How difficult do you think it'd be for somebody that already possesses a full fledged drivers license to go down to a local track and just run a few hotlaps?

The track would need to run "track days".
These are days that are open to the public to bring their road cars down and do some laps. You have to pay obviously.
Check out their website or give them a call and see if the run such days, most tracks do.

Do they actually time you? I'd imagine it wouldn't be too difficult to just put a sensor on your dashboard that's synchronized to another sensor at the start line. Wouldn't be the most accurate of devices in the world, but I figure it'd be better than nothing.

Don't have any local tracks down here though atm. They just shut down a drag park not too long ago, and I believe they're trying to get it back up, and possibly also construct a circuit.

If they only get the drag park back up, and not bother building a circuit, i'll be pissed...

Quote from sinkoman :

Do they actually time you?

No i don't think so. I've never heard of a circuit timing people on track days. Just get a mate to time u with a stop watch.

A transponder "synced" with the start finish line would be extremely accurate, how do u think they time racing cars for real?

the track days i go to are timed

Quote from sinkoman :

Do they actually time you? I'd imagine it wouldn't be too difficult to just put a sensor on your dashboard that's synchronized to another sensor at the start line. Wouldn't be the most accurate of devices in the world, but I figure it'd be better than nothing.

That kind of system is used both by official timers and by racing teams, there are a large number of products that you can get to do it, however, you won't be allowed to put them up on a track day (because they don't want people to be driving too hard/crashing/extra insurance complications associated with a competitive event).

In the UK you can go to sprints, run by the national governing body, these are timed one or two lap single car competitions, you'll get less track time than at a track day but no traffic and the competitive element for a fraction of the cost. In the UK you can get a sprint/hillclimb license without doing a practical test and only need overalls and a helmet if you're in a standard road car, modified cars have to have full safety gear. I'd of though there is probably a similar system available in the states.

Quote from ajp71 :

In the UK you can go to sprints, run by the national governing body, these are timed one or two lap single car competitions, you'll get less track time than at a track day but no traffic and the competitive element for a fraction of the cost. In the UK you can get a sprint/hillclimb license without doing a practical test and only need overalls and a helmet if you're in a standard road car, modified cars have to have full safety gear. I'd of though there is probably a similar system available in the states.

Autocross?

overhere theres very few tracks t race most of the time we rent out the big cart circuts and kindas make em long but we time are laps are selfs

Quote from ajp71 :

That kind of system is used both by official timers and by racing teams, there are a large number of products that you can get to do it, however, you won't be allowed to put them up on a track day (because they don't want people to be driving too hard/crashing/extra insurance complications associated with a competitive event).

In the UK you can go to sprints, run by the national governing body, these are timed one or two lap single car competitions, you'll get less track time than at a track day but no traffic and the competitive element for a fraction of the cost. In the UK you can get a sprint/hillclimb license without doing a practical test and only need overalls and a helmet if you're in a standard road car, modified cars have to have full safety gear. I'd of though there is probably a similar system available in the states.

Well there is Autocross which is a parking lot filled with cones. There is also Solo competitions where it's against the clock in 1-lap competitions. There is every level in both autocross and Solo from regional club competitions to full blown national "pro" competitions. Costs are relativily cheap in the regional club events but if your going for the top spots your better off running the MX-5 pro cup =) the link below is a good starting point for anyone considering starting up a career in racing in the States. Chances are you would need their license to compete anyways. There is also NASA which is basically the same thing just a different organization.

http://scca.com/Index.asp?IdS=29AB8B-E1F38C0&~=

In the UK sprints are speed events on conventional race courses or purpose built sprint circuits (not autocross style car parks) and the fastest cars are virtually regulation free purpose built single seaters that are blisteringly quick over relatively short distance low speed courses.

http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/home.asp