highplainsraceway.com

High Plains Raceway (HPR) is an amateur road racing facility in Colorado, described on its site as "one of America's greatest amateur road racing facilities." It is built on rolling terrain with open spaces, and the track is characterized as technical, challenging, and very safe. It hosts amateur club events — track days, driving schools, and wheel-to-wheel racing — for both cars and motorcycles, with activity concentrated on most weekends from April through October.

What happens at HPR

The facility's calendar is organized around four functions listed on its homepage:

• Upcoming Calendar Events — the season schedule, including closures.
• News & Announcements — updates such as insurance information for Open Lapping Days and site changes.
• Race at HPR — the path for participants interested in wheel-to-wheel competition.
• Watch Racing at HPR — spectator information.

Track days and driving schools

Amateur clubs host events ranging from track days and driving schools up to competitive racing. HPR also runs its own Open Lapping Days, which the site describes as a safe and legal environment for drivers to explore the performance envelope of their vehicle. A news item notes that car insurance is available for Open Lapping Days.

Wheel-to-wheel racing

HPR states that regardless of skill level, vehicle choice, or budget, there is an event for you. The site points to a "How to Race at HPR" page for the participation path.

Spectating

According to the site, virtually all events are free to watch and open to the public. A "How to Watch at HPR" page covers spectator logistics.

Season and closures

The core season runs April through October, when most weekends are filled with events. The published calendar also shows the off-season:

The site explicitly asks people not to contact the track asking when it will reopen during the maintenance closure — the reopening date will be posted when known.

Is it right for you?

• If you want to drive your own car or motorcycle in a controlled setting: Open Lapping Days and club track days are the entry points; check the calendar for dates in season.
• If you want to compete: HPR positions itself as accessible across skill levels and budgets; start with the "How to Race at HPR" guidance.
• If you want to watch: most events are free and open to the public.
• If you're planning around the off-season: expect the facility to be closed from late October through year-end for maintenance, with the reopening date announced on the site rather than by phone.

For current dates, event details, and participation requirements, the track's calendar and the "Race" and "Watch" pages are the authoritative sources.

You can race at High Plains Raceway (HPR) by entering wheel-to-wheel competition through the amateur clubs that host events at the track. HPR states that there is an event for you regardless of skill level, vehicle choice, or budget, and it points prospective racers to a "How to Race at HPR" guidance page. The track itself is a facility that hosts clubs; the clubs run the competition, so your entry path runs through them rather than through a single HPR racing school.

Start With the Right Entry Point

HPR describes its season as running virtually every weekend from April through October, with amateur clubs hosting everything from track days and driving schools to wheel-to-wheel racing. That progression matters: if you have never been on a track, a track day or driving school is the normal first step before wheel-to-wheel racing.

• Never driven on track: begin with a track day or driving school hosted by a club at HPR.
• Some track experience: ask clubs about their novice or intermediate competition licensing path.
• Ready to race wheel-to-wheel: enter a club race event in an eligible class for your car or motorcycle.

HPR also runs its own Open Lapping Days, which it describes as a safe and legal environment to explore the performance envelope of your vehicle. These are lapping sessions, not races, but they are a practical way to learn the layout and build seat time.

Choose an Event That Fits Your Vehicle and Budget

HPR explicitly frames its racing as open to all vehicle choices and budget levels, and notes that events cover all types of cars and motorcycles. In practice, your decision comes down to three matching questions:

Because clubs set their own classes, fees, and equipment rules, confirm these details with the specific host club before committing.

Use the HPR Calendar and Guidance Pages

The HPR site is the starting point for finding events and understanding the process:

1. Open the Upcoming Calendar Events section to see which clubs are running events and on which dates.
2. Read the How to Race at HPR page for the track's own guidance on entering competition.
3. Contact the hosting club listed for an event to confirm eligibility, class, and entry requirements.

The calendar also shows closures, so check it before planning a visit. For example, the posted calendar lists a closure for maintenance from October 26 through December 31, with the reopening date to be determined, plus closures around December 24–25 and December 31–January 1. HPR asks that people not contact the track asking when it will reopen; the date will be posted when known.

Watch First If You Are Unsure

HPR states that virtually all of its events are free to watch and open to the public, and it provides a "How to Watch at HPR" page. Attending an event as a spectator is a low-risk way to see how clubs run race weekends, talk to competitors, and decide which class and club suit you before you enter.

