Open race track?
07-11-2007, 03:54 AM
#1
7th Gear
Thread Starter
Member Since: Dec 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Open race track?
Hi, I live in St. Louis, and feel like taking a nice long weekend, and maybe visiting a roadcourse to drive around on, but I have no idea of any open around me that would allow me to just drive on without having a group function or such. So if you have any tracks that are open within a few hundred miles of St. Louis, I'd love to learn about them. Thanks
07-11-2007, 06:36 AM
#2
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2003
Location: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 0
Received 25 Likes
on
25 Posts
St Louis Internatinal Gateway is the nearest road course to you
http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Gatew...tional_Raceway
Other tracks, Putnam Park - West of Indy
Black Hawk Farms - Rockford Ill
Road America - Elkart Lake WI
Mid America - west side of Iowa
Hallet Motorspeedway - Ok
To name a few
Most events or road coruse are put on my car clubs. Audi, PCA, BMW and so forth. They do allow other makes to participate.
Events tend to sell out months in advance, so the idea of just showing up and driving not likley to happen.
The idea of driving without a group function is slim to none do to insurance are liabilty reasons. Even OPEN track events do have some instruction and rules.
I am sure some of our midwest ppl will chime in with events.
Good Luck
http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Gatew...tional_Raceway
Other tracks, Putnam Park - West of Indy
Black Hawk Farms - Rockford Ill
Road America - Elkart Lake WI
Mid America - west side of Iowa
Hallet Motorspeedway - Ok
To name a few
Most events or road coruse are put on my car clubs. Audi, PCA, BMW and so forth. They do allow other makes to participate.
Events tend to sell out months in advance, so the idea of just showing up and driving not likley to happen.
The idea of driving without a group function is slim to none do to insurance are liabilty reasons. Even OPEN track events do have some instruction and rules.
I am sure some of our midwest ppl will chime in with events.
Good Luck
Last edited by AU N EGL; 07-11-2007 at 06:38 AM.
07-11-2007, 08:25 AM
#3
Burning Brakes
Hi, I live in St. Louis, and feel like taking a nice long weekend, and maybe visiting a roadcourse to drive around on, but I have no idea of any open around me that would allow me to just drive on without having a group function or such. So if you have any tracks that are open within a few hundred miles of St. Louis, I'd love to learn about them. Thanks
This lists events East of the Mississippi. Google the tracks that interest you.
07-11-2007, 08:35 AM
#4
Instructor
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: Acworth Georgia
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
www.opentrackaction.com lists the tracks by state or region. Just click on the "Schedules" tab and select your state or any combination of search criteria.
07-11-2007, 10:43 AM
#5
Race Director
VERY FEW tracks have open test days, especially for street cars. CMP here in NC has some, but they still put an instructor in the car with you.
"driving around" on a road course just doesn't happen. People will get faster, and faster, and faster, then before you know if disaster strikes. You need the safety and structure of a club or company sponsored event.
"driving around" on a road course just doesn't happen. People will get faster, and faster, and faster, then before you know if disaster strikes. You need the safety and structure of a club or company sponsored event.
07-11-2007, 12:13 PM
#6
Racer
Member Since: Feb 2006
Location: Oz
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kansas City BMW club is hosting a DE at Heartland Park on the 11th and 12th of August. It'll have a new configuration and be the first club to drive it. It's a technical, smooth track with all new asphalt and paddock. I think the website is www.kcbmwclub.org
07-11-2007, 04:12 PM
#7
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Oct 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Posts: 40,089
Received 8,928 Likes
on
5,333 Posts
Not sure about other tracks but Watkins Glen has a lunch time event where you pay to get 3 laps following the pace car around the track. They do it for individuals and groups that show up at the gates. They do this on the same days that other groups are holding schools and are taking their lunch time break. You can call ahead to see what days they are offering the event.
The same may be true for tracks in your area especially if they are owned by ISC or are associated with NASCAR.
Bill
The same may be true for tracks in your area especially if they are owned by ISC or are associated with NASCAR.
Bill
07-11-2007, 04:37 PM
#8
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Jun 2004
Location: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Posts: 18,360
Received 768 Likes
on
550 Posts
VERY FEW tracks have open test days, especially for street cars. CMP here in NC has some, but they still put an instructor in the car with you.
"driving around" on a road course just doesn't happen. People will get faster, and faster, and faster, then before you know if disaster strikes. You need the safety and structure of a club or company sponsored event.
"driving around" on a road course just doesn't happen. People will get faster, and faster, and faster, then before you know if disaster strikes. You need the safety and structure of a club or company sponsored event.
07-11-2007, 04:53 PM
#9
Drifting
GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, MI has evening test and tune dates on their schedule. Mostly Wednesday & Thursday nights. It's getting more restrictive, but you can still run your car with a helmet and a few simple rules.
07-11-2007, 05:15 PM
#10
7th Gear
Thread Starter
Member Since: Dec 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Apparently I'm used to driving with a more talented or responsible crowd than you've been used to. Prior to my move from the midwest, I frequently (2-3 times per month) used to go to a somewhat local track for open tune and test days and evenings. No club, and no company sponsor. The track people oversaw the operation, and it was very well run. It's my hope I can find a regional track down here that is run even remotely as well as that track was.
07-11-2007, 06:35 PM
#12
Instructor
Member Since: Jul 2006
Location: Waterloo IL
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The SCCA had a Performance Driving Experience (PDX) at Gateway on June 3. They will have another on Aug. 25.
It was a very well run event and everyone who participated had a good time.
If you are interested, go to www.stlscca.org for details. There will be several Vettes there, including mine.
John
It was a very well run event and everyone who participated had a good time.
If you are interested, go to www.stlscca.org for details. There will be several Vettes there, including mine.
John
07-14-2007, 03:47 AM
#13
7th Gear
Thread Starter
Member Since: Dec 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So the closest open track is Michigan? Im honestly not opposed to going out there to try it, but if there is another closer track that operates the same way (test and tune nights) I would love to hear about them.
07-14-2007, 06:35 PM
#14
Instructor
Member Since: Jul 2006
Location: Waterloo IL
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gateway is in your backyard! It's right across the river in Madison, IL. It has a road course in the infield that uses part of the oval. Not the greatest layout, but still had fun.
Come on out Aug. 25.
Next closest track is probably Putnam Park in Indiana.
Come on out Aug. 25.
Next closest track is probably Putnam Park in Indiana.
07-14-2007, 09:04 PM
#15
Cartoon Character
Member Since: Jun 2006
Location: Can't be more than 114... Arizona
Posts: 1,440
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The closest track that you can just show up and drive on is the Nuremburgring. I know of no track in the US that will let you go flat out without a race license and a rental of about $4-15K per day or with a group under some kind of control. I'll bet the one in Michigan has lots of rules...Good Luck