I can't wait to get involved in Motorsports! Where do I start and what are my options?
- Frank Schwartz
- Jan 21
- 24 min read
Updated: Jan 22
Figuring out how to get started on your Motorsport journey is way more frustrating than it should be. Everyone seems to have a different opinion of the best way for you to start. Don't believe me? Do a google search on "How to get started in Motorsports?" and see what you get. AI likely tells you that karting is the best path. One of the top links is likely a paid advertisement to a driving school. In total, there are way too many paths and options available for the average person to make sense. Motorsports is funny like that. Want to play any sport? There is likely a local organization that has rec-level opportunities for younger children, a business of coaching and training that elevates the skill as those children become teenagers, school-level options for the main sports and later in life, community led rec-level activities for adults. And with that comes the other community support, there is probably a neighbor, co-worker or friend who has some experience and can point you in the right direction. Want to get started in Motorsports? Good luck.
Before we start providing some answers, some full disclosure. The reason for all these "getting started" activities is rooted in the fact we just love racing. When I am strapped into a race car, the belts are like a thunder blanket for animals - I instantly relax. For me time slows, to the point where I risk falling asleep - a key reason not to arrive to grid too early. Once the race starts everything changes, the excitement of matching skill and wits with others, striving for the perfect lap and the perfect pass - just WOW. I am truly blessed we get to do it more than 20 weekends a year. Which brings up my second favorite thing: Helping others achieve the same feeling. The picture below frames it perfectly - we did not drive that weekend - it was dedicated to helping others achieve their race car dreams. Based on the looks on their faces I would say we were successful.
"Ok, so how do I get started?" Ummm, sorry, wrong question.
What you want to ask is "Where do I want to end up? What are my goals?"
Choose the destination first, then start the journey, it's a whole lot more efficient that way.
And before you set your goals, you should be honest with yourself and make sure they are reasonable. There are lots of reasons people get started down a path and abandon it before they achieve their goals - a key reason is the goal was never reasonable. Everyone discusses the cost of motorsports as a significant issue. And there is no attempt here to dispute that fact. But there are a myriad number of motorsports events that are achievable on a limited budget. And we would add that time is every bit as important as the money aspect - Moreso the older you get. But renting cars or seat time can be a simple solution to bypass your time limitation (full disclosure - we rent race cars but that is not the core point in the following information). The last item we would ask you to consider seems to be missing from most conversations - where you live has an outsized effect on the options available to you. Not every type of event is available everywhere, and the same event costs a significantly different amount in different parts of the country + there is the cost of travel. Some people get lucky there, like when I moved to Michigan for a job only to find out my house was 15 minutes away from a race track I did not even know existed. Let's face it, an unsurprising amount of you are here because the goal is to be a Professional Race Car Driver. We have no answers here for that and I don't want to be the negative Nancy and list why. Set a reasonable goal, then it will become more clear which path to follow and that will help you decide which place is the right place for YOU get started - which may or may not be the same place for other people.
There are 3 basic ways to get involved in Motorsports; You can Spectate (watch), you can Volunteer (help organize) or you can Participate (aka crew or drive). For every event, the answer for each of these is quite different. For those who are completely unaware of the following Motorsport activities, the recommended path for most people is linear, Watch > Help > Do. You can skip straight to "Do", but may miss an important items that spoils the result for you later. A great example is trying to buy a race car. Race Car Ads are intoxicating; I browse them daily and dream. But the reality is unfortunate, for every race car that is for sale in an ad, the owner's friends had first crack at it and passed, then word-of-mouth carried around the paddock, and no one bought it, so the ad was the last resort. Want to get the best deal on a used race car? Maybe its on Bring-a-Trailer like this Camaro, but most likely its being at the track when the right opportunity pops up.
