Little Talledega (Talledega Gran Prix Raceway) isn't far away, and is the ideal track to learn your car on. Not too fast and if/when you do go off, it's basically situated on a flat field so nothing to hit. I cut my track-driving teeth there, spun off way too many times with no damage to show for it but grass inside the car

Track can be rented for $1400-$1800 on a weekday.

http://tgprace.com/leasing.htm

 

My wife and I have attended the Audi R8 experience at Infineon, we had a blast. Overall through the two day program we easily drove 45-50 laps, first few short runs they separated everyone into groups based on driving skill, then after each run we would get individual critiques on how to improve our time. There was an instructor in the lead, but they never limited us on how hard we pushed the cars. Each time I pushed my lap time up, the instructors would push their lead up. (in a couple of instances where some people were getting to the point where an instructor might get passed, they would put a more skilled instructor in the lead, or put you in a V8 for the next run) There is an advanced program where there is no lead and the instructor rides shotgun, I haven't signed up for it yet.

 

That's a pretty amazing rate to get the whole track to yourself. Might be worth getting 3 or 4 guys together to go and split the rate.

 

I did the Richard Petty Driving Experience several years ago at Las Vegas. It was great and I very much enjoyed it; however, it was completely useless as an instructional/learning activity. I followed the instructor, had no problem keeping up, was allowed to exceed the actual limit that they were supposed to keep us all at, and they let me do an extra lap because I apparently was doing such a good job. BUT I learned very little from it and absolutely nothing that translated to my street car (other than do what the instructors tell you to, which I already knew). It was a great *experience* but that's all. I learned significantly more at Bob Bondurant's four day GP school. A Skip Barber or similar school would be very much like the Bondurant school.

It kind of sounds like what you need is seat time in your own car to get more comfortable with what it will do and confident in yourself. I base that just on what you wrote. It's just an opinion. Track days with mentors/instructors are great for that. Maybe a smaller track though than Road Atlanta is a possibility? RA is nothing to scoff at and *should* scare the crap out of someone on their first track day.

Get the track insurance. You'll feel less worried about hurting the equipment at least.

For the first two years I had my S2000, I was actually a little afraid of it. The limits in it were higher than my Miatas and I was nervous about the penalties involved in finding those limits. Eventually, I did a two day FastLane driving school (here in SoCal), but for the second day I drove the S2000 instead of the school cars. It showed me not only what the car could do, but how I would handle it also. Gave me a lot more confidence with it.

I am going through the same thing with my Elise, but this time I'm not waiting two years. Track time is on the agenda within the next few months.

Just my two cents. YMMV.

 

The thing is, you can actually damage your Elise pretty easily on track. Run a S2K off track and you're probably ok, at worst a fender liner or bumper, Elise could be a clamshell or worse.

 

That's the idea, that rate is for ~5 cars at a time, ~15 cars total I think. Could do a track day for $100.

I would definitely be up for that myself I'll let you know if I hear about one upcoming. Or hell we could try to organize one ourselves.

http://www.tgprace.com/leasing.htm

 

That may be a concern I might want to have, but that's my problem and not the OPs. It isn't what he asked about.

It's not on subject to the OP's question, but to address the comment, I feel there is no point in me owning a purpose-built performance vehicle and then never driving it how it was intended to be driven. The possibility of a wreck exists just driving it out of the garage. That's why one has full coverage insurance. Damaging the Elise in an off track excursion is possible, but not guaranteed. Going off track is also possible but not guaranteed. I never put the S2000 off. Either way, I plan to get track insurance and take the chance. Otherwise, for me, owning the Elise is a waste of money.

 

My first track day was very similar. First 2/3 of the day was scary trying to get the line right and getting up to speed. Last 1/3 of the day when it all came together was exhilirating. Man up and ado a second track day. Prep the car right (brakes, tires, maintenance) and go have fun beating on your car.

Crap, I'm jonesing for another track day right now. Thanks.

 

Or he could woman up and do a four day stint.

 

Going to have to wait quite a bit with all this freaking snow we've been having.