Teen Motorsports Camp at Monticello Motor Club

Last fall, we hosted a wildly successful Member event at Monticello Motor Club, the world’s premier motorsports playground. Located just 90 minutes north of Manhattan, MMC brings the amenities of a private country club to a 4.1-mile asphalt ribbon, complete with professional racing and driving instructors and top-of-the-line, high-performance vehicles.  

This summer, MMC is inviting a new generation to their track. They recently launched the only sleep-away racing camp in the world: A six-day Teen Motorsports Camp for teens ages 13-19. “Many campers have never even been behind the wheel of a vehicle and they leave better drivers than adults,” says Aurora Straus, the founder of the Teen Motorsports Camps.  

Teens drive almost everything in Monticello’s fleet, including Porsche Cayman PDK race cars (built in-house at MMC), Mazda MX-5 race cars, Mini Cooper JCWs, Mazda 2 rally cars, and MMC’s go-kart fleet. Straus says the program is very similar to the adult programming, minus the end-of-day wine. In a two-hour span,campers might learn to drift in a BMW then be mountain biking at sunset and toastings’mores. The week-long course covers the basics of racing and safe driving techniques. “It’s both a stepping-stone for kids who want to drive race cars as well as kids who just want to be safe drivers and know how to react if a deer jumpsout into the road,” says Straus, a professional race car driver who was behind the wheel at age 13.

This year, MMC will offer anIntroto Motorsports Camp and an Advanced Camp thatteenscan opt to participate in back-to-back. Campers who graduate from Advanced Camp are eligible for MMC’s provisional racing license. “Last year we had a camper who turned 14 the day he arrived for the intro camp,” Straussays. “He had never driven a car in his life and went through both programs and is now racing in our members-only race series.” 

Straus says many campers remain life-long friends or return to become chaperones or instructors at the camp. “There is an insane amount of camaraderie built throughout the week,” she says. From 8 am to 5pm they race cars and then partake in bonding activities like biking or going to drive-in movies with popcorn and hot chocolate. “They definitely sleep like babies,” says Straus.

Neither a driver’s license nor experience are required to attend the Intro Camp, which runs from July 12-17 ($18,700). The Advanced Camp follows, from July 19-24 ($19,400). Though a driver’s license is not required for this camp either, participants must have previously attended the Intro Course or have prior racing experience. Details about what’s included in the cost and skills learned can be found here. Exclusive Resorts Members interested in sending their teen can email info@monticellomotorclub.com or call 855.MMC.CLUB (+1 855.662.2582).