Practical Checks Before You Enter

• Confirm the event is a race, not a track day or school, if wheel-to-wheel competition is your goal.
• Verify your vehicle or motorcycle meets the host club's class rules.
• Ask the club what safety equipment and licensing or novice requirements apply.
• Check the HPR calendar for the event date and any scheduled closures.
• Expect the season to run roughly April through October, with limited activity outside it.

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.

Yes—according to the track's own site, virtually all events at High Plains Raceway are free to watch and open to the public. The main condition is timing: spectator-friendly action is concentrated in the racing season, roughly April through October, when amateur clubs host events nearly every weekend. Outside that window the facility may be closed for maintenance, so check the calendar before planning a trip.

What You Can Expect to See

High Plains Raceway describes itself as one of America's greatest amateur road racing facilities, built on rolling terrain and open spaces that make the track technical, challenging, and very safe. Events cover all types of cars and motorcycles, from track days and driving schools up to wheel-to-wheel racing. For a spectator, that means the schedule varies by weekend—some days are lapping and instruction, others are actual races.

Events vs. Open Days

• Club race weekends — wheel-to-wheel competition; the most spectator-oriented format.
• Track days and driving schools — participants learning and practicing; still watchable, but not racing.
• HPR Open Lapping Days — the track's own program giving drivers a safe, legal environment to explore their vehicle's performance. These are participation events, not spectator shows.

How to Plan a Visit

1. Check the upcoming calendar on highplainsraceway.com before you go. The homepage lists upcoming calendar events and news announcements, and the full calendar is the authoritative source for dates.
2. Confirm the event type so you know whether you're attending a race weekend or a lapping/school day.
3. Read the "How to Watch at HPR" page linked from the homepage for spectator guidance.
4. Watch for closures. The site posts maintenance closures directly—for example, a notice running October 26 through December 31 states the track is closed for maintenance with the reopening date to be determined, and asks people not to contact the track asking when it will reopen. Holiday closures around December 24–25 and December 31–January 1 are also posted.

Practical Caveats

• "Virtually all" is the site's wording—it leaves room for an occasional event that isn't open to the public, so verify the specific date rather than assuming.
• The published material does not list spectator fees, parking details, or gate hours. Nothing on the site indicates paid admission, but absence of a price isn't a guarantee—confirm with the hosting club if it matters for your plans.
• Colorado weather and the April–October season mean winter visits are unlikely to coincide with racing.

Bottom Line

If you want free access to amateur road racing, High Plains Raceway is a strong option: pick a weekend between April and October, check the calendar for a club race event, and review the How to Watch page before heading out. If you're visiting in the off-season, expect a closed facility rather than a spectator event.

High Plains Raceway's main season runs roughly April through October, with events filling most weekends. The track then closes for maintenance from late October, and the reopening date is announced on the website when it is determined. Around the holidays, the calendar also lists closures on December 24–25 and December 31–January 1. Because the maintenance period has no fixed end date, check the online calendar before planning a visit.

The Main Season: April Through October

According to the track's homepage, virtually every weekend from April through October is packed with high-speed action hosted by amateur clubs. Events range from track days and driving schools to wheel-to-wheel racing, and they cover all types of cars and motorcycles.

The track also runs its own Open Lapping Days, which the site describes as a safe and legal environment for drivers to explore the performance envelope of their vehicle. If your goal is to drive on the track rather than just watch, these sessions and the club-hosted track days are the main options during the season.

The Maintenance Closure: Late October Onward

The calendar lists a closure beginning October 26 and running through December 31, described as maintenance time with the reopening date to be determined. The site explicitly asks visitors not to contact the track to ask when it will reopen — the date will be posted once it is known.

This means you should not assume a fixed spring opening. The practical approach is:

1. Open the High Plains Raceway website.
2. Check the Upcoming Calendar Events section.
3. Confirm that a specific event or open lapping day appears on the date you plan to visit.
4. Only then make travel plans.

Holiday Closures

The calendar also shows closures on December 24–25 and December 31, 2026 – January 1, 2027. These fall inside the broader off-season maintenance window, so they mainly matter if you are checking the calendar for any activity late in the year.

Quick Reference

Before You Go

• For spectators: the site states that virtually all events are free to watch and open to the public, so a race weekend during the season is the simplest time to visit.
• For drivers: look for a scheduled track day, driving school, or Open Lapping Day on the calendar rather than assuming the track is available for drop-in driving.
• In the off-season: treat the track as closed until the website posts a reopening date.

The calendar is the authoritative source for both the season schedule and the end of the maintenance closure, so confirm your date there before making the trip.