Top Race Shops and Tracks to Visit in Austin, Texas
While not a town with a historically dense race shop population, Austin is growing with the construction of Circuit of the Americas and F1's hit Netflix show Drive to Survive. Already a booming town with a variety of trade shows, there is an increasing number of shops, tracks, and businesses you might be able to pop in and visit if you're in the area with time to kill.
Chris Taylor Racing Services
Topping the list of Austin area race shops would be our own, Chris Taylor Racing Services located in the Garages of the Americas development. Beginning construction in the summer of 2023, with expected completion by summer of 2024 for the first phases, you can stop by and check out our small store, small shop and possibly get a tour of the construction activities (hard hat and vests available for use!) -- your best bet is to email us to check our availability and schedule. Once completed we will have an expanded storefront and more shop space, meaning more cars and more fun sights! Besides home to our racecar rentals, we also provide COTA parking for major events like F1 parking, MotoGP parking and NASCAR parking.
13807 FM 812
Del Valle, TX 78617
(512) 497-3181
Circuit of the Americas
The pinnacle, the only permanent F1 racing track in the US, COTA! While they don't advertise regular tours, an enterprising visitor might find themselves able to wander the grounds fairly easily depending on what activities are going on that day. They also have a well appointed RV park for campers traveling through the area, and soon an amusement park and plans for a conference center hotel and water park!
9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd
Austin, TX 78617
(512) 301-6600
Harris Hill Raceway
The original Austin-area racetrack, Harris Hill Raceway is just a short drive south of town. A private, country-club style track, they host a monthly race series for members, motorcycle days, and member days throughout the week. While you have to be a member to drive on track, they offer both SCCA Track Night in America events and Mini-schools; they are typically very welcoming of visitors, sign the waiver in the club house, chat with the staff and enjoy the rolling hills views on the back porch as cars make their way around the 1.8 mile 10-turn course (90% of which you can see from said back porch!) -- contact them with any specific questions and to make sure you can stop by, first!
2840 Harris Hill RdSan Marcos, TX 78666(512) 667-6250
Esses Racing
A short distance from Harris Hill is a newcomer to the scene, Esses Racing. Started by a powerhouse of racing mechanics and business experts, they specialize in Revolution Race Cars, Radicals, and its not uncommon to spot a variety of Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, or vintage F1 cars in their shop. Like many shops they are not open to the public, but Texans being the friendly folks they are, you can likely stop in for a quick chat and a peek around the shop!
1481 Robert S. Light Blvd Building D
Buda, TX 78610
(713) 614-9000
Walker Pro Motorsports
Russell Walker of Walker Pro Motorsports has been a personal friend of mine for over a decade, and when he started his own motorsports fabrication business in Austin he turned the town on its ear. Whether it's aluminum, stainless, or titanium, rollcages, exhaust or intake piping, radiators or intercoolers, Walker Pro Motorsports is the premier motorsports fabrication spot in town. Also not open to the public necessarily, but another lifelong Texan, if time permits you can get a nickel tour of the facility and have a chance to spot anything from drift builds, miatas, LMP3's to F1 show cars! WPM does all of our exhausts and rollcage installs, including our Mazda2 stainless exhaust kits!
808 McPhaul St
Austin, TX 78753(512) 632-1154
I hope you enjoyed this list, be sure to let us know when you stop in how you heard about us, and let all these fine folks know how you found them, as well!