mwct:I live in Arizona and I am wondering what is the easiest and cheapest way to get some time on a real track.
Look for a PDX (Performance Driving Experience) event at your local track(s) - they should be on the local region's calendar.
Alternatively, you can look for a BMW or Porsche club event; some of their local groups will let other marques in (if they know and like you, and you ask nicely).
There are other groups like "Track Guys" or FATT (Friday At The Track), but they are East of the Mississippi - there are probably similar groups in your area, but you'll have to look for them.
Now, the final option (I've saved the best and cheapest for last) is to find a real karting track that will rent you a 125 TaG or shifter kart. I'm not talking about concession karts or indoor karting - I'm talking about the real competition karts. A well set-up 125 shifter is a serious machine - if you can go fast and be competitive in one of those, you can drive almost anything up to Formula Continental. Lots of guys get hung up on the idea that it's "not a real car", but the truth is that it will out-accelerate, out handle, and out-perform pretty much anything you can afford to put on a track (unless you are far wealthier than most of us). It also doesn't require excessive capital outlay for safety equipment and licensing.
Marshall Mauney
WDC Region