For a budget minded person (even this Grandpa) you can do a lot with lapping days with PDA (www.imp-auto.com) and Trackmasters. They have regualr sessions at Pocono and Watkins GLen, where we go and run. The school part of it is very good and at ~$200 per day you will only need your car, a safety inspection (PA State will do), a SA2000 helmet (buy now avoid it later). Would you believe for the entry level-no fire suit, but must wear cotton clothing and suitable shoes. This is agreat way to learn your car and several tracks before commiting to a very expensive project (my ITA CRX Si will be in the range of $10K when completed next spring).
For those wondering-a NASCAR style Halon system from Summit goes for about $300. SCCA does permit a 2.5 pound Purple K unit and that is what I have in the Prelude ($40).

The alternate to this is to do a lot of autocross on really good tires. Go to one and wander around, crew for someone and get a better feeling of what it is like. Then go and do one.

You asked about the schools-Bertil Roos is one of the best instructors on the planet. He runs his school at Pocono and you will learn a great deal from it. Another one, rarely mentioned, is SRE at Pocono-for stock cars. How does it apply, trust me it does when you run the full "long course" that SCCA uses there. I ran it on a Friday and then did 2 days with PDA on the weekend. It really helped me thru turns 1 and 2 and the braking zones.
As a beginner in this PDA puts an instructor in the car with you until they feel you are ready to solo. Trackmasters is very much the same, but you get more track time with them.

I plan to run at our new track here in the Pittsburgh area at Beaverun (Wampum, PA). Very close to home and we will drive the car over there until I have the trailer and tow vehicle.
Some will say this is not a good idea-but I have a philosophy about racing that goes back a very long way.
THis is an aspect of becoming involved and you are the only one who knows your finances. BTW: both PDA and Trackmasters members are driving their semi-prepared Vipers, 'vettes, Ferraris,Preludes and all manner of other cars to the track-so it is possible at that level to make a choice between purpose built and streetable. Excuse the long post-hope it helps.

 

$200 is budget minded???? NASA track days (two days) is around $200-300 for the weekend. If I remember right PDAs are for Porsche club? They don't allow outsiders anymore.

 

I was NOT referring to the Porsche Club of America PCA.
PDA is the Performance Drivers Assn-and is a school type of group like Trackmasters. Anyone can run as long as you have a valid license, insurance, and meet their age requirements to sign the releases. The website tells all about it. Cost per day depends on the track and configuration. I think that one will find that $200 is not uncommon for up to 5 30 minute sessions. Trackmasters is a bit different as to run time for their open group, but still economical when you consider that you are gaining seat time, which is key to learning both the car and track.

Have fun-drive safely.

 

Whoops! Yep my head is not screwed on today. PCA and PDA