So I currently live in Madison, WI and noticed that this track is in Erkhart Lake, which is only 2 hours away from me. I only recently became aware of the location but I have basically memorized it from video games. I'm just wondering if any of you guys have raced there. I went to the website and it seems to be pretty complicated and expensive! to get started. I just thought all you had to do was show up, pay a fee to use the track, sign a waiver so that your family can't sue if you die, and just go off and race your brains off. It seems there is much more to it than this. Any info or tips would be helpful.

 

Get in touch with a local car club. They will be able to help you get started. Maybe the Milwaukee Region of the SCCA will have some events there. I know that the Tri-State Sports Car Council and/or the Chicago Region of the SCCA (sometimes hard to tell them apart) have events at Autobahn Country Club near Joliet, IL.

 

I have have raced there wheel to wheel in the RX7's. I have not taken the RX8 there. HPDE's there are expensive. Racing there is 10X more and your car is no longer suitable for the street. RA is really too fast for a novice. Blackhawk Farms in Beloit is better and more interesting. RA is a long straight into a 90 degree turn and repeat. The only interesting part of the track begins at turn 9 and goes to turn 14. Going flat out through turn 11 takes *****.

http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Main_Page

 

Thanks for the info. RA turn 11 aka "The Kink" sure is scary. I think turn 5 is the most difficult on the track though. If you over-brake from the straight you will go through the corner too slowly, but if you brake too late or worse your brakes fail, then you will slide off the track completely. From the info on the website, it does seem that they allow unmodified cars to lap the track. I'm not interested in going there to race competitively, just to do some time trials in my RX-8.

The trackpedia website is pretty cool. I'd rather go to the Autobahn Country Club track than Blackhawk Farms, but BF is really close to me, so I might end up going there.

 

Your best bet is to get invloved with NASA and the HPDE.

 

EvolvChicago lists several organisations that hold trackdays at RA & Autobahn through out the summer. Things will begin winding down about now for the season.

 

Trust me on this one: I have driven Road America a zillion times. From NASA HDPE1 to professional racing. Here is what you want to do if you want to learn how to drive:

Sign up for NASA in the NASA Midwest region. Contact Lynda and tell her your story. http://www.nasamidwest.com/contact/m...&category=main

I am a product of the NASA Midwest system and can vouch for it's ability to educate and support solid driving behavior. This is where you want your training to come from.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I frequently help new drivers (and Mazda drivers) learn how to advance their skill set.

BTW, Road America is no different than any other track. It's just a little faster.