8 Things I Bring To Every Trackday

Let’s play desert island. You know, that game where you’re stranded on an island for an indefinite amount of time and you can only bring a handful of items. The items you bring are either there for survival or there to make you happy. Well let’s take desert island and apply that to your typical track day.

More often than not you’ll see someone at the track with a big dually truck , pulling a toy-hauler, pulling an enclosed trailer on the paddock. Yes, you need your Bodum french press and water boiler for your afternoon coffee and yes, you definitely absolutely need a 50″ TV so you have something to do during the lunch hour. WRONG. Although it’s pretty badass and I’m envious every time someone brings the kitchen sink (literally) with them to a track day, it just isn’t necessary.

I’m not going to say you’re “too prepared” because there probably isn’t such a thing. All I’m going to say for the new guys is don’t make it harder than it has to be and overthink it. I lived in a 400 sq. ft. studio apartment for 4 years in Chicago, IL – with no car and managed to get to the track a couple times a month. Needless to say, you’re not keeping a 12ft wide pop-up tent in a studio apartment. I was only bringing the essentials and it worked out just fine.

So let’s get the obvious things out of the way and say you managed to get your bike, keys, gear and gas for the day to the track. So what’s left? What else do you need to make it through the day? In reality, not much. There are a few things that make life easier and that’s what we’re bringing on our desert island adventure.

And that’s it. Total setup time upon arrival – 15 minutes. Most importantly, a hassle free 15 minutes. I managed to do trackdays for almost 3 years, bringing not much more than what you see listed here. Is it sexy and cool looking? Yes, because you’re still riding a motorcycle in a leather suit.

To be fair, if I could have stored more in my studio apartment to bring to the track, I probably would have. I would’ve loved to have a popup tent of my own or a generator for a set tire warmers. This is a small community and 9 out of 10 times, if you’re missing a tool or need shelter from the sun – someone there will be willing to lend a hand or let you bring your chair over to their tent.

Think about the essentials and don’t make it harder than it has to be. Just get out a roll of painter’s tape, tape up those lights and get out there! Worry about the fancy stuff later on.

What would you bring?