Minimalist RC Racing Toolbox Recommendations

I have always been a minimalist, and this has carried over to my RC racing toolbox. Yes, I have been guilty of taking everything under the sun to the track in the distant past, but after 32 years of racing, the following is what I have found is all I really need. This does not include the standard support equipment of spares, tires, and the rest of the "baggage," but if it is time for you to reconsider what is really important to pack, I think this is it.

Sortmaster 14022 toolbox by Stanley, these are stack-able and clamp lock to each other, meaning you can have one dedicated to spares, one to tools, etc. These are great if you race multiple classes, why haul all your dirt oval stuff to the pavement race?

Organized by tool type, this saves time in the pits, and keeps the "search frustration" to a minimum.

Top compartment:

• "Archaeologist" brush for cleaning shocks and dusting chassis, etc.
• Reamer, for stubborn suspension parts.
• 00 Phillips head screw driver, useful for working on some servos.
• Small flat blade screw driver, useful for prying off servo taped electronics.
• Tire punch, for placing small holes in rubber tires for venting. 
• Center punch or awl, useful for marking, and centering holes prior to drilling.
• Body reamer.
• Stiff nylon rifle cleaning brush.
• Ink pen.
• File.
• Soft tooth brush (wife's).
• Felt tip marker.

Far left compartment: Quality Allen hex and nut drivers. Invest in the best tools you can afford. You can get away with some cheap tools, but not Allen drivers. This will save you time and money later on, by not stripping screws and snapping tips.

Top inner left compartment:

• Safety glasses (not shown).
• Small #11 hobby knife (not shown).
• Rotary tool (not shown). Does your track have 110v power? If not, take a battery powered rotary tool, and ensure it is properly charged.
• Small drill bit selection.
• Cut off discs, thin. Useful for "slotting" stripped screws for extraction using a flat blade screw driver.
• Selection of sanding and milling bits for custom shaping metal and plastic parts.

Bottom inner left compartment:

• ESC tuning tool (not shown) and lead.
• Digital thermometer. Did your motor exceed inferno on the last race? Keep electronics under 150° F (65.56° C) and you will not be DNF.
• 2.4 GHz receiver bind plug.
• Butane mini lighter (not shown).

Center compartment:

• "Toy" vise grips and adjustable wrench. Sometimes the location of the part your working on is just not that accessible, these are great when needed. 
• RPM small parts tray with magnet. 
• Shock clamping tool.
• Towel or pit mat (not shown).

Top inner right compartment:

• Graphite diff adjustment locking tool, for setting proper diff settings.
• Pinion gear puller. So, that set screw is stripped? Unit will pull the gear without damaging the gear or the motor shaft. Go slow, these are easy to bend if you just crank away.

Bottom inner right compartment:

• Screw lube, highly recommended on initial build, but also useful later on. Clear diff lube can also be used. Stop stripping parts!
• L Allen wrenches. Yes, they are not recommended for anything, BUT there are times that the leverage or angle they provide is useful. 
• 4 way kit wrenches in nylon and metal. I use the nylon for non marring purposes, and the metal when I don't want to strip the nylon one. These can also be used with a "breaker bar" to remove stuck bolts.
• Ball bearing cleaning tool. Yes, a wooden stick dipped in rubber. Cheap, and by far more effective than other more expensive ones on the market. Pine makes the bearing faster (joke). 
• Quality tie rod adjustment tool. Yes, titanium will mare. How many times have you seen the fellow next to you using locking pliers for a simple adjustment?
• Thread lock, rated temporary (not shown).

Far right compartment:

• Small hammer, great for straightening small metal parts, driving out stuck hinge pins, and tossing at that pesky turn marshal... eh, never mind. 
• Sharp hobby scissors, curved.
• Locking pliers. 
• Needle-nose pliers.
• Wire cutters.
• Adjustable pliers.
• Track specific ride height gauge. Because that on road meter will not work on an off road truck. 

COnclusion

Feel free to customize (and sticker) your tool box as needed, but always remember to ask, "Do I really need it?" Of course the time you don't take it is when you will, but this kit has served me well. Remember, a smart toolbox results in faster lap times, simply because your practicing, or racing, and not stuck in the pits searching for that tool at the bottom of the cardboard box.