Frequently Asked Questions

Every FastLane program runs at our home track, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, 24551 W Lerdo Hwy, Buttonwillow, CA 93206, just outside Los Angeles, between LA and the central coast (about 30 minutes west of Bakersfield). For high-value private coaching we also have a 100+ instructor network that can travel to tracks across the U.S.

Buttonwillow Raceway Park has two road courses. "The Classic" is the original 1995 layout, configurable up to roughly 3 miles, with 23 turns in its most popular setup. "The Circuit" is the new course that opened in 2025: 2.56 miles, 40 feet wide all the way around, with a new tower and garages. Which one you run depends on your program and what is available that day; your coach confirms it when they set up your day.

Plan to arrive about 30 minutes before your scheduled start time. Parking is free inside the facility, and the gate guard will direct you when you pull in. Buttonwillow Raceway Park is at 24551 W Lerdo Hwy, Buttonwillow, CA 93206.

Bakersfield (BFL) is the closest airport, about 30 minutes from the track, with regional connections. Los Angeles (LAX) is about 2 hours south by car and is the most-served option. Most out-of-state students fly into LAX, rent a car, and drive up.

Most of our drivers stay in Bakersfield, about 30 minutes from the track. We send students to the Hyatt Place Bakersfield, where FastLane has a group rate (ask for the FastLane Racing School rate, code FSLA); our coaches stay nearby at the Four Points by Sheraton (Marriott). If you would rather stay onsite, our partner 22rvs delivers a luxury RV and sets it up trackside so you and your family can stay right at the circuit for a multi-day visit. Mention FastLane for a discount, or ask us to manage your entire stay. There is also a small motel in Buttonwillow and an on-site RV park with hookups if you bring your own RV.

See where to stay near Buttonwillow →

Buttonwillow Raceway Park has an on-site gift shop with branded merch and a separate kart track apart from the road course. The Circuit complex (built in 2025) has Tesla Superchargers if you arrive in an EV. Concessions are available on event days, though plenty of drivers pack a little extra of their own for full-day programs.

Because every day is 100% private, scheduling is flexible. We build your day around your availability and the coach you are matched with, rather than a fixed cohort calendar. Book a call and we will lock in a date that works for you.

Drivers must be at least 13 years old. For a safe fit in the race cars we ask that drivers are roughly 75–300 lbs and between 4′11″ and 6′6″. Drivers under 18 participate with parental consent. If you are outside that range, reach out anyway and we will confirm what works.

Every FastLane day is 100% private and one-on-one with a professional racing coach. No groups, no crowds, no shared track sessions. Our 45+ pro coaches bring real race and podium experience, and your day is tailored to your skill level and goals.

Our on-track programs are all-inclusive: the race car, all safety gear (helmet, gloves, harness, and a racing suit when your program requires one), track time, and one-on-one coaching are all part of the price. You do not need to bring anything but yourself. Travel costs like flights, hotel, and lunch are not included, but we are happy to help you arrange them.

It is a quick, no-pressure phone call. Our chief instructor Matt walks you through which program fits your goals, the schedule, payment, and what to expect on the day. Just bring your questions. It is a phone call by default, and Zoom is available on request, just let us know when we confirm.

Yes, our programs make a great gift, and we offer fully customizable gift cards: you pick the amount and the recipient applies it to whichever program fits. The recipient gets a unique code along with a PDF and QR code, and you can send it instantly or schedule delivery for later. They then pick a date that works for them. If the program they choose exceeds the gift-card value, they simply cover the remaining balance. Book a call and we will help you arrange it.

Absolutely. Family and friends are welcome to come watch from pit lane (they just sign a waiver at the gate). Buttonwillow has on-site amenities including a gift shop, and the relaxed, private setting makes it easy for friends and family to spectate. Guests cannot drive on track without their own booking, but we can even arrange for them to drive our racing karts while you are out on track.

Yes. Professional photo and video are available, along with a HUD data overlay from the in-car camera so you can see your lap times and driving details on screen, and we can export AIM data files from our onboard computer system for deeper analysis. Our cars have multiple GoPro mounts, so bring your own SD card and we will record to it, or we can provide copies. Ask your coach when you book and we will set it up.

