| Experience the thrill of racing before
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| | out on the track. However, passing of
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| shelling out any big bucks. And no, that
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| | slower cars is usually allowed on the
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| doesn't involve going to the local
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| | straights, and you can still push your
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| Porsche dealer and telling them "I'll
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| | car up to the limits. Just keep in mind
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| just take it around the block." But
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| | you don't want to have to explain to your
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| there are test programs available where
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| | insurance agent how your car mysteriously
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| you can drive a vehicle that will
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| | ended up on top of a tire wall at the
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| accelerate 0-60 in under 4 sec and pull
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| | local racetrack.The great thing about
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| up to 2.5Gs in the corners. Or
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| | this kind of program is that you can get
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| experience the thrill of a 300 hp
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| | some real track time for generally under
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| dragster for under $20 bucks. When it
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| | $100. Check with your local track to see
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| comes to getting a taste of racing
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| | what they offer.Jet Fighter On 4 Wheels -
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| without having to go out and buy your own
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| | Racing Kart ProgramsNow we're talking
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| race car, you have a number of options to
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| | about some real racing action - racing
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| choose from. We'll cover them starting
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| | karts! No, these are not your old steel
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| with least expensive and working our way
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| | tube, square-framed backyard go karts
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| up.Your Local "Fun" Kart TrackMost cities
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| | (and we don't use "go" any more) with a
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| have an outdoor or indoor
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| | lawn mower engine. Today's racing karts
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| concessionary-type go kart track where
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| | are constructed with many of the same
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| you can take a kart around for a few laps
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| | high tech materials and technologies as
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| for just a few bucks. Although these
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| | full-size race cars, and with the
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| karts are not the fastest in the world,
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| | exception of top speed, performance
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| they'll still give you the basic idea of
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| | capabilities can rival a modern-day Indy
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| racing around the track along with some
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| | car (as in 0-60 in about 3 sec. and 2.5
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| friendly competition from the other
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| | G's in the turns).With some Intro classes
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| patrons.This can be a great place to
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| | beginning as low as $99 with all
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| start if you have a kid who wants to get
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| | equipment provided, you will find no
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| into racing but has never driven
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| | other "newbie" racing programs that even
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| anything. The main thing to check for
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| | come close to the exhilaration
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| kids before you head over to the track is
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| | experienced in a current generation
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| to call ahead and see what kind of
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| | racing kart for such little cost. A
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| minimum age or height requirements they
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| | school like Go Faster Racing Kart School
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| may have. Other than than that, the
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| | in the Dallas/Fort Worth area is a
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| karts all have bumpers and are very safe,
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| | perfect example of a kart school offering
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| so they make for a great starting point
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| | just such classes for those wanting to
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| for kids.If you are fortunate enough to
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| | get a real taste of what racing is all
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| live near a major city that has a Speed
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| | about.A half-day class in one of their
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| Zone, Malibu Grand Prix or similar
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| | Veloce 125cc racing karts will give you a
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| racing-type theme park, then you even
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| | workout like you wouldn't believe, but
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| have the option of testing out drag
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| | you'll leave with a grin the size of
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| racing in a controlled environment.
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| | Texas and dreaming about how fast you can
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| Speed Zone's Top Eliminator dragsters are
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| | get back out on the track. There are
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| 300 hp machines capable of 0 to 70 in
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| | many similar kart schools around the
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| under 3.5 seconds and pull 2.5 G's. Not
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| | country, so just check with your local
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| only that, their tracks are set up to
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| | kart track or club to see what's
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| race four at a time! (The cars are
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| | available in your area. For the money a
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| attached to a centerline rail, of course,
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| | racing kart class will give you the
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| to keep everyone from flying into each
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| | closest feel to what real racing is like,
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| other.) You won't find that at any local
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| | so I give this option my highest
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| drag strip. And with current prices
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| | "Ultimate Test Drive" recommendation.The
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| around $12 for three runs, it is no doubt
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| | Real Deal: Full-Blown Racing SchoolNow,
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| the most fun you could have in anything
| |
| | if you are dead set on jumping right into
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| race-related for less than the cost of
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| | a full-size race car, then there is
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| feeding your family at McDonald's!Auto
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| | obviously no substitute for actually
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| Maker Driving Clinics &
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| | driving one for your test drive. Most
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| PromotionsAlthough these can be hit or
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| | road course tracks have an associated
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| miss as far as timing goes to catch one,
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| | racing school that offers half day, full
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| many times through the year automakers
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| | day and multi-day classes for drivers.
