On a day when Hell has frozen over (we're talking the one in Michigan that's about 20 miles southwest of GM's Milford Proving Grounds, by the way), we'd thought you'd like to check out these tips from the folks at the Hagerty Insurance Agency on how to "Summerize": your Vette, once the current winter/Ice Age has ended.

Have you and your Corvette been cooped up all winter, waiting for the weather to clear so you can enjoy your first drive of  the year?  

Hagerty has developed a list of tips to help Vette owners (like you) prepare your rides for the upcoming driving and show season.  Older, collectible vehicles like vintage Vettes require special handling and care, especially if they have been sitting for an extended period of time.  

“Living in a cooler climate and owning collector vehicles for much of my life, there is a certain sense of excitement that comes with taking my car out for its first drive of the spring,” says Hagerty CEO McKeel Hagerty. “However, it’s important to take your time and correct any issues which may have resulted from having your car stored for the winter.”  

How To “Summerize” Your Corvette:

Make sure all the fluids are at correct levels.  Open the hood and check all of your fluid levels.  Also, look for puddles underneath your Vette.  A red puddle generally means automatic transmission fluid.  A brown/black puddle under the engine is probably oil, while a green puddle can indicate an antifreeze leak.  

Check the brake system.  Before taking your Corvette on any trip, be sure to check the operation of the brakes and that the brake fluid is at the proper level.  The last thing you want is to be cruising along at a high speed and suddenly realize you cannot stop.

Check your tires' pressure and condition.  When tires sit, especially in extreme temperature dips, it is normal to lose some of the pressure.  Also, check to make sure there are no noticeable cracks in sidewalls as they are a clue to potential leaks.

Inspect your belts and hoses.  Check to ensure that there are no excessive cracks in the belt(s) and that the radiator hose is not brittle or does not have an irregular soft spot.

Look for mice nests and chewed wires.  Mice or other rodents may nest over the winter, particularly near your Vette's  headliner by the rearview mirror.

Make sure all lights work.  Have someone assist you as you test each light. Replace bulbs as needed.

Check to see if your battery is fully charged. If the battery in your Corvette was not kept on a battery-tender during storage, it's recommended that before you attempt to start it, you hook up a battery charger for 4-6 hours (depending on rate of charge), to make sure you have a fully charged battery.

Stay close to home, at first. For your first drive of the year, make sure you drive your Vette locally.  Do not drive it  more than a few miles from your home or storage facility during its first drive of the season.  And, take it easy--your Corvette needs time to warm up.  If there are any unusual noises, turn around and head back to investigate.  

Check your fluid levels again.  After the first drive while your engine is still warm, check your fluid levels once again, and look for leaks.

(Courtesy Hagerty Insurance Agency)