Bill Volz's Westchester

Jan 7, 2022

Do you ever watch racing, whether it’s cars, motorcycles, trucks, or even Go-Karts, and wonder what it would be like to get out there on the track? In and around the Cortlandt, New York area, several race tracks offer the opportunity for amateurs to try out their driving skills against others and even trail with a professional. If you don’t want to drive but like to watch, you can do that too. Check out some of the top race tracks in and around Cortlandt.

Accord Speedway

Red Bull branded street racing car turning a tight corner on a downhill track.

Image via Flickr by Ivan Vranic hvranic Licensed CC0 1.0

Accord Speedway in Accord, New York, is about an hour and a half from Cortlandt. The speedway has several divisions, including:

Modified

The modified division is for any engine with both big and small blocks allowed. The only exceptions are no aluminum blocks, no in-line valves, and no staggered valves.

Sportsman

The Sportsman division is for Crate 602 GM motors. This factory-sealed 350 horsepower must have the original GM breakaway bolts or the correct lead seals along with documentation showing the name of the engine repairer.

Pure Stock

The Pure Stock division is for the entry-level driver or the hobbyist. It’s not intended for high-dollar cars. Driver’s have to be at least 14 years old, and drivers under 18 must have a release signed by their parents on file at the speedway. You must have a fire extinguisher capable of putting out fuel and oil fires in the pit area. All cars in this division are subject to inspection and re-inspection at any time throughout the season to make sure everyone is following the rules.

Windless Sprints

The Windless Sprints division accepts GM 602 Crate Engines. All conversions have to be done by Hunts Machine, and all engines sealed when completed. No tampering with the engine or engine seals is allowed and will result in immediate disqualification.

4 Cylinder Division

The 4 Cylinder Division is another entry-level division. Modifications are allowed by cars must be registered and inspected.

Oakland Valley Race Park

Oakland Valley Race Park in Cuddebackville, New York, is a premier outdoor kart and two-wheel racing facility. The track opens from April through November as long as the weather permits. On race weekends, the gates open at 8 a.m., with practice sessions starting at 10 a.m. Admission to races is $15, and everyone must wear an insurance wristband.

Kart Racing

The park offers club racing, hosts the New York State Championship Race, and has vintage kart racing. If you want to head to the track to practice, they offer open practice times with your own kart. Nonmembers can pay $65 for a one-day access pass, or if you become a member, it’s $5 for a day pass. A $15 pit pass is required for everyone on the property.

Motorcycle Racing

Oakland has Supermoto and road racing. It’s part of the Northeast Supermoto Challenge and Ohvale Super Cup Series. You can bring your bike to the track to practice during open practice days. The same fees apply for members and nonmembers as the karting open practice.

Ride HVMC

Ride HVMC in Ossining, New York, offers experienced drivers and amateurs a quality track experience. They offer one-on-one rider instruction by Corey Alexander if you want to take a lesson and improve your driving and racing skills. Corey is a professional racer in the MotoAmerica and American Flat Track Series and a trained instructor.

The track offers a safe place to ride where everyone goes in the same direction, there are no cars to get in the way, and the track has a perfect surface.

Before heading to the track, you’ll want to become familiar with the requirements for motorcycles and make sure to check yours before bringing it. It must:

  • Be a well-prepared bike with at least a 250 cc.
  • Have no fluid leaks.
  • Have good brakes.
  • Have tape over the mirrors or mirrors removed.
  • Have a disconnected brake light or bulbs removed.
  • Have adequate chain slack.
  • Have new tires or tires in excellent shape.

Grand Prix Extreme Play Park

The Grand Prix Extreme Play Park in Mount Kisco, New York, is a family fun center for people who love speed. It offers Grand Prix Go Kart Racing on an indoor track. Getting on the track is easy; you just need to sign up. The facility provides all the safety equipment, and even the kids can race with a signed waiver from their parents.

If you want to learn more about how to drive, you can sign up for a lesson. The qualified instructors will work with the kids one-on-one on a privately booked track. They will teach them about following the driving line, how to stay in control, and how to pass. Taking a lesson is a good way to get kids qualified to drive on the larger tracks and faster karts.

Grand Prix also offers leagues for kids eight and up, with a variety of leagues for kids and adults, and races throughout the year.

Monticello Motor Club

Monticello Motor Club is a member-only motor club with over four miles of racetrack asphalt designed to provide a thrilling driving experience for car enthusiasts and racing lovers. Monticello offers driving instructions, race car and streetcar rentals, and access to a track with 12 configurations, 20 different turns, and over a mile and a half of straights.

Members have almost unlimited access to the track during the driving season, and there’s a service center on-site that will provide everything from routine maintenance to extensive repairs. Teen race camps run throughout the season with instructors to teach teens racing and defensive driving techniques, and there’s also a racing school, team challenges, and some member races.

The facility also has a karting center that provides an introduction to karting for the kids.

Whether you’ve always dreamed of racing or you are just curious, check out these tracks near Cortlandt. If you know of any other race tracks we should check out, stop by Bill Volz Westchester to tell us about them.