How Can I Drive on the Track at High Plains Raceway?

You can drive your own car or motorcycle on the track at High Plains Raceway through two main routes: HPR-run Open Lapping Days, or track days and driving schools hosted by amateur clubs. Open Lapping Days are described by the track as a safe, legal environment to explore the performance envelope of your vehicle. Club-hosted track days and driving schools run alongside wheel-to-wheel racing events, and the track states there is an event for you regardless of skill level, vehicle choice, or budget. The main practical step is checking the calendar, since events fill most weekends from April through October.

The Two Ways to Get On Track

Open Lapping Days (run by HPR)

These are organized directly by the track. The site describes them as giving "everyone a safe and legal environment to explore the performance envelope of your vehicle." This is the most direct path if you want track time in your own vehicle without joining a club race weekend. A news item on the site also notes that car insurance is available for Open Lapping Days, which is worth reviewing before you go.

Club Track Days and Driving Schools

Amateur clubs host events at HPR ranging from track days and driving schools to wheel-to-wheel racing. Driving schools are the natural entry point if you have never been on a track before; track days suit drivers who want lapping time within a club-run structure. These events cover all types of cars and motorcycles.

Step by Step

1. Check the calendar first. The site's Upcoming Calendar Events section lists scheduled dates. Events run most weekends April through October, so pick a date that matches your vehicle type and experience level.
2. Choose your format. New to track driving: look for a driving school or a club track day. Already have track experience: Open Lapping Days or advanced club groups. Want competition: the "Race at HPR" path covers wheel-to-wheel events for any skill level, vehicle, or budget.
3. Confirm the event is running. The calendar also lists closures. The site shows a maintenance closure beginning October 26 with the reopening date to be determined, plus holiday closures around December 24–25 and December 31–January 1. The track explicitly asks people not to contact it asking when it will reopen; the date will be posted when known.
4. Prepare your vehicle and yourself. The site does not publish technical inspection rules, helmet requirements, or entry fees on the pages reviewed here, so get those details from the specific organizing club or from HPR when you register.
5. Show up and drive. Events are held on the track's rolling terrain, which the site describes as technical, challenging, and very safe.

What to Expect at the Facility

Common Pitfalls

• Arriving without checking the calendar. The season is weekend-heavy and includes maintenance and holiday closures, so confirm your date before traveling.
• Assuming you need racing experience. Driving schools and track days exist specifically for less experienced drivers; wheel-to-wheel racing is a separate, optional step.
• Skipping the insurance question. If you plan to use your own car on an Open Lapping Day, read the site's insurance note before the event.
• Expecting posted pricing. The pages reviewed do not list fees; costs come from the organizing club or HPR at registration.

For the full event list, start with the Upcoming Calendar Events section on highplainsraceway.com, then follow the "Race at HPR" or Open Lapping Day links for the format that fits you.