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 Preparing for a track day can be confusing and sometimes difficult if you’re unsure what to do or take with you.

Below is some suggestions to check before leaving your home to participate in any track session.

More experienced goers may check more than we suggest below. However this comes about from car specific issues relating to the car and owner. After a few track days you will start to discover these yourself and add them into your checklist.

Equipment

Most track day organisers will require you to have your driving license to verify your identity. Your car to have a valid MOT, if its a road car. Along with as a driver, having a long sleeved T-Shirt or Jumper. Plus wearing a provided helmet for your safety out on track. This can be provided by yourself or hired from the track day organiser, usually. Helmets can be in any shape or size usually, open and closed face. The only exception is that you cannot use helmets with a chin on the front of it like you would commonly see in the sport of Autocross on motorbikes. Everything else should be perfectly fine. Organisers should communicate this with you a few days prior to going to your event, so no need to panic on this front.

Fluids

Fluids are an important part of keeping your car running, making it safe and also getting through a track day without causing any incidents. Spilled fluids such as oil and coolant can be dangerous to yourself and others, causing a skid risk. This can mean that you or someone else could have a serious crash, injury or other various problems such as losing out on track time due to clean up as well.

Before heading away from home it is a good idea to check for any leaks, the levels in the car as well as changing any old fluids where necessary. Repair any leaks before leaving for a track day to make sure you have no major issues whilst there. Having good quality oil in your car that isn’t old is always a good idea. Making sure that your coolant is fresh and not contaminated with anything is a good idea too, to make sure your cooling system works correctly throughout the day. Brake fluid is an important factor to check as well. Make sure it is topped and changed within the last 1-2 years. Otherwise you may lose your brakes out on track due to moisture ingress or lack of fluid being pumped around the system.

Obviously it is also heavily advised to take spare fluids with you. 1L bottles of Coolant and Oil is advised as well as a 500ml bottle of Brake Fluid. Just encase of any fluid loss or overheating that occurs out on track.

What Tools Should I Take?

Tools are going to be specific to the car and modifications made on the car. There is some basic tools you may want to take however for your first track day to make sure that your day can be successful. Any major fixes from damage would most likely be carried out at home or at a garage anyways and not track side. Below, you can find a recommended list of tools to take with you:


For your wheel bolts to tighten and check torque (If these haven’t been changed)​

For safety reasons and holding the car in the air when working on it​

If you have coilovers to adjust height encase of any rubbing​

If you have one, to reduce time on maintenance and convenience​

To hoist the car up for any work or inspection​

For your brake pads (Depending on your caliper)​

To be able to unbolt or tighten things if required

To confirm your vehicle is safe​

For various bits on your vehicle. Such as undertrays and arch liners​

To drop the pressures of your tyres between sessions​

To raise your pressure on your way home or after lunchtime​

To hold your vehicle when your brakes are hot after a track stint​


Wheels and Tyres

Wheels and tyres are you main contact point for your car whilst out on track and on the road. Wheel nuts or bolts should always be torqued down correctly so the threads don't strip from excessive stress. If the nuts/bolts are also not torqued correctly, the wheel may fall off. Nobody wants that happening.

The torque specification for the majority of MQB cars is 120nm.

Checking your tyres fitted to the wheels is ideal as well. Make sure that you have enough tread to complete your track day. This is specific to what tyres you are running, how hard you may drive and also if you are going for a full day. The rule of thumb is that if you are attending a full day session, make sure you have more than 3mm of tread equally across all channels.