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| will host special driving events to
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| | Also, your local SCCA chapter usually has
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| highlight their latest and greatest
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| | driver classes scheduled at various times
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| automobiles. And the great thing about
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| | throughout the year, but the race car may
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| them is that the car is provided and the
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| | or may not be provided.A half-day class
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| cost is usually minimal or even
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| | at a local racing school is probably your
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| free!Mazda's Rev It Up is a great example
| |
| | best bet when it comes to taking your
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| of this kind of program. The Mazda event
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| | ultimate test drive. Once again most
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| is a weekend driving school and
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| | schools will provide all your safety
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| competition in the new Mazda 3 at
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| | equipment so you just show up and drive.
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| locations throughout the US over the
| |
| | You can expect half-day classes to
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| course of the year. For about $40 you
| |
| | average around $500. For your money you
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| get a high-performance driving school
| |
| | will generally get classroom instruction
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| clinic and then a chance to post your
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| | covering the basics of operating the
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| time on a parking lot autocross course
| |
| | racecar, learning the "racing line"
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| for a nationwide competition. Not a bad
| |
| | around the course, gear selection into
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| deal.Another example is from the 2004
| |
| | and out of the corners, braking points,
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| Indy Racing League Chevy 500 at Texas
| |
| | corner entry and exit points followed by
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| Motor Speedway. Chevy gave the
| |
| | some lap sessions and coaching out on the
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| opportunity to race fans to take their
| |
| | track.With a typical "school" race car in
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| new Chevy Avalanche for a 70 mph three
| |
| | the 130 to 150 hp range and capable of
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| lap cruise around the high-banked track
| |
| | speeds well over 100 mph, you'll
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| of Texas Motor Speedway. All you needed
| |
| | definitely have your hands full as you
|
| was a valid drivers license and each fan
| |
| | begin to learn some new concepts in
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| got to hop in by themselves for three
| |
| | driving like heel and toe downshifting
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| laps behind a pace car. And best of all
| |
| | and threshold braking. For a couple of
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| - it was free! Where else could you walk
| |
| | excellent web sites on racing schools try
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| in off the street and get to drive in
| |
| | or Time To Go Race!Hopefully, you've
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| someone else's car on a Superspeedway
| |
| | gotten a good idea of your options for
|
| normally reserved for NASCAR and the
| |
| | hopping in a race car before sinking a
|
| IRL!?Unfortunately, these types of events
| |
| | lot of your hard-earned money into the
|
| are few and far between, but they're out
| |
| | sport. You may find the type of racing
|
| there. Keep your eyes open for one, and
| |
| | you thought you were interested in is not
|
| the opportunity just may pop up.Out of
| |
| | what you expected after taking a "test
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| Your Garage & On To The TrackThe next
| |
| | drive." Much better to find out now than
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| step up, but still very affordable - your
| |
| | after having bought a race car.However,
|
| own car at a local racetrack. Many local
| |
| | for most people, I highly doubt that will
|
| tracks have special times around their
| |
| | be the case. In fact after the first
|
| regular racing sessions when you can take
| |
| | ride, you'll probably be so hooked, there
|
| your own car out for a spin around the
| |
| | is no turning back. So, get out there,
|
| track or run down the drag strip.Normally
| |
| | find a local racing series and Go Racing
|
| the only special requirements are to have
| |
| | Now!Larry Lenamon is part owner of a high
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| a Snell-approved helmet and then sit
| |
| | performance racing kart school, avid
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| through whatever basic driver orientation
| |
| | racing fan, and classic car restorer,
|
| class they may have. Thus, no special
| |
| | along with having a professional career
|
| equipment on your car is needed - just
| |
| | as a pilot and aerospace engineer for a
|
| show up with most any street legal
| |
| | major U.S. airline. His website is an
|
| vehicle(probably not the Suburban or
| |
| | online resource for getting started in
|
| Grandma's station wagon) and you're
| |
| | racing, racing sponsorship, alternatives
|
| set.For road courses you'll probably be
| |
| | to racing sponsorship, racing schools,
|
| warned against any full-blown
| |
| | racing skills and more.
|
| head-to-head racing with the other cars
| |
| |
|
