I use the light weight aluminum jack which is a back saver... Also saves some room in the truck.

Harbor Freight is awesome. There are two local shops, one that I can swing by during lunch if I need anything. I'll be getting that aluminum jack when mine dies, which might be soon.

 

[autoxes]

One of our local guys (Prodigy) is a harbor freight extraordinaire, I actually think he's going to be selling tools at events this year.

 

[TinmanMS6]

One of our local guys (Prodigy) is a harbor freight extraordinaire, I actually think he's going to be selling tools at events this year.

I'm not sure how the new ARSCCA sponsor would feel about that. I don't think they really sell tools, though, so they might not mind.

 

[autoxes]

who is the new sponsor?

 

[Tom03es]

What I bring:
-laptop
-timer
-timer display
-2 big bags of flour
-2 coolers filled with water
-air gauge
-water sprayer
-sun screen
-helmet

One of the beauties of running a street tire class. Even with my list of crap because I was in charge of recharging the batteries and getting pre-registration in the computer, my list is still shorter than most. I don't bring a chair because when I'm not running, I'm in the trailer running the T&S computer.

 

[Rogue]

flour?

 

[autoxes]

seriously...why flour?

 

[KZL_99ES]

i was about to ask the same thing...lol, interesting...

ok, another question here:

now what do you guys do with all that stuff that you bring when you race?
i'm assuming that it doesn't stay in your car when your racing, right?

 

[Tom03es]

seriously...why flour?

We are BIG into baking at our events.

No seriously, it's used to mark the course. It's cheap, easy to find, biodegradable.

 

[Tom03es]

Most people just leave their crap at their paddock space. I've never heard of anyone stealing anything, but I suppose it happens.

 

[autoxes]

that's why I'm running a chain through my street tires and the handles on my tool box. they want it, they have to steal it ALL