With so many Corvette owners putting their cars to the test on autocross courses and dragstrips across the country, the need to be properly prepared for increasingly tougher competition has never been more important. Our weekend-warrior equipment buyer's guide is not focused on the professional racer, but on the weekend warrior-the amateur who wants to push their beloved driver a little harder than they can during the daily commute.
While this list is far from comprehensive, it covers the basics of tools, equipment, and apparel that any beginner needs to get started. We could fill an entire issue with performance parts and pieces for your Corvette, so we've limited our discussion to safety equipment and other tools we hope you'll find useful.
Tools
You would need an 18-wheeler to bring along the equipment to handle every possible contingency. There is a limit to how many things can go wrong before you're sidelined for the day. So, the best idea is to tote the basic tools and figure out what problems occur most often and are easiest to fix at the track. By doing this, you give yourself the best chance of completing the event safely and successfully. In addition to screwdrivers, pliers, and wrenches, here are a few more tools you may find useful.
School
One of the best investments you can make to improve your racing experience is taking a course at a driving school. By learning from the professionals, you'll not only know how to race your Corvette safely, but you'll also find out how to squeeze it for the maximum performance. Best of all, there's no shipping/handling. To learn more about Corvette racing schools, see the article on page 27 of this issue.
Clothing
In this guide, we're focusing on the weekend warrior, not the professional race driver. But, the topic of clothing still bears discussion. While most amateur weekend drag racers and autocross participants don't need a fancy fire suit, there is a right way and a wrong way to dress for your day at the track. To begin with, it's a good idea to wear long-sleeve shirts and pants. Also, clothing made from 100 percent cotton material will provide the most protection in the event of a fire. Other materials may fuse to your skin, increasing the risk of serious injury. But, more practically, when in the pit area, keeping your arms and legs covered is a good idea to protect you from fluid spills, broken glass, hot car parts, and the scorch of hot asphalt.