The surge in Open Track popularity can be attributed to a variety of factors: the escalating cost of genuine wheel-to-wheel racing; "collector" value of older high-performance cars makes racing them too risky; excessive bureacracy and regulations of racing sanctioning bodies; and finally, goin' racin' can be intimidating for a novice track driver. Many of our members have used our Open Tracks as a springboard to Vintage Racing or SCCA club racing. It's a great way to get your feet wet without mortgaging the house. To learn more about Open track, the events and the bylaws, safety regs, technical inspection guidelines, please visit: the Norcal SAAC club open track info pages .
For an overview to learn about what open track is and the basics of road course driving, download the Norcal Shelby Open Track primer. Just hit the gas pedal to download.
Thunderhill: Ahhh, glorious Thunderhill. As the track slogan says, it's 3 miles of pure adrenalin. Look at those straight-aways! 14 turns, lots of run-off room, several off camber turns, and one hair-raising blind downhill off-camber increasing radius stomach twister called appropriately The Cyclone. Thunderhill has enough in it to test any driver. T-hill is fast too: faster drivers can top 140 mph in the front straight-away. About an hour north of Sacramento. Click the map to download the Norcal Shelby track primer.
Sears Point: Sears is located in Sonoma California. It's a 2.5 mile, 12 turn road racing course. Sears is now called Infineon; it has a long and storied history as one of Americas's premiere road racing courses. Tight, with very little run-off space, vitually no straights, lots of altitude change, and mean-looking walls, driving this course at speed is a test of skill and nerve. Sears hosts many world class events, including NASCAR's west coast road race. Click the map and download the Norcal Shelby track primer.
Laguna Seca: Yes, this is the same Laguna Seca from the video game, now called Mazda Raceway located in Salinas. Can't drive it the same as in the game, or you'll wind up in the weeds. Or in the wall. It's a 2.4 mile, 11 turn road course with the famous Corkscrew, Laguna's blind double turn signature section with a very ominous cement wall looming near the exit. Technical, with fair run off space and lots of off-camber. Click the map and download the Norcal Shelby track primer.
Northern California has some of the best road courses in the country, and many members of our club spend a fair amount of time, money, and energy taking full advantage of this lucky fact. There are many ways to enjoy getting out on the track; club members run in NASA American Iron events, vintage Trans-Am races, the Monterey Historics, SCCA Autocross events, to name a few.
As well, the club participates in Shelby American Auto Club hosted Norcal Open Track events at the world class road courses here in Northern California.
What is open track? Open track is a type of non-competitive high-speed driving event held on road race courses by marque car and race clubs across the U.S. The goal of SAAC open track events is to get your car out on some of the best road courses in the country in a safe and fun enviornment, with the maximum amount of quality driving time possible, and to make available instruction that will help you refine your abilities as a high performance driver.
To learn more about Open Track events with SAAC, or to learn about a few of the road courses here in Northern California, below is some information courtesy of Norcal SAAC (thanks Scott!) and some links to primers on a few of the best Northern California tracks and how to drive them.
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