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I need some help, I haven't paked a racing trailer for over 30 years. As the new season approaches what's the one or two things, aside from the obvious, you can't leave home without?
1) A checklist - it's the last thing I review before pulling out of the driveway, much to Austin's irritation (Let's Go!!), but every once in a while I slip back in to the garage for something I've left behind
2) Trash bags - trash cans at race sites fill up fast and are often overflowing by the end of the weekend
3) A tote box - something to carry the fewest tools and things you may need down to the launch site so you don't have to run back to your trailer every time
4) A fire extinguisher in the trailer - accidents happen.
5) A sports chair/portable chair to carry to the driver's meeting - sit in comfort while the roll call goes on and on
6) Two sponges - a backup for when you lose your primary sponge (I know I left it floating in the water right >>here<<)
7) A camera - it doesn't matter how good the camera is or how good a photographer you are -- later you'll appreciate the shots you took and regret the ones you didn't (I don't have a single photo of Pop Augustine even though I saw him at races in both this millennium and the last one)
Don't forget to take the WIFE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Burkhardt
Must have the wife! Who else will stop to ask directions, or remind you to slow down to avoid a speeding ticket and stop to eat so you don't fall on your face from starvation.
Oh yeah, and don't forget the credit card so you send the wife out shopping
Have the spare tire, but don't forget to make sure it has air in it, and also a lug wrench that actualy fits the lug nuts on the trailer (yes this is from experience) all the tools in the world but the one we needed!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1) My wallet - good thing my wife was along to pay trip expenses and drive...
(2) My helmet - I grabbed my wife's instead (it was two sizes too small! Lesson: Don't store helmets of the same style and color in the same color helmet bag!)
(3) Lots of spare shear pins and fuel mix oil of your choice (most racers use different oil)
(4) A spare paddle (or "simulated" board paddle) if you run Pro
(5) Extra 5 gallons of premium fuel (helps also if you get a bad tank of gas on the road, or run out of gas just before that next station in Montana...)
(6) Watch cap or baclava(sp?) hood for loaned helmet that is too large when you forget yours (see item 2).
(7) Lots of bottled water, wide-brimmed hat, & Gator Aid for fighting dehydration (especially at Depue.)
(8) An old pair of tennis shoes for Depue (you will probably need to throw them away after the Nationals)
(9) A spare gear case for important races when yours goes south.
(10) Plenty of new spark plugs (of several temperature ranges) for quick changeouts.
(11) A full set of carb jets (I still don't have enough of these) and a plug (pin) gage set, to see which jet is which...
(12) Walgreens zinc oxide sun blocker (no sissy lotion - won't wash off easily.)
(13) Pulley & flywheel puller tools for your motor.
(14) Long metal straight edge ruler for checking kickout and prop height (don't forget to write your name on it in BIG letters - this item seems to grow feet, and not return sometimes...) A six-foot level is even better to also check the angle of your turn fin, but also more expensive to lose after loaning it out.
(15) One spare of each critical socket size and wrench.
(16) Box of latex (not vinyl) gloves for handling hazardous materials and stinky gear lube (methanol turns to formaldihyde(sp?) in your body, and acetone is not much more friendly!)
(17) A 12x10-inch patch panel of 6-mil Okume plywood, a roll of waxed paper, a dozen short drywall screws, and a West Systems repair kit for that hole in the bottom of your hull tunnel from a floating beer can in the back stretch at Depue (my fold-up saw horses were also a plus!)
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