I suspect the majority of people who have stumbled onto this blog are here because they want to race a sports car against other people on a road course. That goal is neither inexpensive nor is it available in all parts of the country. If you live in Billings, Montana for example, the closest road course to you is 10+ hours away. Even if you have the time available, 10 hours of towing means a race weekend costs an easy $1500 on top of the $500 entry fee. And that is before you add the cost of the personal safety equipment, race car, tow vehicle and trailer. However if you live in Detroit, Michigan, $2k pays for an entire 6 weekend season of race entry fees at Waterford Hills or you can do track days for less than $200/weekend in your street car. In the end, what you WANT to do may temporarily be exchanged for what you CAN do. To help you pick what fits your time, location and budget limitations, we have listed details about the different types of events, from Sim Racing to Road Racing.
I am going to try and discuss the different events in some order from least to most involved, but in reality, at the upper end you really aren't involved, you are committed. What's the difference? I'll use this moment to tell a favorite story, I would gladly link to the original the author seems to have been lost to history. There is a semi-famous story about a NASCAR owner who responded to a journalist that he wasnt involed in racing, he was committed. The journalist asked what's the difference to which the owner replied its similar to an eggs and bacon breakfast. In the case of the eggs, the chicken was involved. But with the bacon? - the pig was committed.
The Easy Button - Being a Spectator
If you want to watch racing, Professional racing is the most obvious answer. Buy a ticket and fight the crowds or watch on TV for free. Fortunately, there are other ways to watch motorsports. Many of the events listed below are private and only available for participants and their families. Many others are open and free to watch. And the remaining are available at a modest fee. Our local race track here in Michigan has a $5 spectator fee during their 7 race weekends a year. The best part is that this also allows you into the paddock area, where you can walk among the cars and drivers - and because its all amateurs, almost every driver will drop a wrench in a second to talk to you about their car or the race.
Many events even allow children in these areas. I am ALWAYS available to let kids sit in one of our race cars and if you are lucky, there are also probably a few free hot wheels in the trailer. And I am not alone in this - other racers do it too. For those events that are private without spectators, the most common reason insurance restrictions. But there is a hack for that - become a member of the club that is hosting the event. The bonus is membership fees are, in MOST cases, less expensive than a spectator ticket to a professional race. Finally, technology is grand, because smaller clubs can now broadcast their events on youtube and some cars/teams even stream their in-car video on various platforms. There are also apps that let you following the timing of the race with individual laps times posted in real time. I personally find myself watching events across the country - The Buttonwillow race this weekend was on my phone as I type. I was there last year and am curious to see how everyone was doing (not well it turns out - they missed a ton of track time due to a dense fog that made safety a consideration). 10 years ago this technology was restricted to the professional events, now it has worked its way down into the amateur ranks.
Almost as Easy - Being a Volunteer
There are around 3,000 events that happen on a road course race track in the US every year. Add to that the thousands of autocrosses in parking lots, road rallys on street roads (if you don't know what these events are its described below) and other events and you can start to understand how hard it is to staff each and every event. I know of VERY FEW clubs and organizations that will turn you down if you want to help at the event. This is a really great way to get involved at a very basic level - with the added bonus of being the most up-close and personal with the action possible. Some even offer food and drinks and others pay small amounts to assist with your expenses, or grant club memberships in exchange for working events.
Ever watched a Formula 1 race on TV? Did you see those people standing really close to the track waving flags. Every single one of them started out as a volunteer at some local club. Some clubs will accept anyone and train them. Other clubs require a certification school (most of which are free by the way). Standing in the sun all day sounds terrible? Every other part of an event needs support and volunteers are the key part of making it all happen.
Are you a super meticulous person? maybe volunteer with registration. What about being very technical? the tech team that weighs and makes sure cars are compliant with the rules need help too. Organized? help the gris people line up cars before the start of the race. The safety team need staff, the stewards who manage the event need support, there are an amazing number of ways to get involved on a volunteer basis.
