Yahoo Autos The High-Performance 'Country Club' Memberships We're After
During this unprecedented time, travel’s been limited. We’re itching to get out of town, get behind the wheel, and set our sights on the open road. Better yet, we’re looking at the closed roads. Track clubs have become the new country clubs—more high-octane, to be sure, and way more fun. No speed limits, no construction zones, and although we can’t guarantee you won’t hit some light traffic—things like that tend to happen in pit lane—these are the best track clubs across the country to join right now.
Monticello Motor Club
The location: Monticello, New York
The specs: 4.1 miles
The track: Situated just 90 minutes outside of Manhattan in Upstate New York, Monticello Motor Club boasts a curvaceous layout of smooth, race-grade asphalt. Designed with 20 unique turns, 12 configurations, and 1.5 miles of straightaways, there’s plenty of room to stretch all of your horses’ legs. You have the option to BYOC(ar) or get behind the wheel of one of the many Porsches or BMW M Performance models in the club’s well-appointed fleet, so it's like having a rotating garage at your disposal.
Virginia International Raceway
The location: Alton, Virginia
The specs: 4.2 miles
The track: Virginia International Raceway is one of the most grueling racetracks in the United States. From arduous cornering to lightning-fast straights, it quickly becomes apparent why Car and Driver has returned to this hallowed proving ground each year since 2006 to conduct its Lightning Lap track test. Challenging and demanding as it may be, it’s a favorable setting to pit performance cars against each other. Whether you’re joining us for annual testing or indulging in some laps of your own, you’re guaranteed to walk away from this course with your adrenaline and endorphins at all-time highs.
Want unprecedented access to join editors on the track later this year? Join the Track Club. As a Founder, you'll actually be invited to this special editorial event and so much more.
Club Spring Mountain
The location: Parumph, Nevada
The specs: 6.1 miles
The track: A diamond in the rough located about an hour west of Las Vegas, at Club Spring Mountain more miles equals more smiles. This automotive haven features the longest road course in North America and—with more than 50 configurations—you won’t tire of the limitless possibilities of this layout. It’s also home to the Ron Fellows and Corvette Official High-Performance Driving School, which means you’ll have access to plenty of expert instruction and seat time behind the newest mid-engine sports car.
Motorsports Ranch
The location: Cresson, Texas
The specs: 3.1 miles
The track: Motorsports Ranch is a swift 30-minutes from Fort Worth. Splitting its lengthy run of tarmac into three playful formations, this track is designed with a 1.3-mile course that has six turns and over 70 feet of elevation changes and the other, 1.7-mile course has 11 turns and over 30 feet of elevation changes. With the option to combine the two, you can double down on the fun and unlock its full potential. There’s even a covered grid pad to keep you shaded from the sweltering Texas sun as you wait for your next run. Talk about Southern hospitality!
Lime Rock Park
The location: Lakeville, Connecticut
The specs: 1.5 miles
The track: Short but sweet—don’t underestimate Lime Rock Park’s compact circuit. It’s been piloted by legendary drivers like Sam Posey and Stirling Moss to celebrity racers like Paul Newman and Tom Cruise, who took up racing lessons here in preparation for his role in Days of Thunder. Nestled within the green rolling hills of the Northeast, Lime Rock Park’s all-season offerings for automotive purists include everything from winter autocross to club track days. We’ll return to Lime Rock Park this fall for Road & Track’s second-ever, four-day Hudson Quattrocento road rally.
Hudson Quattrocento 2021 is sold out (sorry), but Track Club members will have the opportunity to experience this iconic track with hot laps in the Performance Car of the Year finalists in years to come. Become a member for priority access to this event and so many more.
Aspen Motorsports Park
The location: Woody Creek, Colorado
The specs: 1.1 miles
The track: Located in the picturesque Rocky Mountains and founded in the early '60s, Aspen Motorsports Park was developed by a group of local racing enthusiasts in response to a state law that banned public racing. Today, the small but mighty road course is accompanied by a karting track, along with an off-road and dirt bike course if you prefer to get your tires a little dirtier.
Palmer Motorsports Park
The location: Palmer, Massachusetts
The specs: 2.3 miles
The track: Carved into the side of a granite mountain, two things come into play as you’re navigating Palmer Motorsports Park—the tightness and steepness of its layout. Boasting 509 feet of elevation change and the most vertical grade of any track in North America, this course is sure to put even expert drivers through their paces. The daring blueprint of this New England treasure mimics the thrill and weightless descents of a rollercoaster ride. Its quick couple of miles can be driven in either direction—another unique feature of this gravity-defying track.
The Thermal Club
The location: Thermal, California
The specs: 5.1 miles
The track: Just two hours from Los Angeles, Thermal Club is split between three separate circuits, sharing 20 configurations featuring cambered corners and high-speed straights. Carving through the hairpin features of the San Jacinto Mountains and the winding roads in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park before culminating at the High Desert oasis, our members will be able to experience the private track for a hot lap competition with our Road & Track editors.
Concours Club in Miami
The location: Miami, Florida
The specs: 2.0 miles
The track: Long associated with a boisterous super car scene, it wasn’t until recently that Formula 1 announced it would be adding the coastal city to its 2022 race calendar. Although, you may not have to wait quite as long to get in on some of the local, high-speed action. Officially opening its paddock this year, Concours Club promises to be the next premiere track club in the United States. A robust driving circuit with multiple configurations, shifting elevations, and a lengthy straightway, it even captured the eye of Brazilian racing driver, Hélio Castroneves who is one of the club’s founding members. The ultra-exclusive institution currently has a waitlist for new membership applications.
This content was provided by the Road & Track marketing team.
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