I have separate tools that travel, but I don't have different sets for the different cars. I just keep a set in my daily driver, and it moves to the truck if I'm driving it somewhere.
Photograph by Tom Suddard
So, I now have this go-kart. No, this is not a backhanded solicitation for free or discount chiropractic services (but hey, call me), just an observation on how we pack tools for a weekend at the track.
See, I did my first race not long ago with my new-to-me kart. Went great. Thanks for asking. Gambled on slicks, then it …
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I have separate tools that travel, but I don't have different sets for the different cars. I just keep a set in my daily driver, and it moves to the truck if I'm driving it somewhere.
I have a checklist for what I take to the track. No separate toolkit because I don’t want sub-par tools when I need them, but it’s quick to assemble.
As for what I’m willing to fix at the track - I’ve changed transmissions between sessions when doing time trials. So that toolkit is fairly comprehensive as you can imagine. The QuickJacks are a must. A visit to any out of town track is a significant time and money investment and I’m not going to lose it.
If I was caring for a kart which is the simplest possible vehicle, I could see having a dedicated toolkit.
I just take this dewalt set with me when I go to the track. It has basically anything you would need to get most any job done. However, it is not always the "perfect" tool for the job.
Cheap too.
Edit. Well, it was about $50 cheaper 2 years ago...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0767PMCD8?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
Keith Tanner said:If I was caring for a kart which is the simplest possible vehicle, I could see having a dedicated toolkit.
Yeah this is definitely what got my mind going. The BMW does have a fair bit of specific tools that it likes, so when it's going somewhere where it might need to be fixed, I pack out a setup from the main shop. But the kart can be entirely rebuilt with a set that could almost live in a tool roll, or certainly a small box. It's so tempting to just assemble a box that lives with it and never have to worry about repacking my main box when I get home.
wvumtnbkr said:I just take this dewalt set with me when I go to the track. It has basically anything you would need to get most any job done. However, it is not always the "perfect" tool for the job.
Cheap too.
Edit. Well, it was about $50 cheaper 2 years ago...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0767PMCD8?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
I have a very similar Harbor Freight set of these that's my "trailer" toolbox. It normally lives in the trailer, but also goes on the gold cart around the house to fix stuff around the property. Malfunctioning gate opener? Misaligned screen door? Moaning well pump? That's the box that springs into action. Maybe I just get another one of those and it lives on the kart stand.
As long as you remember to swing by HF and get 3 or 4 more 10mm deep sockets.
I have a rally toolbox that I take when I'm crewing for other teams- it's under the checked bag weight limit so I can fly with it too. It's in an Apache case with generic foam and built in layers, this is enough to do just about anything on most cars and while the layout has gone through several iterations the contents have been the same for a while:
For something like a kart I'd definitely build a similar setup.
I live in a small walk-up apartment in NYC, so in fact, most of my tools live in a box in the trunk of my car. If I can’t keep it there, I don’t need it. So, every time I drive off to the track, I’ve already got my toolkit with me!
My goal is portability / minimum external size / not lugging everything around when walking through the salvage yard.
I use a 2 gallon bucket for the essentials 1/4 to 9/16 sockets , 9 to 19 mm sockets , 1/4 to 9/16 box wrenches / 10 to 15 m box / ratchet / extensions / screwdrivers / allen keys / small torx / radio keys , tape . house wiring nuts / a coupe of odd bolts / shop towel / channel lock / vise grip / prying screw driver / sawsall blade ( clamp in the vise grip then use to cur harnesses and such ) and a couple of other things.
Next is a 12 inch cube of a double wall cardboard box that 3/4 full of the larger stuff. This is very portable as it fits in the foot well of most any car. Tools are pulled from this box on an as needed basis.
Last is a 8 x 8 x 24 inch cardboard box that holds a hacksaw and blades. 3 ft extension , pry bars / larger metric sockets / breaker bar , 18 inch piece of 1 1/4 inch square tubing as a leverage extension and some other stuff.
When I'm going to the track I'm towing my car there in an enclosed trailer. As I see it, one of the major reasons for having that kind of trailer is that you can just leave your track gear in it between events and thus minimize the amount of packing and unpacking that you need to do. With that in mind I have a trailer-specific set of tools that duplicates what's in the garage.
My race car is also a BMW, so about those car-specific tools? My trailer lives in my side yard, it's parked 4 feet from the side door on my garage. I buy one copy of the vehicle-specific tools, they live in the trailer, and in the event that I want to use them in the garage I just walk out there and get them.
And yes, I agree with bringing only the tools necessary to do the jobs you're expecting to do. OTOH, that category depends on a lot on the significance/length of the event and how far I towed to get there. A random track day event at Laguna Seca (65 miles from my house) doesn't rate pulling the transmission in the paddock, but a 2000 mile tow to the Runoffs would. Then there's endurance racing...
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