Participation - Easy to hard depending on the type of event
Participating in motorsports covers being on a crew, being a navigator (for Rallies only) and of course, driving. Crewing is The Cheat Code. Grass Paddock Motorsports is located in Toledo Ohio and always looking for crew. If you are local, reach out, as we gladly exchange shop time for seat time. If you want to come visit us at the track, we would be happy to meet you, show you around, introduce you to people and hand you a wrench if you are interested. While we do not employ any at-track staff, other race teams occasionally need help and this might be the quickest way to meet them. The role of a Navigator is discussed in the Rally sections and finally, how to become a driver is the key target of this article. The difficulty in driving is based on the type of event you want to do. Full wheel 2 wheel racing in sprint race events (under an hour) requires a Competition License for most series. A Competition License generally requires attending a Competition School first, which brings its own costs. Some endurance series however, allow you to compete with just a state Driver's License, however the quality of the competition is generally much lower even if the fun-level is extremely high. Then there are the options for those too young to have a Driver's License which include karting (low cost easy logistics) or private formula car series that are quite expensive.
The "I Don't Want to Leave My House" solution - SIM Racing
As an early adopter of Sim Racing, I have always been a fan. But I want to make sure people understand the difference between Sim Racing and Racing Games. Racing consoles like PlayStation have long offered racing titles. The reality is, they have game physics which may not replicate actual car performance, and the software is designed to help you drive. So the translation is tangential at best - yes you learn things like the design of famous tracks and maybe a proper racing line but the game is helping you in hidden ways so learning is limited. Sim racing software attempts to replicate the real-world racing situation. Tracks are laser scanned which means every bump is included so you can really learn the nuances of a track and there is an attempt to make the car "handle" like in real life. Pro race drivers use sophisticated and expensive sim software to practice, but for the average user like you and me, iRacing is the current industry standard. In the past there were attempts to take drivers from the games and introduce them to real world racing, but the results were poor at best. Recently we scholarshipped top drivers on the iRacing platform and while they were not at the pointy end of the track, to see them mid pack in their first races was exhilarating.
NO DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIRED
The Good: Really easy and inexpensive way to get your feet wet. A decent computer, wheels and iRacing software can be purchased for under $1,000. if you have a computer already you might just need to upgrade the graphics card, RAM and monitor. Since its in your home you can spend time on the software any time you have a free hour.
The Bad: I struggle to find anything bad to say about Sim Racing, other than your family will probably be unhappy when they see how much time you spend on it.
Spectating Options: Surprisingly very good - many series broadcast their events. My current favorite is the RayESports Racing League
Volunteer Options: na
A Very Easy Place to Start - Road Rallys
Road Rallies are events help on public roads in street cars where the drivers MUST obey all traffic laws. The general idea is we start at Point A, and we drive to Point B and we have some sort of competitive criteria that we accomplish along the way. For example, a TSD Rally (Time Speed Distance) says if you drive 5mph under the speed limit you should arrive at point B in 1 hour. if you arrive 5 minutes early OR 5 minutes late, you get the same penalty points. At the end of the day the person with the LEAST penalty points wins. What makes it fun and easy? Typically, the routes are UNKNOWN till you show up at the start. The route is explained with a written course instruction that makes paying attention super important. Turn left on the 3rd road after a Rooster sign is complicated by the fact the rooster sign is on a dirt road. Is the sign before or after the road? Makes a difference where you turn. Reading comprehension is key. Variations of the Rally theme include a Gimmick Rally, where the route includes trivia questions and the winner is not based on time but who gets the most answers correct. or I have seen them where you arrive at a checkpoiint and get a playing card. The winner has the best poken hand. What is so great about rallys is that the people who run them generally do other events listed here, so its a great way to meet some people involved in motorsports. Rallies require ZERO equipment to get started, no helmets, no special tools, just a car and a codriver (because you shouldn't read the instructions and drive). best part is they are true family events - I loved nothing more when the kjids were young than doing a family Gimmick rally because everyone could look out for the question "What color sombrero is the guy wearing at the Mexican restaurant on the left?" Note there was ALSO a Mexican restaurant on the right 1 mile before the one on the left. That guy had a DIFFERENT colored sombrero.
