Centralised Location for Most Trackdays

DannoXYZ

DannoXYZ

Well-known member
So my first season at track went well couple years ago with 42-trackdays and 4 race-weekends with AFM. Multiple tracks are close by with numerous trackday offerings such that I can go to track any and every weekend if I wanted.

Sears Point Sonoma - 15-minutes away
Dixon kart track - 1 hr
Little 99 kart track - 1 hr
Thunderhill - 1.5 hrs
Laguna Seca - 2 hrs
Buttonwillow - 5 hrs
Willow Springs - 6 hrs

With full-time WFH during this Covid fiasco, I can pretty much work from anywhere and save bank on living expenses.

So where should I live? Is there anywhere in U.S. (or World for that matter), that I can find as many tracks within close distance?
 
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berth

berth

Well-known member
If you're willing to move a little south, and lengthen the time to Sears, you can put Buttonwillow and Willow closer on your list, and add in Fontana.

You'd have to move more I think to make Chuckwalla Valley Raceway accessible.

Head a little bit south and east, and Las Vegas may be on your map if Willow is valid at 6 hours.

Maybe move to the high desert, Barstow and such, that way you get access to Buttonwillow, Vegas, Willow, Chuckwalla, Fontana, plus endless desert off road and dual purpose runs to sharpen those skills.

And it's mostly open road with not a silly amount of traffic (save probably for Vegas and the 15).

Should just plot the tracks on the map and grab a compass and start drawing circles.
 
DannoXYZ

DannoXYZ

Well-known member
berth said:
Should just plot the tracks on the map and grab a compass and start drawing circles.
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Good idea! Was hoping someone's already done this. My goal is to hit up every track in U.S. So I might as well start plotting!
 
stangmx13

stangmx13

not Stan
Fontana is near center for BW, LVMS, and Chuck.

But you shouldn't live anywhere if you want to ride lots of tracks. Get an unlimited data plan, outfit a sprinter van, and live everywhere. Spent lots of time at the amazing tracks like Road America, Barber, Laguna, and VIR. Ride the mediocre tracks once.
 
MR662

MR662

AFM #662
As for living, besides the high costs or taxes in CA, I don't think anywhere can match CA for our race tracks, outdoor activities like skiing and the beach, wineries, hiking, city life, suburbs, dining etc. I wouldn't move out of State just to be able to visit some tracks. Like others mentioned, if anything, move more central CA or just stay where your at. Then I d get an RV and start traveling to tracks, hit Oregon and Washington, then head out to Utah, make your way to Texas and see the country.
 
blrmaker

blrmaker

Well-known member
Nashville may be an option. 1 hr to NCT, 3 hrs to Road Atlanta, 3.5hrs to Barber and 12 hrs to just about everywhere on the eastern side of the coutry. No state income tax and actual friendly people. :thumbup
 
berth

berth

Well-known member
All valid points, but...

MR662 said:
I wouldn't move out of State just to be able to visit some tracks.
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WERA doesn't come west for a reason. Seems all the tracks are back east for them. NASCAR was the same way for the longest time.
 
DannoXYZ

DannoXYZ

Well-known member
Good ideas everyone! I had previously examined RV idea many years ago, but was too locked into corporate job. Now that I have more flexibility, a fun-mover is definitely on horizon. I'll just establish residency on state with no income tax and roam around visiting tracks!
 
Holeshot

Holeshot

Super Moderator
Staff member
stangmx13 said:
Fontana is near center for BW, LVMS, and Chuck.

But you shouldn't live anywhere if you want to ride lots of tracks. Get an unlimited data plan, outfit a sprinter van, and live everywhere. Spent lots of time at the amazing tracks like Road America, Barber, Laguna, and VIR. Ride the mediocre tracks once.
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Fontana's about done if they go ahead with their tear down plan, sad to say. Sonoma's not worth any money spent if it's not repaved.

Reno Fernley is supposed to be coming back online, but who knows there. BW has a second track coming online and CVMA is supposed to build a new configuration too. The Ridge, LVMS, etc...Danno needs to get a driver and fly in!

berth said:
All valid points, but...



WERA doesn't come west for a reason. Seems all the tracks are back east for them. NASCAR was the same way for the longest time.
Click to expand...

WERA west is still active, but pretty small. They're still fighting the good fight.
 
berth

berth

Well-known member
Holeshot said:
Fontana's about done if they go ahead with their tear down plan, sad to say. Sonoma's not worth any money spent if it's not repaved.
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Wait, what? What plan is this?
WERA west is still active, but pretty small. They're still fighting the good fight.
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WERA used to have it National Endurance series come west to Fontana and Willow, and even to Las Vegas, but they don't any more. (I don't think.)
 
kmaggy

kmaggy

Well-known member
I would #vanlife. Thought about it and brought it up to the wifey, and she just said she'd leave me, so I will just stay where I'm at.
 
kxmike

kxmike

Well-known member
I live in Lake County and have similar times to the same tracks except sonoma...it's 1.5 for me. BUT...I have 4 BLM dirt bike riding areas within 40 minutes, 6 mx tracks within 1.5 hrs and some of the best street riding in the state all around me. And it's so cheap to live here I can buy more bikes!:teeth
 
budman

budman

General Menace
Staff member
I found that above 5 hours is a long drive.

So given that Holister or Coalinga etc. is pretty central.
All of SoCal and NorCal to Thill right there.

Fernly is being repaved shortly and will open later this year FYI.
 
blrmaker

blrmaker

Well-known member
budman said:
I found that above 5 hours is a long drive.

So given that Holister or Coalinga etc. is pretty central.
All of SoCal and NorCal to Thill right there.

Fernly is being repaved shortly and will open later this year FYI.
Click to expand...

LOL in California, I agree with you. In the rest of the country, 5 hrs is a nice jaunt. :teeth
 
berth

berth

Well-known member
Holeshot said:
https://www.frontstretch.com/2020/0...shortening-auto-club-speedway-the-right-move/

My NASCAR love is where I came by the info...They may do an outdoor road course.
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Huh. Interesting.

I'm not enough of a NASCAR fan to have an opinion. What little I've seen of it, I find short tracks make me dizzy trying to watch them, but perhaps they offer more action and passing, which is probably a good things for fans.

I find the comment about land interesting, I guess we could certainly use more warehouses out here. (I live probably < 5 miles from the track.) It's not the "highest quality" land, it certainly wouldn't go residential.

Before we got clobbered by COVID, I was hoping to go out and catch WERA West (I think they still run there). I haven't been there since 2008, or 2009 when AMA/DMG stopped going.

Be curious to see a new track map, interesting it's now owned by NASCAR.
 
Holeshot

Holeshot

Super Moderator
Staff member
Berth, agree on the new track map. short tracks are a lot more fun to watch than places like Fontana...not much racing action during the races there...
 
stangmx13

stangmx13

not Stan
The Fontana road course asphalt has just been getting worse and worse. Since they were never going to repave it, I can’t say I’m sad to see the track go relatively soon. Plus trackday prices are kinda ridiculous.

If Fontana does add an outer road course, I wouldn’t hold my breath for a good track. It’ll probably be LVMS quality, not as good as BW or THill.

WERA West will probably race Fontana, LVMS, BW, and Big Willow in 2021. People still show up, but it’s def not as busy as it used to be.
 
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