You could rent a road race car and go thru both the SCCA drivers schools for less that 3 grand.

Or:

You could buy a decent IT road race car for under the 3 grand, and then only have to pay for your direct racing expenses (entry fee, gas, tires, etc) for your schools and racing, then sell the car later on and move up the ladder.

CFR SCCA is having a drivers school at Sebring July 16/17. Here is the link to the entry form http://www.cfrscca.org/forms/SebDrivers0705.pdf

More CFR SCCA info here: http://www.cfrscca.org/cfrmain.html