A drift day costs you a booking fee, a tank of fuel, a pair of part-worn rears and a full day off. What it shouldn't cost you is a session, because the jack handle stayed on the workbench or the trailer lights threw a tantrum at the services. Towing adds a second layer of things to get wrong, and almost none of it is exciting: tyre pressures, straps, fluid levels, paperwork nobody reads until you're queuing at the gate. Every one of those problems is cheaper to fix the night before than in a paddock at 8am. Work through this list in the garage, not in the pit lane.

Sorting the Car Before It Goes Near the Trailer

Under the bonnet

Check engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, clutch fluid and power steering fluid. Top up anything low and investigate anything that has dropped since last time. Look for fresh weeps around the diff, gearbox and hoses, and give the belts a twist to check for cracking. If the car eats a coolant hose on a hot day, replace it now rather than hoping.

On the ground

Brake pads and discs, handbrake cables, tyre condition and tread, wheel nuts torqued to spec, battery clamp tight, exhaust mounts and hangers, bonnet and boot latches. Check every light works, and check your seat and harness bolts. Loose trim is more than an annoyance on track; anything that drops off can end up on the racing line.

Spares You Will Actually Use

Every paddock has one person who has packed for a full season. Be that person. You don't need a spare engine, but you will need these.

• A pair of mounted rear wheels with tyres you don't mind destroying, plus a loose spare if the venue offers fitting
• Wheel nuts, and spare studs if yours are the pressed-in type
• Engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, diff oil and a funnel
• Jubilee clips in a few sizes, offcuts of silicone hose, self-amalgamating tape
• Cable ties, gaffer tape, a length of wire, a handful of fuses and relays
• A spare drive belt, bulbs and any sensor that has failed on you before
• Bin bags and a tarpaulin; a dead tyre is a filthy tyre, and your tow car's interior will thank you

Tools, and the Paddock Economy

You can borrow almost anything in a paddock. You'll also spend more time queuing for it than driving. Bring your own, label it, and keep it in one bag so you're not hunting through the boot at dusk.

• A low-entry trolley jack that genuinely fits under a lowered car, plus axle stands and a chock
• Breaker bar, torque wrench and a socket set covering roughly 8mm to 19mm
• Spanners, pliers, mole grips, wire cutters, a small hacksaw and a hammer
• Tyre pressure gauge and a 12V inflator
• Jump pack, headtorch, work gloves and a magnetic tray for the nuts you will drop
• A groundsheet or offcut of carpet to lie on. You'll use it far more than the hacksaw

Nobody remembers the tools they lent out. Everybody remembers the strap they forgot.

Fluids, Fuel and Consumables

Drifting works a car hard in short bursts. Heat climbs quickly, fluids slosh about, and consumption is higher than a track day of the same length would suggest. Check engine oil, coolant and brake fluid between sessions, once things are cool enough for a cap to come off. Fresh brake fluid matters on a car that sees a lot of handbrake and left-foot braking, and if you run a factory hydraulic handbrake, watch that reservoir too.

Read the venue's rules on fuel before you load up jerry cans. Some circuits sell fuel on site, some don't, and most have limits on how much you can store in the paddock and in what containers. If you're unsure, fill both cars before you leave home.

Tyre pressures are worth experimenting with at the venue rather than guessing at home. A few psi either way at the rear changes how readily the car breaks traction more than most people expect, so take a gauge and a notebook.

Documents, Entry and the Boring Bits

This is where drift days quietly catch people out. Sort it on the kitchen table, not at the gate.

• Booking confirmation and your entry number, printed as well as saved on your phone
• Your driving licence, in case the venue asks to see it
• The venue's regulations: noise limits, helmet standards, passenger rules, fuel storage. Read them before you travel
• Insurance. A normal road policy won't cover track use, so if you want cover for the day, look at specialist track-day policies and read the exclusions carefully
• Breakdown cover that actually covers your trailer and tow car, including weight and length limits

If you're unsure what your policy covers, speak to your insurer or a broker before the event. It's a dull phone call that beats an expensive surprise.

Safety Kit and Personal Gear

Requirements vary from venue to venue, so check the regs, but a sensible baseline looks like this.

• A helmet in good condition, undamaged, meeting the standard the venue asks for
• Long sleeves and trousers in natural fibres rather than synthetics, closed-toe shoes and gloves
• A fire extinguisher mounted within the driver's reach, and a first aid kit
• Ear plugs, sunglasses, sun cream and a hat; paddocks are loud and completely without shade
• Water and food. The queue at the burger van always lands in the middle of your session
• A folding chair, a tarp and somewhere dry to put wet kit, because British weather will have a go at you
• A clearly marked tow point if the venue requires one, and a tow strap

Loading Up: Straps, Lights and the Final Walk Round

Strap the car by its wheels or axles using rated straps. Not rope, and not over brake lines or suspension arms that move. Four corners, snug rather than crushing. Check the trailer's tyre pressures, wheel bearings and jockey wheel

Photo: Noel_Bauza / Pixabay