Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Long Pond is located in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, with immediate access to Pocono Raceway, one of America's premier motorsport facilities. The track sits directly in Long Pond, making this the closest residential area to the 2.5-mile tri-oval. Pocono hosts NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and ARCA Menards Series events throughout the racing season. The track features three distinct turns modeled after different legendary circuits: Turn 1 from Trenton Speedway (14-degree banking), Turn 2 from Indianapolis Motor Speedway (8 degrees), and Turn 3 from Milwaukee Mile (6 degrees). This unique configuration creates one of motorsport's most challenging tri-ovals.
Track day opportunities at Pocono Raceway are available through multiple organizations. Chin Track Days operates regular HPDE (High Performance Driving Education) events at Pocono on both the full tri-oval and the road course configurations. NASA Northeast Region schedules track days and club racing events at Pocono multiple times per season. The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) brings historic racing to Pocono annually. Porsche Club of America hosts club racing and time trial events. BMW CCA Northeast Region runs driver schools and time trials. Track rental opportunities exist for private groups and corporate events. The Infield Road Course measures 1.27 miles and offers a technical layout for smaller events and motorcycle track days.
Local motorsport clubs serving the Long Pond area include SCCA Northeast Pennsylvania Region, which organizes autocross events at Pocono Raceway's massive parking areas. The club also coordinates rally cross events in the Poconos region. Porsche Club of America Schattenbaum Region is highly active, with monthly social events and driving tours through the scenic Pocono Mountains. BMW Car Club of America Genesee Valley Chapter schedules autocross and driver education events. The Sports Car Club of America provides opportunities for wheel-to-wheel amateur racing, with members competing in regional championships. Pocono Raceway also hosts the annual Mecum Auto Auction, drawing classic car enthusiasts from across the Northeast.
Within 90 minutes of Long Pond, motorsport enthusiasts have access to New Jersey Motorsports Park (Millville, NJ - 90 miles), which features two road course configurations: Thunderbolt (2.25 miles) and Lightning (1.9 miles). NJMP hosts extensive track day programs through multiple providers including Chin, NASA, PCA, BMW CCA, and TrackDaze. Lime Rock Park in Connecticut is 100 miles northeast, offering 1.53 miles of classic road racing layout with excellent spectator viewing and regular vintage racing events. Summit Point Motorsports Park in West Virginia sits 200 miles west, providing four different track configurations including the main circuit, Shenandoah, and Jefferson Circuit. Watkins Glen International is 120 miles northwest, featuring the legendary 3.4-mile "Boot" configuration and 2.45-mile short course.
Autocross opportunities near Long Pond include monthly events hosted by SCCA NEPA at various venues including Pocono Raceway lots, Mohegan Sun Arena parking lot (Wilkes-Barre), and the former Tobyhanna Army Depot. The Philadelphia Region SCCA runs one of the nation's largest autocross programs with events at Lincoln Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park parking lots, approximately 90 miles south. Finger Lakes Region SCCA hosts autocross in New York, 100 miles north. These events welcome all skill levels and most street-legal vehicles, providing affordable entry into motorsport competition with typical entry fees of $40-60 per event.
Karting facilities within reach include Lehigh Valley Grand Prix (Allentown, PA - 45 miles), offering indoor karting on a technical 1/4-mile track with high-performance karts reaching 50mph. Speed Raceway (Horsham, PA - 85 miles) provides indoor electric karting. Pole Position Raceway (Jersey City, NJ - 75 miles) features European-style indoor karting. For outdoor karting, Oakland Valley Race Park (Cuddebackville, NY - 50 miles) operates a challenging 0.7-mile outdoor circuit hosting regional and national karting championships. Bethel Motor Speedway (Bethel, NY - 45 miles) offers oval karting racing. These facilities provide arrive-and-drive rentals plus organized racing leagues for those seeking competitive karting.
The Pocono region supports vintage racing through several clubs. The Vintage Sports Car Club of America schedules events at area tracks. Sportscar Vintage Racing Association visits Pocono Raceway annually with grids of historic formula cars, sports racers, and production cars from the 1950s-1990s. These events welcome both participants and spectators, offering paddock access to view rare racing machinery. Historic racing provides opportunities for drivers of classic race cars to compete in period-correct classes without the expenses of modern professional racing.
Long Pond's location in the Pocono Mountains provides year-round motorsport activities. Winter autocross events, ice racing, and rally cross continue when weather permits. The area's elevation changes and winding roads make it popular for driving enthusiast tours and rallies. The Porsche Club regularly organizes driving tours through Routes 209, 447, and 715, featuring mountain vistas and technical corners. These roads also attract motorcycle groups and sports car clubs for recreational drives. The proximity to major metropolitan areas (New York City 75 miles, Philadelphia 90 miles) ensures strong attendance at all motorsport events while Long Pond itself maintains a small-town atmosphere with a population under 1,000 dedicated to serving the racing community.