There are many good reasons to participate in an automotive track day, but the most compelling one is simple: It’s really fun.
Automotive track days come in several different flavors. Don’t confuse a track day with a race – track days are for practice and skill-building experience, not competition.
The most basic event is an open track day, where drivers bring their own cars to a track session hosted by the venue, or organized by a local car club. Cars must pass a safety inspection, which varies by event. Some events require vehicles to have special equipment installed, like a roll cage and/or racing harness. Most require drivers to be licensed to drive on the road, and to wear some safety equipment – especially a helmet. Check with the event organizers for requirements. Prices for open track days vary widely, and may require club membership to participate. Some events start at as little as $100, while club or track memberships can run thousands.
Other automotive track days are organized to include a track-prepped vehicle. Sometimes, these events are conducted by an auto manufacturer to show off their latest and greatest vehicles. Several companies, including BMW and Porsche, maintain private track facilities for new or prospective owners. The Porsche Experience in Carson, California, holds track day experiences for each of their new vehicles. You can drive a new Macan compact SUV on the track for 1.5 hours starting at $395; you can test your skills in an accelerated 911 GT3 RS with data capture for 4.0 hours starting at $2,500; and many other experiences in between.
Jumping into a car on the race track is not an activity to be taken lightly. While it is fun, it can also be quite dangerous. Luckily, there are many programs that will be happy to provide instruction and training before and during your track day. Group classes are effective and affordable; private one-on-one coaching is also an option (though more expensive). Driving with a professional driver in your passenger seat giving you live instruction and instant feedback is a great way to learn how to drive on a track and to progress rapidly.
Which brings us to the side-benefit of an automotive track day: A well-organized track day can be one of the best ways to improve your driving skills, and to make you a safer driver in your everyday life. A track is the safest place to explore your limits and your vehicle’s limits, and to learn how to properly handle various road conditions and obstacles. It’s the best place to practice your skills in a controlled environment, where you don’t have to worry about cross-traffic, or road hazards, or unexpected curves or driveways – or speed traps or tickets.
Be sure to check with your car insurance agent before taking your car on a track – you may need special coverage.
A good place to start exploring automotive track days is at the Sports Car Club of America. The SCCA organizes and sponsors track days across the US, and is a great resource for locations, rules and other information.