There’s no question that having a racing car is a lot of fun! It doesn’t matter if you actually drive your race car on the track or not. It’s just as much fun to drive your car through town as it is to compete against other cars on the road.
However, owning a race car comes with a lot of responsibility if you want to keep it looking and driving its best. Here are a few tips to do just that.
Cover Your Specific Car
All car insurance is not created equal. The coverage for one car may be totally different than the coverage for another car. It’s your job to make sure the coverage you have matches the specific vehicle you own.
For example, you can discuss your car insurance cost for a Ford Mustang with your insurance provider. That includes deciding if you need collector car insurance for an older vehicle, as well as specialized repair or car show coverage. It’s the only way to ensure your vehicle is covered. Otherwise, you may discover damages incurred at a car show, for example, aren’t covered.
Never Put off Regular Maintenance
It doesn’t matter what kind of car you own, regular maintenance is extremely important. It’s especially important if you have a racing car.
Regular maintenance is what will ensure your car remains in tip-top shape for many years to come. Regular maintenance also ensures you are safe when driving your car. That’s especially important if you’re driving fast on a race track or on the interstate.
Maintenance to keep your eye on includes:
- Regular oil changes
- Air filter
- Headlights and turn signals
- Brakes
- Rotate tires and check the treads
- Transmission fluid
- Serpentine belt
- Coolant levels
It can be rewarding to learn how to do some of the maintenance yourself, but when it comes to essential systems, it’s important to trust a professional to ensure it is done right.
Find a Place to Store It
Having a garage is convenient. It can keep you from having to scrape off your car in the winter, but it’s more than just convenient if you have a racing car.
There are many benefits of having storage for your car. It can keep your car out of the weather, but it can also keep your car at a more consistent temperature, and it provides you with a protected place where you can work on your vehicle. It makes changing the oil easier, and it provides you with the ability to clean your car, even in the winter.
If you don’t have a garage, you should look for other ways to protect your vehicle. Consider renting a garage, building a carport on the side of your home, or if nothing else, cover it with a car cover.
Keep It Clean
Cleaning a car isn’t something that’s at the top of most people’s to-do lists. However, if you have a car that you want to keep looking and running its best, you have to keep it clean.
How often you wash your car depends on how often you use it and where you drive. If you race your car on gravel roads, you will need to wash your car every time you return home. If you drive your vehicle in town once or twice a week, you will be able to go a lot longer between washes.
Washing your car regularly ensures it looks great, but it can also keep the body of your vehicle from deteriorating. If you don’t wash away things like sand and salt, it can cause your car to rust.
Drive Your Car!
For those who have cars for utility, driving isn’t a problem. The vehicle likely gets driven every single day to and from work. That might not be the case if you have a race car. It could end up sitting in a garage for days or weeks on end.
Your car needs to be driven! If not driven regularly, your battery can lose its charge, and you could end up having to jump your car, or worse, you’ll have to replace the battery. Your tires will slowly lose air, and moisture has the potential to collect in the gas tank. Plan to take your car out for a spin at least once a week.
It doesn’t matter if you drive your car on the race track every week, or you simply love having a racing car to drive around town. With these tips, you can keep driving your car for many years to come.