STATE DL REQUIRED FOR DRIVER - Navigator can be anyone
The Good: Cheap, no special equipment needed, completely safe, daily drivers like minivans are acceptable, can do with the whole family, typically only 4-5 hours long, on a weekend day and end at a restaurant for social time and dinner
The Bad: Rare in most parts of the country, really don't get to explore the limits of your car or develop driving skills
Spectating Options: very poor, nothing really interesting to watch
Volunteer Options: very good, a Rally requires a fairly large number of staff to run, especially when compared to the number of participants.
The Best Place to Start - Autocross
Autocrosses are low-speed handling events typically held in large, paved parking lots. A course is designed with cones and temporary markers, and drivers take their street cars through the course one at a time. The winner ithe person with the lowest time. Hit a cone? Add 2 seconds to your score. Why is it awesome? It requires very little equipment (a helmet and a reliable car), tools (torque wrench for wheels and air pump for tire pressures are recommended), is low cost (entry fees between $25 - 75), and generally are single day events (no hotels or overnight stays). From a driving point of view they are very low risk for damage to the car or yourself, and you have an excellent way to learn about your cars handling and traction limits where mistakes end in a spin, not an accident. They are fairly common to large cities, and medium sized cities have a good chance there is a local club holding events. Smaller metro areas can be hit and miss but when I started, my local club in a town of 60k people held 5 or 6 events in a year. The SCCA National Championship is held annually in Topeka Kansas and attracts over 1,000 entries. Overall, you cannot have more fun with your car 60 seconds at a time.
STATE DL REQUIRED
The Good: Inexpensive, only requires a proper helmet, daily drivers are common, very safe, great way to learn your car's handling limits, great way to develop driver skill, almost always a single weekend day event
The Bad: Do not get a lot of seat time, can destroy standard street tires (many who do this regularly have a 2nd set of wheels and tires)
Spectator Options: Since these are almost always in public parking lots, >95% are free and spectator friendly
Volunteer Options: Most every event is run by a small local club - join the club and volunteer away
Rallycross - A slightly more involved variation of Autocross
Rallycross events are basically Autocross events on unpaved surfaces. Because of this they may involve bumps where cars become slightly airborne, which means a lowered sports car might not be a good tool to use. So in our opinion, while having a very similar type of event, it is much more difficult to get started because not every car will work at every event. Also, private land that allows these types of events are not commonplace, so depending on where you live in the country, there may not be any events near you.
STATE DL REQUIRED
The Good: Everything with Autocross with the added extra of a low grip surface - means finding the limit happens much more often so you get more time to learn. In most cases you will get more runs at a Rallycross than an Autocross. Some areas compete based on total time instead of best run which makes consistency key. Since the grip level is lower, you likely learn more.
The Bad: everything with Autocross except there is a small chance of car damage depending on your suspension, ground clearance and ride height
Spectator Options: Unlike autocross events, Rallycross events are generally held on private property. Each event will have a specific spectator policy so ask in advance.
Volunteer Options: Like autocross, most every event is run by a small local club - join the club and volunteer away
Trackcross - A higher speed variation of Autocross
Trackcross are autocross events held on race tracks. The course is typically shortened, and only part of the track is used. Because of the difference beetween a wide open parking lot and a fully built race track - they can be much higher speed. That brings additional risk, those speeds combined with a less open venue bring - namely there is the possibility of having an accident and hitting something. The downside of these events is track rental is expensive, and entry fees are substantially higher. In addition, this is more of a niche event and is not held in much of the country.
