How to Start Driving on the Race Track

Have you ever dreamed of taking the green flag on a race track? If so, you're not alone. Many people are interested in getting started in racing, but they don't know where to begin.

Here are five first steps to help you get started:

1. Decide what you want to drive. The first step is to decide what kind of car you want to drive. There are many different types of street cars and race cars capable of driving on the track these days. It's important to choose the one that's most exciting for you. If you're just starting out, it's a good idea to start with a lower-powered car. This will help you learn the basics of high performance driving without having to worry about too many variables. It’s the driving parallel to “walk before you run.”
   

2. Pick a track. Once you've decided what kind of car you want to drive, you need to choose a track to drive at. There are many different tracks around the country, so it's important to find one that's close to you and offers the genre of interest (circle track, dirt track, road racing, etc). You can search online for tracks that offer track days. Some of the best tools I’ve encountered are MotorsportReg and ClubReg.
   

3. Take a driving class. High performance driving is a skill - one that you need to learn, practice, and perfect. The most practical idea is to take a driving class. This will teach you the basics of racing, such as how to handle your car at high speeds and how to pass other cars safely. There are many different driving schools around the country. Tracks offer them and there are also many leagues, clubs, and manufacturers that offer them. A few minutes of searching on the internet and you’ll find one that's right for you.
   

4. Get some experience. Once you've taken a driving class, it's time to start accumulating some miles on the track. This is referred to as seat time. Remember Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers refers to expertise being achieved at the 10,000 hours of experience mark. Time for you to start clocking your hours of experience. You can do this by attending track days. Track days are a great way to learn how to drive on a race track and to improve your driving skills.
   

5. Join a racing league. Once you've gained some experience, you can escalate your engagement by joining a racing league or club. Racing leagues offer a great way to meet other drivers and to get involved in racing. There are many different racing clubs around the country, so you can find one that's right for you. Some tremendous league examples are:

   • Sports Car Club of America

   • National Auto Sport Association

   • Porsche Club Racing

   • BMW Club Racing

   • World Racing League

   • American Endurance Racing

   • Historic Sportscar Racing

Following these five steps will help you get started in high performance driving. Remember, it's important to start slowly and to learn the basics before you get on the track. With a little practice, you'll be driving on the race track like a pro in no time!