Since Circuit of the Americas* is going private at the end of 2026 and I don’t have $1M to participate in their crazy new doomed-to-fail membership model, I decided to cross an item off of my bucket list and take the C6 to the only permanent Formula 1 track in the United States.

These events are not cheap. The two-day event at the end of May (organized by “Hooked on Driving”) was 1500. That included five hours of track time over two days, as well as meals and all the bottled water you can drink. (Temps were in the high 80s (Fahrenheit, thankfully) all weekend, so much water + electrolyte powder was consumed.) It does not include hotel ($130), fuel (3*18 gallons*$4.50/gallon), tire and brake wear (one set of front pads at $400)… this is not a cheap hobby.

To put that in perspective, a two-day event at Motorsport Ranch (Cresson) runs around $300, with two-day events going for closer to $500. In both cases you’ll likely get a lot more track time, can sleep at home.

But, COTA is special. I’m not in a position to spend $1500 for every track day (four kids, single-income household), but I’m grateful that I got to experience this track at least once. Also had fun chasing a GT3RS around the track for awhile.

I couldn’t figure out why the car really didn’t want to go faster than around 145mph. Driving home after the event, it occurred to me that, at those speeds, aerodynamics are a real factor. Rolling the windows up would likely have yielded a happier top speed.

I look forward to the day when the kids are old enough that I can share this experience with them. There’s something very rewarding about taking a car that you’ve built (or rebuilt) out and legally seeing what it can do in a safe, controlled environment with such a collaborative and supportive community. Whether you’re driving a clapped-out Miata or a Turbo S, we’re all equals there. Need a tool or a ride to the parts store? No problem. Burn through your last set of brake pads? Let’s find someone who has spares.

I’m aware that not everyone gets to do things like this, and grateful that I’m in a position to have these sorts of experiences. Wish my lovely bride would learn to drive a stick so we could go together. 🙂

*Circuit of the Americas is the only permanent Formula 1 racetrack in the United States.