Go Club Racing!

Wheel-to-wheel racing is perhaps the ultimate motorsports thrill. If you’re thinking about it, here are some pointers to help you get started.

We've recently offered some tips on going autocrossing and participating in track days. Both are excellent venues for learning more about driving a car at the limit and improving yourself as a driver. The goal for many, however, is wheel-to-wheel racing. Where the motorsports bug bites for most is watching the pros – say those in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship or VERIZON IndyCar Series – and thinking, "I want to do that!"The beauty of it is you can, in a way. No, you won't be strapping into an Indy car at Mid-Ohio or a Mazda SKYACTIV Prototype at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, but you can belt yourself into a Miata and race at those same tracks. Of course, there is no doubt that doing that takes more commitment and resources than some of the other motorsports activities we've discussed. Nevertheless, those activities are still a good place to start. Many great racers have started by autocrossing, such as 2007 Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion Jason Saini. It's a great place to learn car control and get used to a competition environment.