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

Your local “fun” go-kart track

Most cities have an outdoor or indoor concession-type go-kart track where you can take a few spins 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 the 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 a similar racing theme park, you even have the option of trying drag racing in a controlled environment. Speed ​​Zone’s Top Eliminator dragsters are 300hp machines capable of 0-70 in under 3.5 seconds and cranking out 2.5Gs. 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 from all blowing into each other.) You won’t find that at any local race track. And with current prices around $12 for three races, it’s hands down the most fun you could have at anything racing-related for less than the cost of feeding your family at McDonald’s.

Car manufacturer promotions and driving clinics

Although these can be unpredictable when it comes to catching one, many times throughout the year car manufacturers host special driving 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 a 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 ride around the high-banked track at Texas Motor Speedway. All he needed was a valid driver’s license and each fan could only ride 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 hours around their regular racing sessions when you can take your own car out for a spin around the track or race around the race track.

Normally 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 in 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, slower cars are generally allowed to be passed on the straights, 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 wall of tires at your local race track.

The great 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 Shows

Now we are talking about real racing action: kart racing! No, these aren’t your old backyard square frame steel tube go karts (and we don’t use “go” anymore) with a lawnmower engine. Today’s racing 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 racing 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 go-kart school that offers this type of class for those who want to get a real feel for what racing is all about.

A half-day class in one of their Veloce 125cc race karts will give you a workout you wouldn’t believe, but you’ll leave with a smile the size of Texas and dreaming of how fast you can get back on the track. . There are many similar kart schools around 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, so I give this option my top pick. “Ultimate Test Drive” recommendation.

The Real Deal: Full-blown Racing School

Now, if you’re determined to jump right into a full-size race car, then there’s obviously no substitute for driving one for your test drive. Most road course tracks have a partner 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 throughout 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 bet when it comes to taking your ultimate test drive. Again, most schools will provide all of your security equipment so you just show up and drive. You can expect half-day classes to average around $500. For your money, you’ll typically get classroom instruction covering the basics of race car operation, learn the “race line” around the course, picking of gears in and out of corners, braking points, corner entry and exit points followed by some off-track lap and practice sessions.

With a typical “school” race car in the 130-150hp range and capable of speeds of over 100mph, you’ll definitely have your hands full when you start learning some new driving concepts like downshifting 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 investing a lot of your hard-earned money into the sport. The type 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!