Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS My cousin-in-law and I were given a certificate to drive a NASCAR for Christmas. Well, actually, my aunt Toni said it was our Christmas-New Years-Birthday-Mother’s Day-Father’s Day-Flag Day-Groundhog’s day present because of how much it cost her. Our scheduled driving time finally arrived this Saturday. Neil and I were to arrive at the Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, CA at a bright and early 7am. Some of my family met at my aunt’s house at 6am, but we got to talking and joking around and didn’t actually hit the road until almost 6:30am. All was gravy as Neil and I drive kind of fast anyway – we made it to the racetrack just at 7am on the nose. Our family went one way and Neil and I went the other to check in. Who knew it was first come first serve? Oh, maybe everyone else but us! We ended up about 15th on the list of drivers, which meant it would be as hot as bejesus by the time we got to drive. Everyone was shuffled into a room where we had to pick a firesuit that would protect us if we crashed and caught on fire. Whaaattt?? Did you say fire? Not the first thing I particularly wanted to hear, but I go to the firesuit racks rather quickly to suit up. Now as you all may know, I am not a very small gal. I’m not huge, just not very small. I have lost about 22 pounds trying to prepare for this race, but I fear I may still need a 2x size. The hangers are marked with the sizes, so I pick out my fire suit very quickly and start putting on the pants. You have to put the suit over your regular clothes and it’s very snug and uncomfortable at first, but then you realize your pant legs have risen up to your chin while you were stepping into the pants. Ok, all fixed – now why won’t these confounded pants velcro up or zip??? Neil tries to help me zip them up, but it just isn’t working. Come on now!! You mean to tell me that I lost weight for this and I still can’t fit into a 2x? Holy crap. Then we overhear some girl saying how the last drivers weren’t very considerate as they didn’t put the right sizes back on the right hangers after they were done with their driving experience. Ding! Neil looks at me, I look at him, he rips my firepants off and notices they are XL. (Then he jokes that he got into my pants but don’t tell my cousin LOL). We find the 2X and they fit like a charm, even a little loose. Yay!!
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS We then have to go to a safety class. Larry Foyt and AJ Foyt IV hosted the DVD we watched. Mr. AJ is kind cute, but I can’t dwell on that because I have to pay attention to what they are teaching me so I don’t have to test out if the firesuit really works. We were told that down at the track we would be fitted with earphones, firegloves and a helmet. AJ tells us how to turn the car engine on, how to escape from the steering wheel and seat belts in case we crash or roll. Boy, who knew you could pay $500 to die in a car crash. The DVD was over and we are all anxious to drive. The instructor comes out and asks us if we had any questions from the DVD. No we don’t. So then he starts telling us about the workings of the car we are driving and how not to crash into the wall. I immediately like this guy. He talks about speed control. Apparently speed control is key. This will save our life. We need to break at the white line, accelerate on the turn bank, split the white broken line and keep a 5 car distance from the car in front of us. And no, this is not a race it’s an experience and these aren’t Autopia cars and you aren’t at Disneyland. You will be told to go down to the white line if someone is going to lap you. LISTEN TO THE CREWCHIEF OR CRASH. If you spin out don’t do anything but hit the brake. Don’t try to correct your position with the steering wheel. If you do you will hit the wall and you can die. Maybe I don’t like this guy too much after all. We were told that if you paid for 10 laps you would be disappointed. You just get the feel of the car and it’s over. He said the 20 lap people would be sad that they just started having fun before it was over. He said the 40 lap people would jump out of their car and pump a fist in the air and sign up again for another try. Personally, I think this man works on commission.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS We get to the staging area and we get to hear our cars fire up. Varoom Varoom Varoom. Ok, something like that but much, much louder. They are taking three drivers at a time, and are alternating between the folks who have paid for 10, 20 or 40 laps. They even had one guy who just paid to ride along with the lap car. He was about 400 years old, and he was really excited to be here. It made me smile. There are no 10-lap patrons, so the first group of 20 lap-ers take the track. There are three racecars per heat. Number 80 and 46 are manual transmission, and 70 is an automatic. We notice that the 70 car is a little slower than the rest, but we chalk that up to inexperienced drivers. One older gentleman is really nervous, but his wife is there to support him. His turn comes up and he takes the 80 car. Earlier our instructor tells us that if you get too hot or something goes wrong, immediately drive your car into the middle of the track and someone from the crew will be there immediately to get you out of the car. After a few laps, we see the 80 car go to the middle of the track. Oh man, is he ok? Did he have a heart attack? Did he get too hot? (It was 9:45am by this point and it had already reached about 90 degrees). We’re all waiting on pins and needles to find out what happened to the guy. No one is running out to help him. We are freaking out. The other two cars finish racing and the track crew finally go out to the 80 car and tow it in. We find out that the guy was intoxicated. We ask why he was allowed to drive in the first place and we were told that by the time the car chief reported it, Mr. Drunkman man was already on the track. After two laps, Mr. Drunkman finally listened to the track chief to shut off his car.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS Ok, now it’s our turn to drive. Neil and I go down to the pit and earphones are taped to our ears. I have long hair and the nice gentleman apologizes that the tape will probably pull out some hair strands. No problem. Firegloves? Check. Fireproof helmet liner? Check. Helmet? Check. Let’s drive! I get assigned car 70, the automatic. I am kind of happy about this because I haven’t driven stick since I was 16 or 17. The man assigned to me is very cute. Again, no time to think about that so I don’t die. I put my right leg in the car as instructed. Why won’t my left leg follow? Mr. Cuteguy tries to help me in but I just won’t go. How embarrassing!! I joke about my weight a little to play it off, but really I was ready to run and hide. Why did he have to be so cute? Now burly crew chief guy comes over to help Mr. Cuteguy stuff me into the car. Remember that scene from AIRPLANE where all the folks are standing in line to slap the hysterical passenger? That is what popped into my head. There will soon be a long line of guys taking a turn to see who wins. Step right up! Who will be the first to succeed? Put big girl through the window and win! The whole time my daughter and my cousin are snapping pictures and peeing themselves with laughter. Neil had a little trouble getting into his car, but not as much as I did! Wow, I’m finally in, and now Mr. Cuteguy has to strap me in and remind me how to start the car. He tries to put the steering wheel on but my stomach says no. He asks if I’m sitting all of the way back into my seat. I am, but I tell him no. He unstraps me and tells me to sit straight back. I tell him ok and he seatbelts me again. I’m exactly in the same spot, but this time I suck in my gut and the steering wheel clicks into place. Ha! Fooled him. We start our engines and they do a radio check. Car 70, do you copy? Thumbs up from me. Let’s drive!
