I just found grassroots motorsports mag I have been looking for a way to go racing and autocross looks alot better than drag racing I am in wv and summit point seems to be the nearest track but their web site is crap so I would like to know what I have to do to my 81 z28 to make it race ready and about the different classes and rules
Whoa, ever hear of a period?
You're gonna want to start with autocross, probably. Cheapest way to get into it for sure. Take your vehicle as is, then go from there.
A quick google search gives me this: http://swvrscca.org/index.php
Welcome. If you are just thinking about autoX I would probably look for a local SCCA chapter. For the car, I would just focus on making sure it would pass saftey inspection.
And welcome to the madness that is GRM
If you really want to prep your car: get it running well. Basically, change the fluids, fresh ignition parts, get your cooling system up to snuff, make sure your brakes are all working well, make sure you have survivable tires and pressures, and clean ALL of the junk out of the interior. Wait to upgrade the car until you have run a few events. Right now you just don't want it to break. Be aware, many "Popular" upgrades do very little on the race track.
Go to www.emraracing.org right now. Look at their site carefully and study the rules and whatnot for time trials. Time trials is a great way to get out on the track for very little money (compared to wheel-to-wheel racing) and you don't have to worry about people passing you in turns or show up with an expensive racecar.
You will have two classroom sessions (taught by me!), an instructor will be in the car with you all day, and provided that you are of age, there is usually beer at the end of the day.
You are near Summit Point? This is good news. They have fantastic chili. Oh, and the courses are also great too, but this is second to their chili (I haven't been on Jefferson yet, though).
Depends on what exactly you want to do.
Autocross is generally done in parking lots around a cone course. Look for a local SCCA, or NASA chapter. There may be other clubs in your area too. Perhaps some other board members could help with that.
Autocross is nice in that there are not too many saftey regulations. Typically you can take the junk out of your trunk, don a helmut, and run.
If you actually want to run at a track look for an organization that runs HPDE's at Summit point. HPDE's are non-competive events but they serve as training for time trials or wheel to wheel racing.
Here are some links to help you get started:
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/clubs/by-state/wv/
Edit: holy crap! look how many people posted as I was pulling together links!!!
What MrJoshua said plus be sure your battery is secure. Tie straps and bungee cords don't count.
Oh, so what to do with your Z28... Nothing (OK, aussiemag is right... get some good brake pads). Make sure it is safe. Empty the car out completely before you show up and only bring the things you need at the track (extra tools, a helmet, LOTS of water, some snacks, and a camera). Leave your floor mats at home. Um, basically what everyone else here said.
Seriously. Don't spend $4,000 on upgrades and think that it will make you fast. I'll blow your doors off with my 1/4 million mile Miata with relatively few upgrades regardless. All you'll end up doing is showing up with a car that is a lot faster than you and you won't have any fun (except for the straights, but you said you were bored with drag racing! 
)
Your first year of whatever you do in racing will be a learning experience. Don't get disappointed when you don't win trophies, don't worry about being slower than guys in cars that are supposed to be slower than you (like me), and remember that we're all out there having fun and that's all that matters.
Upgrade brake pads to a competition/track pad, brake fade is not fun. A spare set of rims with track tires that meet your class rules.
mtn wrote: You're gonna want to start with autocross, probably. Cheapest way to get into it for sure. Take your vehicle as is, then go from there. A quick google search gives me this: http://swvrscca.org/index.php
I checked out that clubs website and it looks like a good organization.
Looks like the drivers get 4 to 8 runs and typical runs are pretty long at nearly a minute each.
I see they have an event the first weekend of Feb. I highly recommend that you chaeck it out. If not as a competitor, at least go there to see what it is about.
I also noticed that in their links section they have a novice handbook. I recommend reading it before you arrive.
http://www.tirerack.com/features/solo2/handbook.htm
I did not see a price on the website but expect that it will cost about $25 for the full days event.
Capt Slow is right about Summit Point's own HPDEs. They call them Friday At The Track (FATT for short). The cost was a little more than EMRA's TTs, but you get to go out on their skid-pad in their Chevy Caprices (police interceptors) for some understeer / oversteer training that I think is HUGELY beneficial. It will completely change your outlook on driving forever.
thanks for all the links i am learning alot . I did not know the scca southern wv region hq is only about 8 blocks for where i grow up.
make the car pass tech, good brakes, and don't do anything in a 2nd gen without installing subframe connectors.
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