STATE DL REQUIRED
The Good: Everything with autocross except the course is longer and the course is faster so you get more seat time
The Bad: Everything with autocross except, depending on the track, the risks for damage increase in how often and how serious
Spectator Options: Because they are held on parts of race tracks the are generally not spectator friendly - but join the club or volunteer to bypass those restrictions
Volunteer Options: Like autocross, most every event is run by a small local club - join the club and volunteer away
This is probably a good place to introduce our new Motorsport Search Engine. To find a list of events in your area, visit www.theracingportal.com, enter your zip code, how far you want to drive and what type of event you want to attend. The website is currently participant oriented, but we will be adding the volunteer side soon. In the meantime, if you want to volunteer, reach out and we will hook you up with the right people. Phase 1 just launched with track-oriented events (those below) but the events above will be included in future updates.  Be careful though, if you are not specific with your filters, you may find that there are too many results to pinpoint what you are looking which kind of defeats the purpose. As of today it lists around 3,000 events from 50 different sanctioning bodies and has hundreds of schedules. If you see something we missed or want to provide feedback for future versions, there is a feedback button on the site.
Track Days and HPDE - its starting to get serious now
Track Days are NON-COMPETITION events where you can drive your street car on a real road course race track have exploded in popularity over the past 30 years. Also known as High Performance Driving Events or Driver Education (HPDE) they have a medium cost of entry fees (generally $100-400/day) and equipment (a well maintained street car with excellent working brakes and tires, minimal tools and a proper helmet with recent automobile crash ratings - ie no Motorcycle Helmets). There are additional costs to the car as street tires are not well suited to track use and will degrade quickly. Most people have bought a second set of rims to dedicate to track days with special tires which can add thousands to the cost depending on the car. Almost every race track in the country offers a HPDE option, some managed by the track itself but most from small companies or clubs who rent the track for a day and then charge you for the entry. There is a clear risk, and while it's not often someone has an accident, it is also not zero. While it does happen on occasion, 99% of it is driver error, but is NOT covered by your insurance policy, so finding another way home when your car is damaged might be the least of your worries. There are companies like Hagerty that offer separate insurance policy, a typical price is $300 with a 10% deductible. The good news is the process is designed NOT to have issues. You will start in a lead follow behind instructors with no passing and get instruction before being allowed on track at speed. In the beginning you will be grouped with other novices and passing is NOT allowed. As your skill and experience increase at future events, you will graduate to groups that allow passing only when pointed by, to groups where passing is allowed on the straights only, eventually ending up in groups where mutual respect and skill mean you can pass anywhere without issues. There is NO competition related to these events, and times are not kept or displayed.
STATE DL REQUIRED
The Good: Lots more seat time than autocross at a higher speed. Still get to use your street car. Many events are still single day so minimizes travel expense.
The Bad: Risk starts to increase as more track time at higher speeds become the norm. Some street cars are not well suited to the use, can seriously damage or ruin street tires. Its not a competition so if you are competitive move on. Generally race cars are NOT allowed to mix with Street Cars, so many events restrict them since they cannot attract enough race cars to make it worth while.
Spectator Options: Varies - most of these events are for profit and the group managing the event cannot afford insurance for spectators. If you don't know someone competing or belong to the club, you are unlikely able to attend
Volunteer Options: Unlike autocross, most events are run by small businesses and really don't have any way to accept volunteers. There are exceptions and the tracks themselves occasionally allow volunteers to assist.
Bracket Racing - a beginner's level of competition
Bracket Racing slots in between HPDE untimed events and Time Trials/Time Attack where the lowest lap time wins. Bracket races are simply timed laps where drivers predict their best lap time, then try to get as close to it as possible without going faster.
STATE DL REQUIRED
The Good: The quality and money spent on your car do not matter
The Bad: There are only a few places in the country that run them
Spectator Options: as with HPDE
Volunteer Options: as with HPDE
Time Trial and Time Attack - ok we are serious and involved
Time Trials, also known as Track Attack, are timed Track Day events. The seriousness level is ramped up as most competitors have started modifying their cars for lower lap times. There are classes for unmodified cars so the costs can be the same as Track Days but generally most people have started the mod process. Modified suspension, aero enhancements and other improvement can approach the original cost of the car for some people. On a national level a $100,00 Track Attack car, while not common, is also not unheard of. There are also semi-pro series with cash and vendor prices for the winners which may slightly reduce costs - but to be fair, people will spend $1,000 to win $100 so racer beware. Otherwise, everything that applies to HPDE applies here, including risks and insurance.
