There is absolutely no reason you can't get on track this year. I've been tracking a bone stock (except for brake pads and brake lines) for 10 years. Many, many others have started out with stock cars without any ill effects. Just be careful as you start out There are not "winners" in HPDE.

You don't need to start out with a race car on day 1. Go look at Rob Robibette's site and see how he developed his car over time. https://robrobinette.com/S2000TrackEvolv.htm

But as others may have said, spend your money now on track time, not mods. If you want to spend more money, spend $34.99 on the book "Going Faster - Mastering the Art of Race Driving" by Carl Lopez. And learn how to avoid a spin!

If you decide to run with NASA-MA, you will have to sign up as a novice. You will get classroom sessions, an instructor assigned to you and the instructor will be in the car with you. You may be in novice forever, but when you learn what you are supposed to learn, they will sign you off to run intermediate and after a while, you can get signed off to run advance and then ultimately signed off for time trials or racing. Take a look at this site. Here is what a novice is supposed to be able to do before advancing to intermediate. Run Group Promotion - Long Version - Race & Track Driving (formerly Win HPDE)

Also take a look at this for VIR. Same site. http://racetrackdriving.com/track-guide/vir-full/

Just do it! Go out and have fun. It is very, very exciting. Keep the shiny side up. But whatever you do, don't lift in the corner!

 

thanks a bunch man. I am waiting on a call back from VIR and I will be getting in contact with NASA hopefully tomorrow to iron out the details!

 

Someone already answered, but HNR = Head and neck restraint. Hans is the most familiar/popular, but there numerous other options, simpson hybrid, necksgen, defender, and some others also.

You can absolutely go with what you have. Just use your stock seats back in and use the 3-point harness.

I tracked for years with OEM safety equipment - 3.point harness with OEM airbag.

 

Subject to Caronavirus, there is supposed to be a vintage race event at VIR April 3-5, 2020. It will be sponsored by VCDA and VRG. It is a non-spectator event, meaning you should be able to get in by just signing a liability release upon entry to the track facility and at most maybe a $10 fee. Just go there and hang out, wander the paddock, ask questions, absorb what all is happening. In the past, there have been a few older S2000 guys "camped out" overlooking turn 3-4. In the paddock, except maybe for the professional rigs where the guys are handling several cars, most everybody will be friendly as long as you don't bother them as they are rushing to repair or getting out on track. Drive around the perimeter of the track and watch the action. The cars will be old (1955-1995), but maybe there may be a run group of 1st generation Miatas.

NASA-MA is having its Hyperfest there in mid may, but unless you are running in HPDE, that is a spectator event.