Best way to find tracks around you?

[poet_x]

I live in Northern MI, and have no idea what kind of road courses there are around me (MI, eastern WI, northern OH/IN/IL). Is there a way to find out about them other than Google?



On a side note, what does it take to rent a track? I've always wondered if you could just rent a track to spend time on, and what the cost/restrictions might be...

 

[ncdogdoc]

You are off to a good start by posting here. You can also try Coco's track schedule page here , although she tends to focus on East Coast more than middle America.

Just for grins, it costs $1750 a day (for one car) to rent Roebling Road outside of Savannah, GA. It is a great course, but not quite the same caliber as VIR, Road America, Mid Ohio, etc.

 

[NetViper]

I use this site...

http://chasinracin.com/track-locator/viamap.shtml

 

[nsxtasy]

I live in Northern MI, and have no idea what kind of road courses there are around me (MI, eastern WI, northern OH/IN/IL). Is there a way to find out about them other than Google?

The closest tracks to you will be the ones I listed in this topic. You can look up each one on this website. Grattan (in Grand Rapids) and GingerMan (in South Haven) are the closest. There are lots of events held at most of these tracks, particularly by BMW CCA and (GingerMan only) CGI Motorsports. If you're just starting out, I would recommend the BMW CCA events at GingerMan in June and at Grattan in September. And, of course, NSXPO 2004 at Watkins Glen October 8-12.

On a side note, what does it take to rent a track? I've always wondered if you could just rent a track to spend time on, and what the cost/restrictions might be...

It takes money, anywhere from $1K to $12K per day. Many tracks also tend to rent only to a recognized corporation, rather than a private individual. But there are so many groups that conduct track events that there's no reason to rent one yourself.

I would also suggest that anyone NOT just go out on a track and drive. You will learn a lot more by attending an HPDE (high performance driver education) event, where they have classroom sessions and instructors who ride in the passenger seat of your car. Otherwise you will only learn bad habits that have to be unlearned later.