STATE DL REQUIRED
The Good - everything about HPDE + the competition
The Bad: Now that competition enters, the amount of money people spend improving their cars ramps up spectacularly
Spectator Options: The larger events are very spectator friendly, otherwise they are the same as track days
Volunteer Options: As with Track Day/HPDE events
Hillclimbs - The Risk is Increasing
Hillclimbs are similar to Time Trials in that they are competition oriented and timed. They have two significant differences. First they are held on the side of mountains and generally have a high level of risk associated with accidents. Because of this they also require a higher level of safety equipment than a HPDE or Time Trial (ie in most cases street cars as driven daily do not qualify, a roll bar and other safety items are required but are short of the full requirements of a race car). In some ways you may rank this higher than a Competition School because the risk is higher.
STATE DL REQUIRED
The Good: everything about HPDE + Time Trial, the most fun I have in a car
The Bad: The Risk, limited locations, many event have entry limits so attending may also require early entry and some luck
Spectator Options: All the events are VERY spectator oriented. In fact on my scale, if I only get to watch one event a year, it would be a hillclimb
Volunteer Options: As with most club events, they will welcome the support
Driver's Schools versus Competition Schools - How involved do you want to be?
Driver's Schools - At this point you are making an investment specifically to be a better driver, no matter which type of HPDE /Time Trial/Street car event you are driving in. Some of these schools could better be called Arrive and Drive, because they also provide you with a car. Mustang, Corvette, Cadillac and others present these events with pro drivers, and a $4,000/hr of instructed track time is not unusual when the car is included. The rest are held by the more serious clubs and costs can approach $1,000/day even when using your own car.
STATE DL REQUIRED
The Good - People are teaching and you are learning = AWESOME. Most HPDEs have a training class for Novices and those new to the sport
The Bad: Quality of instructors is random
Spectator Options: The larger events are very spectator friendly, otherwise they are the same as track days
Volunteer Options: As with Track Day/HPDE events
Competition Schools
Often confused with Driver's Schools, these are wheel to wheel racing in caged race car schools that teach the rules of racing. After a classroom session where the rules of flags, passing, and genaral on track behavior is covered, drivers take to the track in competition cars and gradually explore all the details that make racing safe. There are professional schools that provide the car and there are club-run schools where you need to bring your own race car or rent one from a company like us. I wrote a full detailed comparison between Competition Schools which can be found here. Expect to pay $500-1000 entry fee for a Club-Run School and upwards of $5-10,000 for a professionals school. You will also need full race equipment, a certified helmet and HASN device, a fireproof suit, gloves, socks and shoes. Some pro schools and race car renters have these items for loan, but you should really have your own - expect to pay $1,000-3,000 depending on how fire proof you want to be (higher fireproof ratings = higher price tag)
STATE DL MOSTLY REQUIRED - 14 years old with prior permission
FULL PHYSICAL and MEDICAL APPROVAL REQUIRED
The Good: This puts you on the path to a serious racing future
The Bad: You must have a car that meets all safety requirements which means NO STREET CARS. Cage and belts and all the required items differ per event and the organization that manages the event - but the requirements are pretty high everywhere with small differences
Spectator Options: Schools are generally not spectator friendly
Volunteer Options: Professional Competition Schools are full time businesses and have no real volunteer options. Club run Competition Schools are mostly volunteer staffed the same as races (see below)
If you have decided the Competition school is thr route for you, we just finished a nice article about how to choose your school https://www.grasspaddock.com/post/what-makes-a-great-competition-driver-s-school-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly
Racing - Now you are committed
The first rule of racing is never add the receipts. It will always be the most expensive of these options and while many people claim it used to be cheap - it never was. The least expensive option in the country is our local Waterford Hills Track, where your budget might include purchasing a $5,000 race car, spending $300 per weekend on entry fees and $500 per weekend on tires, fuel and repairs. Then you will need a trailer or tow dolly and a way to tow to the track. In the end you will be slow, uncompetitive, but your family will not be able to wipe the smile off your face. In general the bigger, heavier and faster the car is, the more the costs go up. Some classes are for cars that cost over $100,000 so the range of options is huge. If you go the rental route, you can general get a rental race car for around $3,000/weekend + cost of any damage - but at least you won't need a tow vehicle trailer or a place to store them.
