FOR most anyone who has thrilled to the notion of driving fast in powerful cars, a wishful thought has visited at least briefly: I may not be a Mario Andretti, but I could’ve been.

Proving anew that commerce has a knack for anticipating unfulfilled needs, chances to prove those unrealized driving skills are emerging in the form of members-only racing clubs. Such clubs — some giving access to an existing track, others with their own courses — are popping up across the country.