Track Day Essentials: What You need for A Successful Day at the Track

Track days are one of the best ways to enjoy your car’s performance, whether it’s your first time or you are a frequent visitor to a track. Showing up unprepared can turn an exciting day into a stressful one. We’ve put together this list of things to bring and know based on our own experiences. We’ve geared it to those attending sprint or general practice days. This is by no means a comprehensive list, remember if you think you might need something then it’s probably best to bring it. Better to bring to much stuff to your track day than not enough. Like us, you will learn over time what to bring and what is unnecessary.  

Safety Gear

Never to be overlooked, it’s important to have the right gear for the type of event you are attending. Please always check the details for the event you are attending as you may need gear that has the correct approvals (i.e., FIA 8856-2018 for race boots). In Australia, events may be run under the Motorsport Australia regulations, so it’s important to check.

For the events we attend we wear the following:

• Helmet: A Bell motorcycle helmet which is ECE22.05 approved (this is accepted where AS/NZS 1698 approval is required)
• Gloves: Sparco Lap racing gloves. Whilst sprint events at the time of writing do not require gloves, we highly recommend them because of the improved grip on the wheel.
• Apparel: Long sleeve cotton shirt and long jeans. We're writing this at the end of 2025 and a race suit is on the Christmas list.
• Shoes: Sparco Slalom+ race boots. Again, sprint events at the time of writing only require closed in shoes. If you don't want/need dedicated race boots we recommend wearing shoes that do not have a lot of padding between your foot and the pedal such as some Vans or Converse. This allows you to feel the feedback through the brake pedal and have better control for all your pedals.

Disclaimer: We are not responsible if you bring the wrong apparel/safety gear to a track day. Do your research and read the rules and guidelines for the event you are attending.

Vehicle Preparation

Whether you are doing a half-day, full-day or just a single session at the track, car preparation is a must do. To avoid unnecessary stress on the day, do your preparation at least the day before to give yourself time, especially for any last-minute fixes or shopping.

Preparation to do prior to the day of the event

• If you have any motorsport-grade parts such as brake pads and tires, fit those to your car. Mare sure there is enough life left in the parts to survive the day and get you home.
• If you do not need to swap out things like tires and brakes, then at a minimum check there is enough life left in them to do the event and get you home.
• Check all your fluids to make sure there is enough there. If you are driving a BRZ or 86 like us, best to consider whether you want to overfill your oil. It is also important to make sure that your fluids are not required to be changes. If you track your care regularly then you will want to be replacing at least your oil at shorter intervals (we replace our oil every 5000kms or 3 track days).
• Do a general check of your car, make sure nothing is loose, broken or leaking. Remember driving on track puts significantly more stress on your car.
• Double check that your wheel nuts/bolts are torqued to spec.
• Get rid of any unnecessary things from your car such as shopping bags.

 Tools and Supplies to Bring

Minor issues can be common as track driving puts everything to the test. It’s best to be as prepared as you can be for any mechanical issues so you can continue your day or at least get home without needing an expensive tow home. The below list is a good starting point and is also what we bring at a minimum when we go to a track day:

Tools:

• A portable toolkit like the toolPRO 198 piece toolkit (available at Supercheap auto for those in Australia).
• Adjustable Wrench
• Torque Wrench
• Funnel
• Tire Inflator
• Tire Pressure Gauge

 Fluids and other Consumables:

• At least 5L of oil
• at least 500ml of brake fluid
• Degreaser
• Zip ties
• Duct tape
• Windscreen cleaner
• Extra fuel

Compliance Items (if your event requires them):

• Tow hooks for front and rear
• Race numbers
• Motorsport stickers (i.e., Tow stickers, battery locations stickers etc.)
• Other event required compliance things such as scrutineering paperwork, forms

Technology

• Phone charger and battery bank
• Race timer of choice
• GoPro or other camera to record your laps and right mounts (don't forget an SD card).

Personal Comfort

• Water and snacks
• Sunscreen, hat, bring a raincoat or umbrella in case of rain
• Camping chair

As you attend more track days you will get an idea of other things you might want, or things you don’t think you’ll need. Remember, it’s best have too much than not enough. Another good tip would be to make a checklist that you can tick off to ensure you don’t forget anything.

On the Day

So, you’ve done all your prep leading up to your track day and it’s the day of the event. If it’s your first track day, it can be a little bit daunting so make sure you get to the track with enough time to sign in and getting everything setup. After finding yourself a spot in pit lane, signing into the event you’ll need to get your car ready to hit the track. Here’s what we do before heading on track:

• Set tire pressures; remember track driving will put heat into the tires, and as the temperature of the tire increases, so will the pressure inside. You want to set the cold tire pressure to a specific level below that of the target hot tire pressure. Pressure in the tires will change the contact patch on the road and therefore driving characteristics can change. If it is your first time you won't know the exact cold pressure so reduce your pressures by a few PSI and check and adjust throughout the day. Do some research and speak to others with a similar car on what hot tire temp you should be targeting.
• Double check the torque of all the lug nuts/bolts on your wheels.
• Get rid of all loose items in your car. Additionally remove things like the spare wheel and toolkits that cars come with (usually hidden under the boot floor).
• Attack tow hooks and stickers/race numbers.

Mindset and Preparation

Finally, approach the day with the right attitude. Track days are for learning and fun, don’t get caught up in trying to be the fastest on track. Obviously if you have experience and are attending more competition focused events then you can be competitive. At Trackspec Engineering a good day at the track for us is when the car comes home in one piece. Be respectful to other drivers but also learn from them, make friends with other participants and just have fun.

Conclusion

The key to a successful track day is preparation—bringing the right gear, prepping your vehicle, and taking care of yourself. With this checklist of essentials, you’ll be ready to enjoy the adrenaline rush and camaraderie that make track days unforgettable. So pack up, double-check your list, and get ready for an epic day at the racetrack!