Hey
BumblebeeAmigo
Not sure where your getting your information but most of it seems incorrect or misplaced. Getting you and your Camaro on a Roadcourse is relatively easy and not that expensive by most standards.
The link
JOHNSONROD seems to follow most Performance Driving programs I have been invloved with or have researched (NASA,SCCA,PROAUTO).
I'll talk about NASA. They have 4 HPDE classes (High Performance Driving). None of these classes are Wheel-to-Wheel racing. They are progressive instruction, however you are not required to have an instructor in the car with you in level 2 and up. Once you get to Level 3 you can get signed of to "Compete" in TT (Time Trials). This is true competition but not Wheel-to-Wheel racing. Your racing against the clock. Probably similar to Auto-X in that regard but it's not one at a time.
What does it take to get into this? You, your Camaro, a safe Helmet and the entrance Fee (1 or 2 day event typicaly).
You can do HPDE forever if you like without doing any upgrades. Just replace normal wear items (at a faster rate of course). The Camaro has plenty of the good stuff to have alot of fun. Besides it's important to do the "upgrades" in the ol' noggin first. Your car probably exceeds your abilities when you first start out if you've never been on a roadcourse before, consentrate on learning first.
Hopefully some others will chime in as well on maybe some other programs in your area.
Keep in touch as you get closer to signing up for an event or if you have more questions. Whole idea here is to share knowledge and experiences.
NASA Main link below, after reading it you can click on regions for you r area. I recomend getting on your local clubs website and join there forum. Have of the fun is going to be the new friends you'll meet on the track
http://www.nasaproracing.com/aboutnasa/index.html