Going to the drag races nowadays means loading up not only the car and tools and spares, but also your favorite pit vehicle. Depending on how much space you have on or in the trailer, this could be anything from a little Honda Spree 50 Scooter to a Chevy Spark. We saw a big migration to golf carts, from scooters, several years ago now, but it seems that the pit vehicle saga is only getting more dramatic and dare we say competitive. Some of the options are cheap, some more expensive, and some down right crazy. But what’s the ultimate pit vehicle? Is there such a thing?

Scooters are cheap. Even a new one isn’t as expensive as any of the other options. But used scooters can be had for well under $1000. The good thing is they run forever and use almost no fuel. The bad thing is that hauling more than one person with you is not possible. Hell, hauling one other person with you might be comical on it’s own. One advantage to the scooter is that in a pinch they can be ridden on public roads if the need arises. They do however have a harder time pushing or pulling a race car through the pits. If size matters, the scooter is winning for it’s ability to fit in small spaces, therefore making it easy to haul to and from the track.

4-wheelers fall into almost the same slot as scooters, with the advantage being easier passenger hauling if the 4-wheeler is big enough. They also tend to tow or push a race car much easier than a scooter. In some states they are legal on the road, but not everywhere. The cost can be in the same ballpark as a scooter, or can cost up to $7,000 or more for a used high end model. New models can cost $10,000! Our biggest complaint about 4-wheelers at the track is their limited turning radius which sometimes makes them a pain in tight spots. The benefits of a 4-wheeler over a scooter come with a price as well, as they are larger and require more room to haul them to and from the track.

Golf carts can be relatively cheap, but most of the time they are not. A good used cart will cost you a couple thousand dollars at least, and could be as much as $10,000 if fully decked out with all the goodies. Sure there are some for sale on Craiglist for $800 that need work, but when done you’ll save yourself only a few hundred dollars. There is a whole industry dedicated to custom wheels and accessories for golf carts, and they aren’t cheap. In some states golf carts can be registered and tagged for operation on public roads, but again, not all states allow it. The nice thing about a golf cart, is that with a folding rear seat you can haul 4 people easily and it can handle cargo when needed as well. And pushing or pulling a race car with one is a snap. The fact that virtually anyone can drive a golf cart is both a blessing and a curse, so we’re calling that one a wash. Size again becomes an issue with a golf cart, because it is half the size of a car and that means it takes up some space. You better have room in your trailer, because these things barely fit in a pickup bed and are hard as hell to load there.

UTVs, or side by sides, have become incredibly popular in recent  years at the track and I think there are a couple of reasons. First, they have good power, good comfort, and are pretty easy to drive. But the biggest reason, in my opinion, is because buying one of these expensive beasts becomes a win at the track AND a toy you can have fun with on non racing weekends. The bad thing is that the two seaters are as big or bigger than a golf cart and are far less comfortable for 4 people. The good thing is they have more power and better brakes than a golf cart. Did we mention that they can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $30,000!!! Yeah, these things are nuts. And as more and more people bring them to the track, the congestion from pit vehicles becomes a bigger and bigger problem. Some of these are as big as a car and therefore create a real mess when cruising the pits.

Wee little bitty cars, like a Chevrolet Spark or Sonic have become popular in recent years as well. We’ve even seen racing teams modify the doors for pin on convenience. This is nice so that it can be driven around the pits with no doors, like a golf cart, but then they can be put back on for the drive to the store, hotel, or dinner. These cars can be bought for between $3,500 and $6,500 for a clean driver with reasonable mileage. Size wise they fall right in line with a 4 seat side by side, or about two feet longer than a 2 seat model. They are three feet longer than a golf cart with a back seat. Like the big side by sides, these can do double duty as they can serve as family transportation during the week, rather than just being a pit vehicle. Like a side by side they can be cumbersome in the pits, although we’d argue that they turn better and so would maybe be easier to drive in tight quarters. Did I mention they have the advantage of air conditioning? Just saying.

You’ve seen them all at the track, and you are familiar with all of them in some form or fashion. So which do you think is the best pit vehicle?