The most valuable tool available to a racer is the one located above your shoulders. Information is always an asset, especially for racers. You need to know how to build, maintain, and improve your race car. It's a huge advantage for an amateur racer to know how to weld. Skills don't magically appear, so it's up to you to go to school and learn more about your race car and what to do with it. There is always something new to learn or a skill to improve. From MIG and TIG welding, to suspension geometry, carbon fiber layout, and machining, there are many areas that demand specialized talents. Every pro race team needs a truck driver. That requires a class A CDL which translates into a few weeks in truck driver training school. More and more colleges are offering motorsports related classes, so look into your local schools to see if they offer anything. It's also important to not ignore the business side of racing. Without money and proper management, every race team will fail.
When all else fails and it's just not in the cards to actually go racing in the real world, computer simulators come in all shapes and size and some are extremely realistic. With a bit of ingenuity and some basic hand tools, you can build your own simulator.