No, a driver's license is not required to participate. Our programs are run on a private, closed course with a professional coach beside you the entire time.

None at all for the Novice program. It is designed for drivers new to wheel-to-wheel competition. Wherever you are starting from, your coach builds the day around your current skill level.

Comfortable closed-toe shoes (no sandals), athletic clothing, and layers, because the central valley swings from cold mornings to hot afternoons. Long sleeves and pants are required while on track. Bring sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, and water for a full day. All other safety gear is provided.

Cancel 7+ days out for a full refund; 3 to 6 days out leaves a 50% credit toward a future date; inside 3 days there is no refund, but we can usually reschedule. We run rain or shine (wet conditions teach valuable car-control skills) and only reschedule for genuinely unsafe weather like lightning, in which case we will call you.

Safety is built into every program. You drive with a professional coach the entire time, all safety equipment (helmet, suit, gloves, harness) is provided, and our cars are prepared and maintained to race standards. Programs run on a private, closed course, and on-site Fire Rescue and Ambulance services are available for SCCA racing events, private track days, and corporate events.

Most drivers stay in Bakersfield, about 30 minutes from Buttonwillow, where there are hotels at every price point. We send students to the Hyatt Place Bakersfield (310 Coffee Road, (661) 885-6300), where FastLane has a group rate. When you book, ask for the FastLane Racing School group rate (code FSLA). Our coaches stay nearby at the Four Points by Sheraton (5101 California Avenue). There is also a small motel right in Buttonwillow for closer-in stays, and the facility has an on-site RV park with hookups if you bring an RV for a multi-day visit.

Yes. We can arrange a luxury RV trackside so your group has a private base right at the circuit for the day, a comfortable spot to relax between sessions. Mention it when you book and we will help set it up.

We can. Catering and private-chef service can be arranged for your day at the track, scoped to your group. Tell us what you have in mind and we will help organize it.

Yes. We can help arrange a limo, private car, shuttle or bus, or taxi from Los Angeles and nearby airports. Los Angeles (LAX) is about 2 hours south by car, and Bakersfield (BFL) is about 30 minutes from the track. Let us know your travel plans and we will help coordinate.

For VIP arrivals, a helicopter transfer can be arranged. If a fly-in arrival fits your plans, mention it when you book and we will help make the arrangements.

The 2-day SCCA Novice Permit program is the required first step toward a real SCCA competition license: classroom, on-track, and race-prep, all one-on-one with a pro coach. The 3-day Full Competition License is taken after the Novice Permit (five days total, never bundled) and completes the path to a full SCCA competition license. To enter Full Competition you must pass our SCCA Novice Program or have equivalent experience, so an experienced driver is not always required to start at Novice. They are sold separately, so you only pay for the step you need.

For the licensing path, we recommend signing up for your SCCA membership as one of your steps. It is quick to set up, and your coach can point you to the SCCA signup so you are ready for your competition license.

The 2-day SCCA Novice Permit program is $4,995, and the 3-day Full Competition License is $7,495. They are sold separately (the full zero-to-licensed path runs five days total), so you only pay for the step you need. Every price is all-inclusive: car, gear, track time, and 1:1 coaching.

No. The Novice Permit program is built for drivers new to wheel-to-wheel competition, and no street driver’s license is required to participate. The two days cover classroom instruction, on-track work, and race-prep, all one-on-one with a professional racer, so your coach builds the day around your current skill level either way.

SCCA licensing programs run in our prepared race cars, so there is nothing you need to bring or own; the car you drive is matched to the program, and your coach confirms it when they set up your day. You can also use your own race-prepped car, provided it passes SCCA tech inspection. Contact us for details.

It is the purest expression of our private coaching: a day focused on car control and high-performance driving rather than licensure. You spend the whole day one-on-one with a professional racing coach, with computer data analysis of your sessions. No groups, no crowds.

