I'll just say I am a 18 year old kid that loves his RX-8 but I know that I can not drive like a maniac on the streets racing my friends around. Does anyone know of some open tracks for amateur racing? Need to push my car and see its true performance and power.

 

Tracks in the United States Of America - Trackpedia

its broken out by region, then state

 

EMRA ( Eastern Motor Racing Association ) is a great track club that has open track days, reasonable cost, and they have tons of first-timers as well as lots of experienced folks. Great, friendly club.

they do days at Lime Rock Park in connecticut, upstate new york, new hampshire, and pennsylvania, look at their schedule...

 

Also check out scda Sports Car Driving Association - Performance Driving in a Safe and Controlled Environment

 

take a peek at Northeast region NASA as well

 

ugh i wish there was a track on longisland, theres only a small figure 8 track that the local rednecks race school busses with and other dumb ish

 

2c - Think HPDEs (High Performance Driving Events) first, spend some time being taught how to handle yourself and your car on track safely before hitting any open track events. If the event is not 100% instructed and managed towards your newb skill level, you're inviting disaster. RX-8s do well and are welcome at the likes of NE Audi Club, NE Porsche Club, NE BMW Club, SCDA, and several other club events organized to help peps get on track and learn the ropes. Be safe and enjoy!

 

ANother reason to start out with solid instruction is to learn properly and not get into bad habits that will take a long time to correct. Perfect practice makes perfect, and all that. Otherwise you'll end up just driving laps as fast as you can go (which won't be nearly as fast as the car can go).

 

^ True and don't get caught up with trying to mod your way out of understeer or other difficiencies. Most of the failings of the car will be you
Edit:

I guess what I'm trying to say is I agree with the guys up top, welcome all the instruction you can get, learn how to be smooth, and don't try to mask bad driving with upgrades.

 

a bone stock RX8 will teach you plenty about driving and going fast

a wise man once told me: "It's more fun to drive a slow car fast, than to drive a fast car slowly"

 

If that's the case, the 2 Porsche 911's I lapped repeatably, on my last track day, were having a very bad day.

 

^ haha I always like when the Porsche and BMW guys come up to me and ask what I've done to my car because I've been smoking them. When I tell them I'm stock, you can just see the look of dissapointment on their faces