hello, fellow s2k owners, I'm a fairly new S owner and I'm looking for track days around the Baltimore and general Maryland area since it's such a small state. Any suggestions?

 

Do you have track experience and do you have a rollbar? Seems like just about every east coast track requires a rollbar. I'm in the Baltimore County area and have been autocrossing for a few years now. I've gotten in a few trackdays but have yet to commit to putting a rollbar in my car. SCCA's Track Night in America will allow you to run without a rollbar if the track will. SCCA made the program a few years ago to encourage new drivers to do track days. I've done a few Track Nights up at Pittsburgh International Race Complex but that is quite a hike (4+ hrs.). The closer tracks are going to be Summit Point (WV), Virginia International Raceway (VIR in VA), Dominion Raceway (VA), and New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP).

I believe Summit and VIR will require a rollbar on their main circuits. Summit has a smaller circuit that I think they'll still allow without. I think VIR requires one for all. You may be able to run at Dominion and/or NJMP but I'm not totally sure. Seeing videos on those tracks, they had more walls close to the track than I was comfortable for my first few track days. Pittsburgh International Raceway is an awesome track and does have pretty good run-off in most places.

If you're interested in driving and just starting out, I highly suggest autocross. I started autocross thinking I'd transition into track days within 2 years and really haven't done all that many after 6 years in. I enjoy the competition of autocross and track days are really expensive and time intensive, at least being located in Baltimore. Autocross is also a really mentally engaging competition where you need to analyze a new course every time and execute within a few runs. I've grown to really enjoy that aspect of things more than I had imagined. Sliding a car around on a track the way I autocross would be much more expensive and risky.

There's a few different organizations locally but things have changed (unfortunately dwindled) a bit since Covid hit. Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) is going to be the largest and most competitive. BMW Club (BMWCCA) National Capital Chapter (NCC) has a good local group too. I started with SCCA and they are very good at teaching new drivers with Level 1 and Level 2 schools. The first event I ever did was a Level 1 school and I highly recommend it. They have one coming up on March 19th. Running at Summit Point is O.K. but is a hike from Baltimore and a smaller venue. Largo is either a new venue or an old (great) venue that we were able to get a contract on again. The Largo venue should be very nice but they haven't announced exactly what it is yet. I think it's Redskins stadium but not sure. We used to run there before covid and it's a great lot.

SCCA WDCR Region

BMW Club NCC region

 

I was going to say check SCCA Track Night in Americal sched but does not look like much in your area yet. I think because they likely have only built out some of the schedule so far (for example only 1 of the 6 events local to me are up so far). Those events are a lot of fun in my experience, and they do allow S2000's without rollbars since we do have factory roll protection. The events start later in the day on a weekday to keep costs down. Typically like a 4pm -7pm schedule with each of 3 groups (novice, intermediate, advanced) getting 3 20 minute sessions for about $170. I was a volunteer for them in Minnesota before I moved so have been to lots of the events. Pretty standard point by passing in designated zones depending on track/group with no in car instructors. Have enjoyed every event I have attended in the last few years and recommend checking them out. I know there is a guy I know through autocross that lives out in MD and attends these events so there will likely be some in your area.

 

I second the info above about autocross. Have been autocrossing since 2007 and love it. You will hear a lot about seat time, but find a local region and go to practice/TNT events. Typically tons of seat time there. Up in MN we typically could easily get 50 runs at a practice event if we wanted for example. Great safe way to greatly improve your car control skills, really get the car at its limits in a safer setting and to just get more comfortable. Also a lot cheaper

 

You may want to check me on this, but I "think" Track Night events all have the same convertible policy and will run on the short courses at a track typically to get them to allow that. But again, check up on that. I was a volunteer up in MN through last year (moved this year) for the events and we just had one convertible policy for track night and it accepted the S2000 as is with no broomstick test. But again, maybe I just never attended an event where the track mandated it and maybe at those they have additional info. I just signed up for the first one of the season at Heartland Park, KS and it stated the same policy as others I have seen.