What part of town are you moving to?
Re: tracks, MVP Track Time (
http://mvptracktime.com/) runs really great events, and most of them are around Chicago. Here are the tracks I've run:
1. Road America – don’t think I could tell you much about it that you don’t already know. It’s clearly the stand-out in this group, but it’s about a 2.5 hr drive at reasonable speeds with no traffic.
2. Autobahn CC - about an hour drive from downtown. Great track – be sure to check whether the event you’re doing is running on the North course, South course, or the full track, which links the two.
3. Putnam Park – also about a 2 to 2.5 hr drive from downtown. Not really in the same league as RA and Autobahn, but it’s a fun, safe little track.
4. Gingerman – I put this in the same category as Putnam. Nice little track with a lot of events that are easy to jump aboard.
5. Blackhawk Farms – never run it, but I’m not dying to. Looks a little beat-up from the videos and pictures I’ve seen, but what do I know – I’ve never been.
Enjoy the city.