Aight everybody. i am too sick and tired of racing around on canyons and pot-hole filled roads, im ready to hit the F'n track. ive been to the 1/4 track a bunch, but never an auto x track, soooo...... anyone down to roll with me? or atleast give me some info on where to go?

I live in the Los Angeles valley, encino, and have heard that willow springs is the closest track. is it worth the journey? are there any others in so-cal? also, anyone know when beginners can go?

well, thats pretty much it, any input would be great.

-sasan

 

There's track, and there's autocross. Two different things. Check out http://www.solo2.com/ for the LA region SCCA Solo2 autocross events.

 

There are three tracks in reasonably close proximity.
1. Willow Springs, in Rosamond, near Edwards AFB. This is in fact two tracks, the smaller and tighter of which is called Streets of Willow, a fun track but not necessarily the best for a heavy G35. Good teaching track. The larger and faster is often referred to as Big Willow. It is a high hp track and very fast. Some elevation change going up to the Omega turns 4-5.
2. Buttonwillow, in golly.....Buttonwillow. Up highway 5 about two hours from LA. Built by the SCCA this is a track that can be run in a variety of configurations, but typically it has around 23 turns. It is a great track and gives you every conceivable challenge of braking, turning and gearing. It is relatively flat.
3. California Speedway in Fontana. It has an infield course and in some configurations includes the front straight and the high banked "Roval" of the NASCAR turns 1 and 2! Fast fast fast when they run the Roval. Otherwise completely flat. A good track as well.

There are three other California tracks, but you have to schlep north to get to them.

4. Laguna Seca, between Monterey and Salinas. Not a terribly complicated track, but very beautiful, lots of elevation change, fast. I really like it. A bit more dangerous with walls and stuff, but unique with the famous "corkscrew" and "Andretti hairpin" turns.

5. Sears Point Infineon, north of San Francisco near Sonoma. A truly outstanding track with elevation changes and hugely challenging turns. Lots of concrete k-rail, so not a place imho to go for a first timer. But if you get "into it" a must visit track like Laguna Seca.

6. Thunderhill. In the town of Willows, north of Sacramento. A terrific track, but a huge trek to get there for those of us in SoCal.

There are three more tracks, all in Nevada, that are worth considering.

7. Spring Mountain-Pahrump. Outside of Las Vegas. Recently extended and improved to almost 4 miles in length.

8. Reno-Fernley. Recently extended with a new section to almost 4 miles in length.

9. Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

So, if you check out some of the track groups that visit various tracks, such as SpeedVentures, Trackmasters-Racing, Redline, etc. you can hook up with one of those clubs, or one of the car enthusiast groups like the S2k, BMW and Porsche groups, and get some real track time. Laguna Seca is being closed for a couple of months this year for some resurfacing work, so it will be hard in 2006 to get on, but next year will probably offer a half dozen potential run dates for you. All of the tracks have websites you can visit to learn more.