[Red-key]

Sorry for all the fluff just trying to express my predicament and would appreciate some advice. A track near me (30 mins away) will be closed out sometime soon this year. I will then have to travel from time to time to the next nearest track which is about two and a half hours from me. At this current track that I go to (that’s 30 mins from me), I usually drive with my track setup to and from there since it's not that far away.

Since the next nearest track near me will be two and a half hours away, I’m not sure if I should drive all the way up there and back with my track setup. I’m kinda concerned about going to the track to change to my track setup from my street setup and leaving my street setup somewhere to sit somewhere for the day as I’d have no where to put them since I don’t have a trailer or anything for safe keeping and wouldn’t want them stolen.

Since this next nearest track will be two and half hours away from me, I feel like my options are to get a set of 18” Nitto drag radial for the longevity of miles that will be put on it when driving all the way over there and back plus if it so happens to rain, the Nittos will handle it fine since I have them and have experienced that.

I wanted to get a particular set of 17” track wheels to use some MT street r’s but the distance from my home to the next track thats further away would pretty much waste tread on those MT’s plus being in Florida with rain that so often happens, I’m sure it would be a very interesting ride home.

I have thought of using MT’s street ss version since it has more longevity compared to the street r’s during the two and a half hour trip but heard it was still sketchy in the rain and not recommended . I haven’t used MT’s before so I’m going based of what I heard.

What do you all recommend I do? Do you folks swap street tires at the track and leave them somewhere laying around and maybe chain them up?

Should I get an 18” wheel and stick with Nitto for my reasons stated above or get 17” wheels for the Mickeys and put them on at the track while leaving my street setup laying around somewhere?

 

[Unavowed]

I only got to private rentals, and I usually drive there and back on my drag pack, but leave a bunch of other stuff sitting out without issue.

Last fall I went to a large event, and changed wheels and tires there, but there was a group of us so someone was always around my stuff. At a test and tune, drive there and back on your drag radials. I wouldn't leave anything unattended.

 

[Red-key]

So if recommend to drive to and back on the drag radials I guess Nittos would be the tire to choose for driving such long distances on them. Bummer in a way that the track near me right now will be closing out since it's a short distance and wanted to try the Mickeys.

 

[Big Swede]

I would see some people I could hang with and introduce myself. You might make some good friends and at the very least one of them just being there will keep the thief’s at bay.

 

[16GoManGoHC]

When I’ve gone to a unfamiliar track alone I take 2 (same kind so they plug into each other so their real long) Heavy Duty 3/8” thick vinyl covered bike lock cables (no scratches) with me and string it through the rims, my jack, socket set handle, etc and leave it all between 2 bright red fold out chairs to mark my spot. Nobody is going to get away quick with your stuff that way.

 

[Red-key]

Good advice, something to consider as well.

 

[Rockster]

You could see if your wife or GF or buddy would accompany you -- drive to the track in a separate vehicle ideally able to carry the set of wheels/tires and other hardware (jack, portable air compressor, etc.) and serve as a secure place to store this stuff when you are on the track.

'course, if the wife/GF does this you will have to be prepared to show your appreciation. Expect to pay for a spa day or attend a play or opera or take in a flower show or (shudder) a cat show.

For your buddy? Easy. Beer. Note if he says he'd rather take in a cat show hit him over the head with the beer.

 

[Unavowed]

When I’ve gone to a unfamiliar track alone I take 2 (same kind so they plug into each other so their real long) Heavy Duty 3/8” thick vinyl covered bike lock cables (no scratches) with me and string it through the rims, my jack, socket set handle, etc and leave it all between 2 bright red fold out chairs to mark my spot. Nobody is going to get away quick with your stuff that way.

Two guys with a pick up could be gone with your stuff in ten seconds. Be careful.

 

[2fast4u]

I have found most of the racers are good at watching out for each other...I, as stated above, use an aircraft cable,(covered not bare,) and string thru enough of the stuff,(rims,toolbox, etc.), and if possible around a pole or thru fencing and lock it to deter would be thieves. It would be extremely noticable if someone was trying to load all of that at once, but I am also sure that there are some brazen types that would try...you could also get a movement alarm and put in with it, something that has to move more than a few inches in any direction or angle.

 

[baabootoo]

I just unload and leave in the pit area and have never had a problem yet. BUT.........I'm up north too. Obviously nothing important though.

 

[Parshooter]

I just throw mine in the trunk and back seat. My car is so damn fast the extra weight don't matter.

 

[16GoManGoHC]

Two guys with a pick up could be gone with your stuff in ten seconds. Be careful.

