An excerpt from The HPDE 1st-Timer’s Guide, written by Ryan Staub and Ross Bentley.

“What to pack?” may be the eternal question. Whether you’re going on vacation, a business trip or your first-ever HPDE event, it’s hard to know what to bring and you’re bound to forget something you need. But there’s one trick that works just as well for HPDE events as for any other trip you take: take time to sit down and make an HPDE event packing list beforehand of everything you will need.

An HPDE event packing list is great for making sure your HPDE experience is fun, safe and full of learning. Having a list to go by as you get ready at home and head to the track will also help calm your nerves so you can focus more on what you need to do.

HPDE Event Packing List

HPDE isn’t as simple as getting in your car and going, just as football isn’t as easy as grabbing a ball and heading to the stadium. Like any sport, there are items you will need to bring for your comfort, safety and general logistics purposes.

Items to pack for the event itself will usually include:

  • Face mask or face covering
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Stopwatch
  • Binoculars
  • Clipboard
  • Paper and pens
  • Garbage bags
  • Duct tape
  • Storage bins or a waterproof tarp
  • Full-length pants or coveralls
  • Close-toed, rubber-soled shoes
  • Long-sleeve shirt
  • Snell-rated helmet
  • Driving gloves
  • Any other track and safety apparel requested by the event organizers
  • Driver’s license
  • Proof of insurance (on and off the track)

Items to pack for car care and light maintenance generally include:

  • Paper towels
  • Window cleaner
  • Basic hand tools
  • Jack
  • Torque wrench with a socket for wheel lug bolts/nuts
  • Tire air pressure gauge
  • Spare bottles of coolant, engine oil and brake fluid

Items to pack for your personal comfort and convenience often include:

  • Water
  • Cooler
  • Snacks
  • Sunscreen
  • First aid kit
  • Bug spray
  • Ear plugs
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat
  • Umbrella
  • Rain suit or poncho
  • Extra change of clothes
  • Folding chair
  • Camera and extra battery
  • Cellphone and charger
  • Wallet
  • Keys

Now that you have your HPDE event packing list, check off the items you need to bring as they go in the car. That way, you can make sure everything you thought you wanted to bring actually makes its way to the track.

It’s a lot of fun preparing for your first HPDE event. Remember as you get ready to make sure your car will be covered while it’s on the track. Most auto insurance policies limit coverage for HPDE and track day events.

If your policy has exclusions for your car on the track, don’t worry. We offer HPDE Insurance to protect your car from damage when you’re participating in HPDE, track day, or time trial events.