Best state/city in the US for track days/track riding?

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tftrained

Joined
May 10, 2021
Messages
35
Location
San Diego, CA
Canadian here with little know-how about the glorious other side.

I am getting a ticket to the US thanks to my new employer.

Which state opens up most opportunities for track days and track riding in general?

I am okay with living in the middle of nowhere as long as I can put up a home gym, have a Duc dealer close by and get to ride on the track (and road for that matter) (almost) all year around.

From the initial looks of it, it appears to be California?
 
CSV4 said:
must love taxes...
Click to expand...

Ya there’s that. Northern California is a dream for riding. There’s Thunder Hill, Sear Point, and of course Laguna Seca all within a few hours drive. All year round riding on epic hiwy 1 and lots of off shoots. Marin county is top for endless riding also a great place to live 5 Ducati dealers in the Bay Area so you’re all set.
That said, ya It’s bloody expensive, riding in SF has become a health hazard as people there are from everywhere except there and can’t drive for sheit. Stay out of SF and you’ll be ok.
You could get clever and find a good spot as there is a mass exodus from SF these days. Everyone is pretty tired of what nonsense it turned into.
 
could go live near Austin... although everyone from SF moved there
 
I've been to a few tracks here in CA, but honestly I'm still in love with The Ridge in Shelton, WA. That track is just outright awesome, and recently repaved. It isn't as fast since they added a chicane (courtesy of MotoAmerica) but it is a great super technical track with tons of elevation change. Also has a Laguna Seca inspired corkscrew.

Not too far from that is Pacific Raceways, which is a good track but nothing too crazy. Couple hours south is Portland International Raceway, which is a pretty good track too.

Rainy season means few track days in the winter months though. A lot of money in the Seattle-Tacoma area, which means a lot of boutique dealers and quality mechanics.
 
Track wise California has everywhere else beat. There are a number of tracks up in the northern half, Thunderhill, Sears Point/ Infinion Raceway, Laguna Seca- (must run a stock exhaust as they have noise restrictions).
There is Buttonwillow in the center of the state with a brand new track being built literally right next to it. From what I understand it is supposed to be pretty awesome and should probably be open by early 2022!
Down south there is Chuckawalla Raceway, Streets of Willow and Willow Springs, and Auto Club Speedway.
 
MaverickiB said:
I've been to a few tracks here in CA, but honestly I'm still in love with The Ridge in Shelton, WA. That track is just outright awesome, and recently repaved. It isn't as fast since they added a chicane (courtesy of MotoAmerica) but it is a great super technical track with tons of elevation change. Also has a Laguna Seca inspired corkscrew.

Not too far from that is Pacific Raceways, which is a good track but nothing too crazy. Couple hours south is Portland International Raceway, which is a pretty good track too.

Rainy season means few track days in the winter months though. A lot of money in the Seattle-Tacoma area, which means a lot of boutique dealers and quality mechanics.
Click to expand...

Hmm, riding friends in Vancouver swear by The Ridge. They say it is as technical as the VIMC in Victoria, BC.
 
tftrained said:
Hmm, riding friends in Vancouver swear by The Ridge. They say it is as technical as the VIMC in Victoria, BC.
Click to expand...

It definitely is. Liter bikes, especially with the shorter straight, are harder to get around on it with than the smaller bikes. Makes for a great challenge. Ground has also been struck for a track in Bremerton, an hour away from Shelton. That'll put 3 tracks within an hour or so if you're anywhere near the Seatac area.
 
Texas is pretty great. I can't compare to Cali as I have no knowledge of Cali tracks

In Texas...
Austin - COTA and Harris Hill Raceway - Dealer: Ducati Austin
Houston - MSR Houston - Dealers: V1Moto & Mancuso Southwest
Dallas - MSR Cresson - Dealer: AMS Ducati

NOLA is a few hours away
 
Last edited:
In my previous post I was focusing on just the tracks available. I live in central California and can ride year round here. Very little rain but it does get ....... hot in the summer averaging over 100 for probably 4 months or so with ...... air quality. Cost of living here (Central San Joaquin Valley) is better than the bay area, LA, or San Diego area. Where I live, riding on the street is pretty good but the infrastructure/ road maintenance in California seems to be lacking and the roads can be a bit of a mess sometimes. The state is in financial crisis, taxes are up and the cost of gas is on the rise. its $3.45 a gallon where I am and a bit more in other areas. While that may be cheap compared to other countries, its up there for the US. So as far as California goes, you get the bad with the good. As far as riding goes it is probably the best the US has to offer but you will pay for it.
 
if you lived somewhere around Austin, you could ride year round, would be close to the hill country, COTA and a Duc master tech. Also a big Aprilia dealership... Probably all the Californians who moved to Austin make it marginally safer than a deathtrap like Houston.
 
Upstate SC, distances (time) to tracks:

Road Atlanta 1.5h
AMP 2h
CMP 2.5
RRR 4h
NC BIKE 4h
Lil Tally 4
Jennings 4.5
VIR 4.5
Barber 4.5

Not to forget mountain roads starting 30min from my house, 2.5 -3h to get to the tail of the dragon
 
The southeast has California beat as far as track selection.

Sent from my HTC U11 using Tapatalk
 
I live in Vermont the following tracks are this far for me:

Calabogie -5:15 - A bit Far - but a fantastic track in Ontario
New Jersey Motorsports Park - 7:00
New Hampshire Motor Speedway - 1:45
Canaan Motor Club - 1:15
Club Motorsports - 1:45
New York Safety Track - 4:5
Palmer Motorsports Park - 3:00
Thompson Speedway 3:15

Dealers:
Cyclewise Ducati Vermont - 2 HRS - Great Family owned dealer - Purchased two Ducs from them so far.
Seacoast Sport Cycle: Derry NH 2:15 - Tons of Track Support
Ducati Freedom Cycle - Concord NH 1:45 - The best Ducati tech in the USA
 
Yeah it’s cheaper fer shur...

But everyone that’s fast lives on the west coast

“The west is the best! Get here and we will do the rest” JM

: )
 

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