| Useful Equipment |
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| Sunday, 02 July 2006 | |
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Useful Equipment We wish to thank Demon Tweeks, a well-known UK mail order company for all sorts of motorsport equipment, for allowing us to link to images on their website. These are for illustrative purposes only and should not be seen as a recommendation - other models, manufacturers and retailers may do the job just as well. Clothing Racing Boots The one essential piece of clothing is racing boots. The pedal box is race specification, with slim pedals, very close together. Unless you have very small feet, trainers or leather shoes will be too wide, and catch on the wrong pedal – not a good idea! While you are ordering racewear, there are several other items you should consider: Race suit If you plan on doing trackdays, it is worth buying an FIA-approved suit. Even on the road, a racesuit is comfortable and warm on long, cold runs. And it looks cool. If you want the ‘classic racer’ look, Stand21 do a very nice range of suits. Gloves Some sort of glovewear is useful for cold days. Regular fleece gloves are fine, but race gloves have a thin leather palm, giving better feel. Helmet Strongly recommended. Not just for track work, but good for long drives. Both warm and keeps noise at acceptable levels. It is your choice whether to go full-or open-face. Full-face offers better protection, but loses some lateral vision. Fit is crucial, and we strongly recommend that you try a range of helmets at a shop, rather than guess by mail order. If you buy a helmet, pick up a couple of balaclavas as well. More comfortable, and a lot easier to wash than the helmet lining. Earplugs If you are not wearing a helmet, you will need earplugs. Have a supply on hand, so you can grab a fresh pair. Eyewear If you are going to wear sunglasses, be sure that they are impact resistant. It’s also a wise move to make sure they fit tightly to your head – a glance to the side and the wind will take them off. Some people prefer flying goggles. Again, make sure they have impact lenses. Another useful option is parachutists goggles (also known as Dale Earnhardt goggles). A simple, cheap polycarbonate shell with an elastic strap, these give good visibility and come in a range of shades, including clear. A very useful option in poor light, and worth having a pair on hand. Rainwear An excellent option is the Sparco Kart Wetsuit. A fully waterproof oversuit. It does not restrict movement, and really keeps you dry. At about £50, a good investment. Security To be honest, the car can be easily stolen. You might feel more comfortable fitting a padlock and chain across the frame and through the steering wheel. Another option might just be to remove the third relay from behind the dashboard, by the left knee (but be warned, it can be hard to get it back in). Tote Bag Whether on long or short journeys you will want to carry a few small items around: spare eyewear, earplugs, wallet, phone, screwdriver, cloth, etc. Left loose, these will get thrown around the car, and could even end up around the pedals. A cheap nylon washbag is perfect for this. Drop it beside you knee, and it will keep all those small items close to hand. Trailer A useful option, if you are doing a lot of trackdays. A Brian James Minno is ideal for the Rocket’s light weight. Tools There are just three essential items: A large Phillips head screwdriver: Necessary to remove the nosecone and engine cover. Keep it with you at all times A 2.5mm Allen Key/Hex Head screwdriver: This will remove many small screws. Tip: If you find a small Allen Key to fit, tape or tie-wrap it to the chassis, so you always know where to find one. A “Mirror-On-A-Stick”: The window to check engine oil level is obscured by the lower fuel tank. This tool is invaluable for getting into the gap. It is also wise to make up a portable maintenance kit, suitable for trackdays or touring. Suggested items are: Engine oil Oil Funnel: The filler is quite hard to reach, and a narrow neck funnel is useful The Cleanfunnel design (with screw caps at each end) is highly recommended. Foot Pump Tyre pressure gauge: Make sure it is accurate and easy to read. We recommend the Longacre analogue items, with extender hose and bleed valve. Puncture Foam: As you cannot carry a spare tyre, this might just save you. Scottoiler bottle: for chain lubrication. Make sure you have one with the correct nipple fitted. Ring Spanners: Metric sizes. Allen Key Set; metric sizes Glass Cleaner Spray: For the screen, lights, visor, etc. Cloth/Kitchen towel: for polishing, and wiping up spills and messes. Keep them in a Clean Bag (same as a Dirty Bag below) Dirty Bag: just a shopping bag, good for rubbish or keeping dirty items away from clean ones. You should be able to find a small sports bag that will take all these items and fit into the luggage space. This kit will cover the vast majority of issues you might face on the road. Finally, other items you should have in your garage: Brake fluid Brake bleed kit Spare Bulbs Full Spanner Set And other items that might be useful if you are doing your own maintenance Rivet gun Electric drill Trackback(0)
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