A couple of weekends ago, my parents made the trip south, along with my aunt and uncle, to cash in on Christmas gifts from last year. My mom got my dad the Richard Petty Driving Experience where you actually get in and drive a NEXTEL CUP car!!! Ironically enough, my dad got my mom the Jeff Gordon ride along (passenger to a professional driver). My aunt Kathy also got my uncle Sam the Driving Experience. They scheduled it for Lowe's Motor Speedway so I could come down and watch. It really was one of the coolest experiences watching my uncle and dad literally fly across the track. My dad maxed out in his course and went as fast as he was allowed (around 140.45 mph). Uncle Sam was just behind him right around 139.75 mph. They kicked the tails off of most of the other guys (and gals) out there who drove.
We took a break midday and came back later for my mom's ride along. This was Jeff Gordon's ride along. For those of you who know me well, you'll know that i would rather run back-to-back marathons in the middle of the desert with no shoes on than cheer for Jeff Gordon or really do or be a part of anything associated with Gordon! That being said, when we arrived to check my mom in, she insisted that I sign up and take part as well. After a little debate, I gave in (because I really did want to experience what's it like to go FAST).
Part of me felt sick to my stomach in seeing all of the "24" stuff, but the other part was excited to hit that track. What made everything A OK was when they brought out the car they would be doing the ride alongs in........... it was the #8 Dale Jr. Budweiser Chevrolet. I couldn't believe it!
After a short wait, my mom hopped over pit wall and crawled into the car which was at the entrance to pit road. Once secured, the professional driver HAMMERED it all the way down pit road and into turn 1. As she got out of the car, the expression on her face was priceless! Loved it! Wasn't scared at all (which really did impress me as I was ......we'll call it anxious).
A few minutes later it was my turn. As soon as I crawled in the car, I turned to the little wee man driving who could barely see above the dash (and I'm not exaggerating), and told him I wanted him to drive as fast as he could without wrecking! I got the thumbs up, was buckled in, and off we went!!! It was like a drag race down pit road and into turn 1. Now I've done a lot of "thrill" activities in my life including skydiving and bungee jumping. This, BY FAR, was the most intense thing I've ever done!!!! You're going down the backstretch so fast (about 170 mph) and you see a near 90 degree turn in front of you and think "there's no way.....there's no way". His foot didn't come off the gas and yet somehow that car stuck to the track and didn't fly up into the wall. The g-forces on your chest in the turns literally felt like someone was stepping on your chest.
It certainly gave me a new appreciation for the skill it takes to drive those cars, that fast with 42 other drivers on the track sometimes only inches away.
If you ever have the opportunity, I really encourage you to try it. Even if you hate NASCAR, it's the best amusement park ride you could imagine.
I put up a few pictures from the weekend on my website HERE!!!
