learn me -- living in VA

And don't forget about VIR and SPMP. The latter is in WV, but an easy tow from the Richmond area, and VIR is down on the NC border, and a shorter tow yet.

A couple other short oval tracks scattered around too. if you're into that sort of thing. The one nearest to me is in Jamaica, VA. 3/8 mile dirt track I believe. Virginia Motor Speedway.

Oh and that Richmond International Raceway thing.

How's the auto-x scene?

Up around DC, its pretty saturated. You can autocross like 3 weekends a month around the beltway in mid-season. If you are willing to drive, there are a bunch of other regions closeby that have pretty good lots (Hershey, Cumberland, Harrisburg-Farm Show, etc.)

WDCR has awesome events at Fedex. AI has great events in Waldorf BMWCCA has ok events that always seem to be missing a slalom at Waldorf CDC has tiny lots, but lots of events and it is super laid back Nasa runs @ VMP near Richmond

thanks for all the info folks -- this really is the best forum evar!

what about winters? What are they like? Do they use salt for the roads that far up north?

Eh, they use a chemical treatment, and secondary roads are usually sanded. Rust isn't a problem for most people, although some cars are sensitive to it (Mazda). It's an interesting area to be in when it snows. There are plenty of people who have never driven in snow. We don't get it often. We have very little in the way of preparation for storms, and weak snow-removal crews. Nobody is on snow tires. Sometimes we get slammed by feet at a time. On top of that, many roads have sharp curves or are quite hilly. It all combines to make the perfect storm. Pure driving chaos.

(Parents house in Loudoun)

Closer to Richmond its likely everything will shut down when it snows. Up closer to D.C., a lot of stuff will, but not everything. Snow can cause some pretty bad traffic jams closer to D.C. This is the worst traffic I have ever seen (slept on the floor in my office until 3am then went home), but I don't know if it got this bad down along the 95 corridor.

Yah, but Richmond gets a measurable snowfall once or twice every six years or so. It's like getting struck by lightning.

Thanks folks! Now that's winter weather I can deal with..........I hate the midwest grays from October through March...and snow potential till April (grew up in Cleveland, lived in Chicago for a few years). I like occasional snow.

If you're in VA you'll have the advantage of being close to NC, that vale of humility between 2 mountains of conceit.

In reply to M2Pilot:

Hey, I like NC too, but you don't have to get all uppity about it!

Damn, never knew there were so many richmonders on here! Another Henrico/Richmonder here, pretty much everything thats been said is true, honestly the closer to Richmond (read: further from DC) you can manage, the better. In the Richmond metro area, we have Virginia Motorsports Club (VMSC) for autcross, they follow SCCA rules for ease of classification, they run out of one of the auxiliary parkinglots at Richmond International Raceway, as well as the big parkinglot at Virginia Motorsports Park. Other than that, watch out for cops, I've never had any trouble with running about 5 over, but I tend to behave myself extra good when I feel cops may be around anyway.

That photo ProDarwin posted was probably the last big storm we had here....I forget how many years ago that was now, was it 3 or 4? Before that I seem to recall it only being really that bad 1 or 2 times back in the 90's or so.

This past year we didn't get anything. 2 years ago year there was 1 sudden snowfall that caught everyone off guard and wreaked havoc on the evening commute, many people abandoning their cars and walking, etc.... my 1 hour rural commute took me over 4 hours and I made it all the way to my street then got stuck 100 yards from my driveway lol. It wasnt that much snow, but just accumulated so fast that they couldn't keep the roads clear enough. I am pretty sure VDOT is relatively understaffed, I know when the economy tanked they let go something like 60% of their employees.