Be a bit longer as I thread the cable through the chairs, rims, jack, etc in a way that would make it a real PITA to take without being super obvious to others around and like 2fast mentioned above other racers would spot the shenanigans and intervene I would hope, I know I would if it was going on around me to someone else’s stuff I’d take a picture and tell the gate keeper to not let them exit at minimum unless I was packing.

 

[Red-key]

You could see if your wife or GF or buddy would accompany you -- drive to the track in a separate vehicle ideally able to carry the set of wheels/tires and other hardware (jack, portable air compressor, etc.) and serve as a secure place to store this stuff when you are on the track.

'course, if the wife/GF does this you will have to be prepared to show your appreciation. Expect to pay for a spa day or attend a play or opera or take in a flower show or (shudder) a cat show.

For your buddy? Easy. Beer. Note if he says he'd rather take in a cat show hit him over the head with the beer.

Lol thanks for sharing I'll keep that in mind but I won't have any company with me.

 

[Red-key]

I just throw mine in the trunk and back seat. My car is so damn fast the extra weight don't matter.

I have thought of just throwing the street setup in the car but wouldn't want any additional weight to hold me back as I've had close races with others. That is a good idea though thanks for sharing.

 

[Red-key]

I have found most of the racers are good at watching out for each other...I, as stated above, use an aircraft cable,(covered not bare,) and string thru enough of the stuff,(rims,toolbox, etc.), and if possible around a pole or thru fencing and lock it to deter would be thieves. It would be extremely noticable if someone was trying to load all of that at once, but I am also sure that there are some brazen types that would try...you could also get a movement alarm and put in with it, something that has to move more than a few inches in any direction or angle.

That may be an option to check out. A few folks have also told me that no one over there would steal anything as they have racers respect but you still never know as maybe possible spectators could wander around...

 

[nate-roth]

I swap my tires out at the track a lot, run a cable thru both wheels and the jack. Personally I don't think anyone at the track would steal my wheels & jack but the cable lock is a deterrent for sure. I also bring a cooler and folding chair which makes it look like someone is always around. If I were you I would run street tires on 20's for the highway and swap to 17" with drag tires at the strip.

 

[JP9]

You could always talk to the track officials about letting you put your stock wheels somewhere secure. I’ve done this with my race fuel jug and they had a spot for me.

 

[Red-key]

You could always talk to the track officials about letting you put your stock wheels somewhere secure. I’ve done this with my race fuel jug and they had a spot for me.

That's a good idea my friend I can look into that idea and have a word with them about it and see what they say.

 

[Red-key]

I swap my tires out at the track a lot, run a cable thru both wheels and the jack. Personally I don't think anyone at the track would steal my wheels & jack but the cable lock is a deterrent for sure. I also bring a cooler and folding chair which makes it look like someone is always around. If I were you I would run street tires on 20's for the highway and swap to 17" with drag tires at the strip.

Seems like a few folks mentioned about running a cable and lock which is something to consider for sure. I agree with having the 20's for the street and seperate set of track wheels and tires for the track which is the ultimate way to go.

Let's say worse comes to worse and I'm not too secure about locking my wheels while leaving them and track officials turn me down as for not wanting to keep my wheels on the side to secure them.

I'm just speaking worse case scenario if it came to that. Which wheel and tire setup would you bolt on and leave the house with to go on a two and a half hour (mostly interstate driving) road trip to the track and back?

An 18" nitto for the longevity in mileage and being more secure in the wet (if God forbid it rains but from what I hear less sticky than the MT street ss) or go for the 17" MT street ss and suck it up since it sticks better than the nittos but less longevity and possibly doesn't handle rain as good as the Nittos?

Now another thing to note, I've never tried an MT tire and going based off research from what I hear about them so duno exactly what to expect from them. I've only had a 20" Nitto drag radial so far that I've experimented on the street and strip with.

Forget driving with the MT street r, on that long of a trip and back as long mileage would kill its use and be a death wish in the wet I'm sure. This is why I thought of the MT street ss as the alternative from the street R's for longer longevity (as from I hear they last possibly around 5-6 k miles depending on conditions) and since it has more tread it looks to possibly channel water out decently but again I duno for sure since never having them.

Which setup would you go for and sorry for the long message it's just all this seems like a P.I.T.A to think about and I may be over looking it a bit and not really sure which path is best??

 

[motorheadmike]

In twenty plus years of racing I have never had a problem. That is all across North America. Test and tune, Drag Week, and autocross (held in the publicly accessible venues). Racers are good people.

When I go to the track, even the one 2.5 hours away, I drive in on my race tires - unless rain is forecasted.