I live about an hour east of St. Louis, MO and an hour south of Springfield, IL. I know the gate way is in St. Louis but do they open their track to the public? If not does anyone know of any courses around my area? I've done a bit of searching and the only two I could find was the Gateway and a track up in Joliet(4hr drive). Thanks in advanced.

 

NASA is having an event at Gateway this weekend. http://nasaproracing.com/event/1740 anyone can sign up. im sure other groups allow the same.

 

also we are having an event in memphis in april that ill be at. http://nasaproracing.com/event/1725

 

The two tracks you mention are the closest in your area. There are no road race tracks in the U.S. that will be totally open to the public without any initial introduction and basic instruction. Both NASA and SCCA offer this and are the best ways to get started.

 

Alright, thanks. I've never tracked a car or had a car worth tracking either, until now. I'm not into the whole full racing thing. It's my dd, but I would like to take once in awhile just to see what it's like. I'll look into them and see what's all involved.

 

https://my350z.com/forum/media-share...build-gtm.html

Contact josh, he's from Peoria and building his car for auto cross. He may have a better idea.

Are you in Carlinville perhaps?

 

NASA is the way to go for your first few events. There are typically pretty good instructors... something you really want your first few events.

Also: Hey SoIll buddy. I grew up in Salem. :P

 

Ahhh ok, thanks guys and I am a little north of vandalia, our "grand" oldest state capital -.-" lol

 

Yeah you wont be doing any wheel to wheel racing at first. you'll start out in a class with other similarly experienced drivers and be on the track with them at the same time. controlled passing and instructors in the car and also having some in class instruction. Nothing too crazy but fun none the less. You will be able to drive as fast as you want to drive. (this has been my NASA experience).

 

Makes sense to have that, don't need a bunch of idiots swinging out when you try to pass or something. I have takin my car around a park drive around where I live(pretty quickly) it's a big circle drive around a lake with hills and what not, so as far as being able to control my car around curves and braking like that I think I'm alright as a beginner, just won't be use to other cars being on it at the same time.

Btw, thanks guys for the advise, I don't know diddly sh#% about going to the track.

 

Did you see this thread?

https://my350z.com/forum/autocross-r...-hpde-faq.html

 

Just sat and read the whole thing, good read, very informative.

 

check out http://www.motorsportreg.com/

 

While I love NASA, I would actually suggest trying to find a local Mark specific club that does track days first. While NASA has a great program, a significant portion of the track time is used by the Racers and Time Trials. With a pure HPDE you usually get double the track time for the same or even less in cost. The instructors are usually the same, and with some clubs they can even pull in some impressive names as instructors as well. NASA can come in a bit later if you decide that you want to start competing in one form or another. For that, NASA is VERY hard to beat.

 

Ahhh ok yea that's probably more of what I'm looking for, something laid back. Do any of you IL guys go to any of the events around here?

 

That's a good point, Marty. I just figure the structure of NASA or PCA was a good thing for a fella's first couple outings. Most of the other groups I've run with require a lot less in the way of inspections and stuff that a newbie may not know. Or at least I didn't really know when I started.


If you want to make the drive to Michigan you should run Grattan or Gingerman with 3Balls Racing. It's a fun group and you'll probably get more track time than you can handle.

 

Also, check out Midwest Council. http://www.mcscc.org/
They run a lot of events at Blackhawk Farms Raceway north of Rockford, and Autobahn Country Club in Joliet.

 

Just as an FYI Gateway Motorsport Park is a very unforgiving track. I was there with NASA this last weekend and there is not a lot of run off room depending on the section of the track you're in. So if you do go there and are still learning the car at track speed, don't get too ballzy because it would be easy to go home on a flat bed.