Mario,
Welcome to the madness. Beck is s good idea (of course I MIGHT be a little biased ;-)). The next event is in September in NC called "Mountain Madness.". Aaron White and Lane Anderson will be there and both drive Beck's (Lane wrote the Owner's manual). I think that you will probably get to see Vintage, SAS, & CMC at the same event. I know that it's a bit of a haul, but the roads are awesome, the people are great, the visit to the Biltmore might keep your right-seater happy, and you'll learn alot.