ShahulX

A country club racetrack is interesting... Road America is nice.. Taxes (living and retirement) stink in Illinois right? winter is rough too?

KnightDriveTV

I feel like that is what most track days cost. Road Atlanta days, I swear I've seen higher than that.

If OP is "retiring" I'd imagine 100 bucks variation in track day cost probably won't impact decision too much either.

ShahulX

I'm not retiring anytime soon.. Im 38.. Im just planning.. But may buy a house for investment and may retire there after its paid off.. This is mostly musing.. I'd assume most of us who like to track would want to live close to tracks, in a nice place etc..

Summit and vir tracks days here are like 250-300.. 550 is like 2 summit point track days. I'd pay more for cota

Nowanker

How funny...
Born is San Jose, lived on the peninsula my whole life. Currently in Morgan Hill, an hour away from Laguna, around 2 to Sears Point, and just about midway between Buttonwillow and T-hilll. Excellant tracks to choose from, and the climate is awesome too.
But...
The Bay Area has changed to the point that I don't even recognize it anymore. Housing is stupidly expensive and the roads are clogged with REALLY bad drivers all day long. Last time we went to Monterey (an hour drive), it took us 3. Can't wait to leave.
Very interested in the topic!

jonnyc

lived in cali my whole life (46yo) and iv'e never felt an earthquake.but i live in sacramento.best part about living here are the tracks are open 12 months a year.the only thing we worry about is having to drive in the rain.laguna seca and sears point are historic tracks and thunderhill is great in its own right.
cons of living here is government and cost.i can deal with the cost but the other really sucks here.

fleming23

For a weekend or a day? Most COTA events are closer to 900-1000 for a weekend. I am pretty sure even MVP’s 3 day is around 1200. Not saying it can’t be done cheaper but most are not cheap.

Nowanker

...forget to mention that California is 'The Anything Can Happen State'.
You just never know what ol' Moonbeam will dream up next.
Earthquakes are more predictable, and a lot less frightening.

Andrie

Nowanker, you’re exactly right about Bay Area has changed, and not for the better. Too many high tech money with all the baggage that came with it. Unfortunately, the bad outweigh the good. That being said, I’m still hard press to find a better place to live.

KnightDriveTV

I'm the same age, I'm movin to Vegas this summer and rubbin my palms together for Spring Mountain to do this massive 15 mile thing they are going to build. I'm hoping they move some land around or something, to give it some topography...we'll see. Couple road courses up on North Vegas too at the Speedway.

KnightDriveTV

They ruined the place man....sucks. I'm trying to forge a dual living scenario at this point. I'd like to move in and out of Ca somewhat freely through dual residences. We'll see.

bb69

I grew up in San Diego and then moved to the Detroit area for work. The Metro Detroit area is great for track days:

Waterford Hills (15 minutes)
M1 Concourse (20 minutes)
Grattan (2 hours)
Gingerman (2.75 hours)
Mid-Ohio (3 hours)
Nelson Ledges (3 hours)
PittRace (4.75 hours)
Autobahn (6 hours)

For slightly longer drives you can get to Watkins Glen, Road America, Calabogie, VIR, and many more.

It's just a 5 hour drive to Indy for PRI, the 500, or Brick Yard. For professional races, we have the Detroit Grand Prix, two Nascar races, many series running at Mid-Ohio; drag racing in Norwalk, OH and Chicago. There is the Woodward Dream Cruise and the North America International Auto Show. Lots more to list.

As for weather, we don't have hurricanes or wild fires to worry about. The winters can be rough, but they also give you some down time to actually work on the car; or you can head north and snow mobile. The only poisonous animal is a small snake that I have never seen (I saw more than my share of big rattlesnakes in CA).

It's not for everyone, but the track situation is actually very good here.

Ken

ShahulX

What thing in spring mountain?

​​​​​​I know we are all wound up so tight in the DC metro area.. Wonder if I could be a Californian lol

Surprised nobody mentioned florida... Tracks too flat? No elevation?

Lastly what do you all think about the private club racetracks? Monticello, autobahn, thermal, Atlanta motorsports Park? This one in New Hampshire opened this year... Seems amazing

​

ShahulX

florida... Tracks too flat? No elevation?

Lastly what do you all think about the private club racetracks? Monticello, autobahn, thermal, Atlanta motorsports Park? This one in New Hampshire opened this year... Seems amazing

KNSBrakes

I can't even begin to think how annoying monticello must be at times

ShahulX

How so? I've been there twice.. Its a nice track.. Quiet.. It'd be cool to just be able to go to the track when you want.. Not just on pre determined track days..

KNSBrakes

I have heard the track is beautiful. But I've lived in NJ/NY and it can be frustrating for a lot of reasons. I think it would be like a 5 hour golf round.

KNSBrakes

VIR has about 18 member days a year along with a myriad of racing and DE's.

Rent a seat in a chump car once. The only thing I ever did close to that was to buy a Corvette track car.

SouthernSon

I have found NCM MSP to have it all for me. I, too, am thinking of building a house there. It has nice weather, located near town with lots to do, centrally located in the eastern part of the US, it is a fantastic track, equidistant from great lakes to the gulf and has great motorsports groups attending throughout the year. But, mostly, it is a great track.

KnightDriveTV

http://www.thedrive.com/news/9118/wo...as-not-germany

Nowanker

I'm a bit jealous of the NE... Road America, Mid Ohio, Watkins Glen...
Don't think I could hack the winters.
Considering Eastern Tennessee or Western N Carolina. Somewhere in the foothills? Summers might not be too bad with a little elevation.
Right now, central Oregon is at the top of the list for logistical reasons. Other than PIR, are there any tracks there? At least Thunderhill won't be too far away!