Allow me to expand on parawxman's comments.

Go to http://www.nasaproracing.com/ and sign up for the Buttonwillow event in late April. You'll spend less than the $450 you have earmarked even if yoiu do both days and get a hotel and food in the area for the weekend. You'll get an instructor to show you the ropes and teach you how to drive quickly and safely.

One of the most common comments made by instructors at these events is about the guys who show up in high powered cars thinking they're hot stuff, only to spanked by much slower cars driven by guys who really are hot stuff. The car is only part of the equation - without a competent driver it's just a big ol' lump of steel, rubber, plastic and leather.