subject: Best Track Days in Canada [print this page] Track days can be an ideal chance to test and improve your driving skills, as well as enjoy the thrill of riding on some of the world's most challenging and most famous race courses. With few barriers to entry, as long as you hold a valid driving license and pay the required fee, track days are popular activities that could be taking place in a city near you.
Most of Canada's major racetracks open to the public for track days, the most well-known being Shannonville Motorsports Park (SMP), located roughly two hours east of Toronto. Not only does SMP offer a range of course options, allowing drivers to set their own difficulty level, but thanks to the area's flat topography it's also one of the safest in the country, allowing plenty of leeway on corners.
Track days at SMP can be run around the perimeter only, still an impressive 2.5 kilometers, or use all available track surfaces for a more demanding four kilometer, 14 corner course. The race park's Nelson and Fabi tracks can be combined or used separately for simultaneous events.
Those who conquer SMP can venture further afield in Canada to take on more of its challenging tracks, including one of the oldest at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant which has been kept in excellent condition, including a full renovation in 2001. The hilly region lends a unique surface to the track, which can be found heading north from Montreal or east of Ottawa.
From one of Canada's original track days to its newest, Calabogie Motorsports Park (CMP) was designed by racer Alan Wilson to include elevation changes and other highly technical features to provide a touch challenge to even the most experienced driver. Open for track days since 2006, the park is about an hour's drive west of Ottawa or 45 minutes north of Perth, though drivers looking to spend the night could also find a range of suitable accommodation in nearby Calabogie.
Track days are about more than just showcasing your vehicle's speed and performance, with a major distinction being made between roadworthy driving and behavior restricted to the course. Indeed, with racing being actively discouraged, the events are more useful as a chance for drivers to improve their response times and expand their road safety knowledge - from the importance of braking distances to learning how to avoid having to replace windshield and other car parts by avoiding accidents altogether.
