I've been to Marina with the Ghia a few times. But they were awhile ago. Only once while it's been turbocharged. The Ghia pics are from Atwater, DeAnza college, and Oakland colosium respectively.
I'd go more often, but right now it needs $400.00 in front tires.
Who's a good trackday provider and what kind of money we talkin' about? I sold the MC and bought a miata, as my riding skills were marginal and I was a danger to myself. I would like to get back on a track. Was considering a Kart too.
I always recommend starting with autocrossing.
(here's a calendar of events
http://www.sfrscca.org/solo2/cgi-bin/schedaction.cgi?autox&where=all&Next_three_months )
And I do this for a reason.
Autocross is a fantastic place to learn car control. While out on the course, you are in a constant state of sliding, losing control and then recovering control of your car. All in an environment that has speeds slow enough to allow you and the car to finish the day without any big hits to the pocketbook.
You spend a bit of time in this environment, and it teaches you to recognize the warning signs of imminent doom (spins and slides) before you get to the point you can no longer do anything about it.
THEN...
You go to the big tracks and really learn how to go fast.
Do it like this and when you do hit the road courses, you already have a lot of the necessary skills in place to maintain good control. And this is now
much more important, because going past the edge of traction at track speeds, results in
much longer slides. And now its not just cones that can be hit. It's tires, and walls, and even soft dirt can turn really ugly with enough momentum and a bad angle.
Many people don't do it in this order, and that's fine too. Just like the bike track days, the car track groups are usually set up in a starter/intermediate/advance formula to help with getting up to speed. But I really think the autocrosses beforehand help you be safer.
As far as groups.
I've been to quite a number of
www.nasaproracing.com events. They call them HPDE's
I've been to one
www.unlimitedlaps.com event pretty well organized
there are others, but I haven't experienced them firsthand.
BTW, the Miata is a brilliant track car. Not the fastest in stock form. But with mild suspension mods, good tires, and good driving they can run 2:teens. at T-hill
(even 2:0x's with REALLY good driving :thumbup )
