Experience the thrill of racing before you spend a lot of money. And no, that doesn’t mean going to your local Porsche dealership and saying “I’ll take it around the corner.” But there are test programs available where you can drive a vehicle that will accelerate from 0 to 60 in less than 4 seconds and go up to 2.5G in the corners. Or experience the thrill of a 300-hp dragster for less than $20. When it comes to getting a taste of racing without having to go out and buy your own race car, you have several options to choose from. We’ll cover them starting with the cheapest and working our way up.

Your local “fun” go-kart track

Most cities have an outdoor or indoor concession-type go-kart track where you can go for a few laps in a go-kart for just a few dollars. Although these karts are not the fastest in the world, they will still give you the basic idea of ​​racing around the track along with some friendly competition from the other bosses. This can be a great place to start if you have a child. who wants to get into racing but has never driven anything. The most important thing to check for children before heading to the rink is to call ahead and see what kind of minimum age or height requirements they may have. Other than that, all go-karts have bumpers and are very safe, making them a great starting point for kids.

If you’re lucky enough to live near a major city that has a Speed ​​Zone, Malibu Grand Prix, or similar racing theme park, you even have the option to try drag racing in a controlled environment. Speed ​​Zone’s Top Eliminator dragsters are 300-hp machines capable of sprinting from 0-70 in under 3.5 seconds and putting out 2.5 G’s. Not only that, their tracks are set up to run four at a time! ! (The cars are attached to a center rail, of course, to keep them all from flying into each other.) You won’t find that at any local race track. And with current prices around $12 for three races, it’s certainly the most fun you could have in anything racing for less than the cost of feeding your family at McDonald’s.

Automaker Promotions and Driving Clinics

Although these can be hit or miss when it comes to the time to catch one, many times throughout the year automakers host special drive-through events to highlight their latest and greatest cars. And the best thing about them is that the car is provided and the cost is usually minimal or even free!

Mazda’s Rev It Up is a great example of this type of program. The Mazda Event is a weekend driving school and competition in the new Mazda 3 at locations across the US throughout the year. For about $40, you get a performance driving school clinic and then the chance to post your time on an autocross course in a parking lot for a national competition. It’s not a bad deal.

Another example is from the 2004 Indy Racing League Chevy 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Chevy gave race fans the chance to drive their new Chevy Avalanche on a three-lap, 70-mph course around the high-banked track at Texas Motor Speedway. All he needed was a valid driver’s license and each fan could ride alone for three laps behind a pace car. And best of all: it was free! Where else could you walk off the street and drive on someone else’s because on a Superspeedway normally reserved for NASCAR and the IRL?

Unfortunately, these types of events are few and far between, but they do exist. Keep your eyes open for one, and the opportunity may appear.

Out of your garage and onto the track

The next step, but still very affordable: your own car at a local race track. Many local tracks have special times around their regular racing sessions when you can take your own car out for a spin around the track or race around the racetrack.

Typically, the only special requirements are to have a Snell-approved helmet and then attend any basic driver orientation classes they may have. So no special equipment is needed on your car – just show up with most street legal vehicles (probably not Grandma’s Suburban or truck) and you’re good to go.

For road courses, you’ll probably be warned against any head-to-head racing with the other cars on the track. However, overtaking slower cars on the straights is usually allowed, and you can still push your car to the limit. Just keep in mind that you don’t want to have to explain to your insurance agent how your car mysteriously ended up on top of a tire wall at your local race track.

The best thing about this type of program is that you can get real track time for less than $100 overall. Check with your local track to see what they offer.

Jet Fighter On 4 Wheels – Kart Racing Programs

Now we are talking about real racing action: kart racing! No, these aren’t the old square-frame steel tube backyard go-karts (and we don’t use “go” anymore) with a lawnmower engine. Today’s race karts are built with many of the same high-tech materials and technologies as full-size race cars, and with the exception of top speed, performance capabilities can rival a modern Indy car. (as in 0-60 in about 3 seconds. and 2.5 G’s in turns).

With some introductory classes starting as low as $99 with all equipment provided, you won’t find other “rookie” racing programs that come close to the thrill experienced in a current generation race kart for such a low cost. a school like Go Faster Racing Karting School in the Dallas/Fort Worth area is a perfect example of a kart school that offers these types of classes for those who want to get a real feel for what racing is all about.

A half-day class in one of their 125cc Veloce race karts will give you a workout you wouldn’t believe, but you’ll walk away with a smile the size of Texas and dreaming of how quickly you can get back on the track. . There are many similar kart schools across the country, so check with your local kart track or club to see what is available in your area. For the money, a racing kart class will give you the closest feel to what real racing is like, which is why I give this option my top pick. “Ultimate Test Drive” recommendation.

The Real Deal: Full-fledged Racing School

Now, if you’re determined to jump straight into a full-size race car, then there’s obviously no substitute for driving one for your test drive. Most road course tracks have an associated racing school that offers half-day, full-day and multi-day classes for drivers. Also, your local SCCA chapter usually has driver classes scheduled at various times during the year, but the race car may or may not be provided.

A half-day class at a local racing school is probably your best option when it comes to taking your final test drive. Again, most schools will provide all of their safety gear so you can just show up and drive. You can expect half-day classes to average around $500. For your money, you’ll usually get classroom instruction that covers the basics of race car operation, learning the “race line” around the course, selecting of gears into and out of corners, braking points, corner entry and exit points followed by some off-track lap and training sessions.

With a typical “school” race car in the 130 to 150 hp range and capable of speeds in excess of 100 mph, you’ll definitely have your hands full when you start learning some new driving concepts, like downshifting from heel and toe and threshold braking. . For a couple of great racing school websites, try RaceSchools.com or RacingSchools.com.

Time to go to the race!

Hopefully, you’ve had a good idea of ​​your options for getting into a race car before you invest a lot of your hard-earned money into the sport. The kind of career he thought he was interested in may not be what he expected after taking a “test drive.” It’s much better to find out now than after you’ve bought a race car.

However, for most people, I highly doubt that’s the case. In fact, after the first ride, you’ll probably be so hooked there’s no going back. So get out there, find a local racing series and Go Racing Now!

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