A one-day program focuses on the fundamentals of fast driving: steering, braking, throttle inputs, handling, speed, and balance. The two-day program builds on that core with advanced exercises and extended track sessions, so you get double the seat time and go deeper on every skill. Either way the day is 100% private and built around your goals.

Yes. Ask about our Spec Corvette or Radical race-car upgrades, which can be added to a High-Performance day for a step up from your own car or a standard school car. Bring it up when you book and we will fit it into your day.

A one-day High-Performance Driving Academy is $2,495, our standard per-day private-coaching rate. Add a second day for double the track time at the same per-day value. The on-track day is all-inclusive whether you bring your own car or use one of ours.

Yes. High-Performance and Private Coaching days are the programs where you can bring your own car to dial in a specific setup, or you can drive one of ours. The per-day rate is the same either way.

The High-Performance day is all-inclusive on track: the car (yours or ours), all safety gear, track time, and one-on-one coaching. Travel extras (hotel, flights, and lunch) are not included, but we are happy to help arrange them.

Formula 4 is our premium, open-wheel tier: private, one-on-one coaching in a genuine Ligier JS F4 formula car, from a one-day test up to multi-day training camps. It is still 100% private, with computer data analysis of every session, and an aspirational pathway toward pro and formula racing.

Formula 4 is $5,995 for a one-day test, $11,995 for the two-day training camp, and $17,995 for the three-day advanced camp. The 2-day and 3-day camps double as an SCCA licensing path. Every tier is all-inclusive: the Ligier JS F4 car and instruction are part of the price.

The one-day test builds foundational car operation: driver positioning, braking, throttle control, steering inputs, and visual references. The two-day camp adds G-load capability, lap-time development, and computer data analysis. The three-day advanced camp goes furthest, covering grip management, G-load awareness, line development, and consistency. Every tier is 100% private and built around your skill level.

No prior open-wheel experience is required for the one-day test. Your coach builds the day around your skill level. The multi-day camps suit drivers chasing serious open-wheel skill or pre-season prep, and also serve as an SCCA licensing path.

Fully customizable private group events, the one place FastLane goes beyond strict 1:1, built around hands-on instruction from our 45+ professional coaches and private track access at Buttonwillow. They fit retreats, client entertainment, product launches, and private track days, with the facility yours for the day and no crowds.

Corporate and team events are quote-based: every event is scoped to your group, so pricing varies with group size and the options you add. Book a call and we will scope a real quote around your team and goals.

No prior track experience is required. We tailor the day to your group, so every skill level is welcome, from first-timers to seasoned drivers, with professional coaching throughout.

Concierge upgrades are available (catering, professional photography, and VIP hospitality) alongside flexible scheduling and an all-inclusive, fully customized program. We can also arrange a luxury RV trackside as a private base for your group, a private chef, ground transport such as a limo, private car, or shuttle from Los Angeles and nearby airports, and even a helicopter transfer for VIP arrivals. Tell us what you have in mind and we will build it into the quote.

Picture-car driving, precision and performance driver coaching, a deep photogenic fleet, and private venue time at Buttonwillow for controlled, repeatable shoots. We cover controlled driving sequences, camera-car and chase-car work, vehicle staging, shot planning, and day-of logistics, scoped per production.

Our fleet ranges from formula cars to sports cars, useful for hero shots, controlled driving sequences, track filming, and static display. The headline specs: Ligier JS F4 (160 hp, 0-60 in 3s, 150 mph); Lola T93/20 Indy Lights (425 hp, 0-60 in 2s, 200 mph); Spec Corvette (380 hp, 0-60 in 4s, 150 mph); Toyota GR86 / FRS (228 hp, 0-60 in 6s, 130 mph); and Radical SR1 (200 hp, 0-60 in 3s, 140 mph). Tell us the look you need and we will match the car.

Yes. We field professional precision and stunt drivers with the technical vehicle-operation knowledge required for controlled driving sequences, backed by 40+ years of motorsports expertise and more than 20 years supporting motorsports filming.

Production support is quote-based: pricing is customized to your project scope, vehicle and driver requirements, location, transport, and timeline. Request a quote and we will scope it to your shoot.