In most cases the break even between owning and renting a race car is 4 weekends a year, every year, so renting may be an ideal way to start out or increase your free time. Most racing requires a competition license which requires doing a competition school first. But there are endurance race series where 3 or 4 drivers share a car over 6-8 hours which do not require a competition license. In those cases, you can occasionally find a seat as cheap as $500/hour of seat time, but the majority are closer to $750-1,000/hr. Racing has way too many options to describe here, so a later post will discuss all the different types of races and what is good or bad about each. Just remember, the cost per weekend is substantially higher than the other choices here.
STATE DL (most endurance series), Competition School (most sprint races)
The Good - The ultimate goal for many of us
The Bad: In most cases requires a minimal level of experience and a Competition License of some sort (except Endurance races)
Spectator Options: Varies per event
Volunteer Options: Generally, these races are run by clubs and clubs need volunteers. This is the largest volunteer opportunity on this list.
Types of Racing:
Sprint Races
Often called Club Races or Regional Races
Less than one hour in duration, most common 25-40 minutes in length.
Single driver, no pit stops.
Hundreds of classes for a variety of modification levels.
Multiple sanctioning bodies and clubs run sprint races, the largest are SCCA and NASA
Requires a Competition School in almost every case.
Some events allow racing based on substantial experience in lieu of a school
The SCCA CRE program allows those without a Comp License or School
All require a doctor's permission after a thorough physical
The SCCA has a second level called Majors and Super Tours where a School + a minimal level of experience is required
Vintage races
Sprint races for cars that are beyond a certain age, typically 25+ years
How old or how modern a car is depends on which sanctioning body
The are some 15+ Vintage Racing Organizations in the country, SVRA and HSR are among the largest and most well known
Licensing may be even more restrictive that Sprint Races
While competition is encouraged, most have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy of mistakes, contact, repeated off course excursions
Endurance Races
Races of a length over an hour, most commonly 4 hours or more with one event at 25hours
Driver changes are required on most (ie you need a team of drivers)
Several series do not require a Competition School - just a state Driver's License
The largest are 24 Hours of LeMons, Champcar and LuckyDog
OPEN TRACK DAYS OR TEST DAYS
I put Open Track Days and Test days here because in general, people are using these to support racing (ie they have already raced). Whereas HPDEs usually exclude race cars, Open Track and Test Days usually restrict street cars. Check each specific event for the rules and requirements as there is no commonality with their application.
ARRIVE and DRIVE
We would be remiss if we did not include an early path for serious racers. Many who have the resources at their disposal, start kart racing at a young age. By the time they are a teenager that are ready to make the step to cars, but unfortunately most amateur race series are restricted to those with at least a State Driver's License. SO where do these young talents go? Typically they move to a private or semi-pro development series like F4 or one of the coaching series like the Lucan Oil Series (which happens to be coached by our friend Ryan Hall.)
MEMBER DAYS
I put member days at the top of the pyramid simply because of the cost. A lot of the restrictions of Racing go out the window, if you have a club membership most let you drive, even if you don't have a State DL. Here is a list of the member exclusive tracks in the country as well as tracks that offer Drivers Clubs where you prepay for access. Again, dates of availability, car and license requirements must be discussed with each individually, as there is no consistent answer.
Whew, that was a lot of data. Hope it helps - feedback and comments are always welcome.