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS We follow the pace car to the track and I am ready to pass out. It’s really hot in that car, and don’t forget I am still sucking in my gut. I’m afraid that if I let it out the steering wheel won’t turn. I put my glove up to wipe the sweat from my face but forget we have a faceshield on the helmet. Now I think I’ve given myself a concussion. A couple of laps go by and I’m starting to get the feel for the car. It really doesn’t feel like you are driving fast, but you can see the grandstand go by in a flash. This is a little scary because the walls in the turns come up fast too and you think you are going to hit it but these awesome cars hug the road like no tomorrow. I am so proud of myself. I am going really fast. I’m a NASCAR driver. We were told to only push the throttle to ¾ when coming out of turns to the backstretch. My car’s throttle was buried and it just wouldn’t go any faster. I then realize that it’s because I have an automatic transmission. What a rookie mistake. Next time I go stick shift. The radio chief says GOOD JOB 80! GOOD JOB 46!! (Neil’s in car 46. Yay for him!) CAR 70 – PICK UP THE PACE! Huh? Pick up the pace?!? What the ?? Then I hear “CAR 70, DOWN TO THE WHITE LINEâ€. There goes the pace car and car 80. I’ve already been lapped! Oh man, this was war. I need to step it up and if I die I die with honor. Another 10 laps or so go by. I’m holding my own and I’m on cloud nine. GREAT JOB 80 GREAT JOB 46 YOU’RE DOING BETTER 70 Why I otta…..Then I hear “CAR 46, DOWN TO THE WHITE LINE†- Ha ha! Now Neil is being lapped. Justice finally! I know my speed has increased as I hear “GOOD JOB 70. KEEP IT UP!†I would’ve patted myself on the back if I could.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS We actually got to drive 47 laps instead of 40 as they lost count of how many laps we did. In the end the girl in the 80 car had lapped Neil and I at least three times, but that’s ok because we later found out that she worked at the track. No harm to the ego there. We are yellow flagged as we have to slow down to exit the track. Our driving time is up. This is sad because of two things: I really was pumped to be driving, and now I have to think of how the heck I was getting out of the car. I take a few breaths once I shut off my engine to get the oxygen flowing through my body again. (Sucking in the gut for 47 laps was quite an accomplishment.) I unlatch my seatbelts (there are five) and unlatch my window screen. I shift upward and grab onto one of the roll bars for leverage. I will not be embarrassed again…..crap. I can’t get out of this damned car. Oh Mr. Cuteguy, a little help please? I finally roll out of the car and look towards my family in the grandstand. They are snapping pictures and laughing and I throw my hands up in the air to take my stance. TADA!!
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS Here are the pictures: <a href="http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4397927&a=32236162&p=74471668" target="_blank">http://albums.photo.epson.com/ j/ViewPhoto?u=4397927&a=32236162&p=74471668</a>
Originally Posted By DreamFairy Sounds like youhad so much fun! I am just thrilled your day was so memorable for you Your reporting was awesome, such detail I felt like I was sitting in the grandstands cheering you on. Kathy
Originally Posted By Stacers76 That is awesome 999!! My fiancee would be totally jealous as he's yelling at the NASCAR race on tv right now ) Fun times, thanks for sharing!!
Originally Posted By Labuda Oh, wow, that sounds like loads of fun! I totally feel for you on getting into the car - maybe once I lose all my excess weight, I'll reward myself with a trip to the Petty raceway at WDW. hehe Also, I think I'm gonna do my best to get my DH a gift certificate for the Petty raceway at WDW - this sounds like a total BLAST and he loves to drive fast almost as much as I do!!! lol You're my hero, girl! Ok, looking at the pictures, all I can think as I get to #9 & 10 is "OMG, that's an LPer in there! How freakin' cool is that!?!?!?!?!" pppst, don't tell your sister, but I bet this is way cooler than anything she even considered doing yesterday! heheheh
Originally Posted By MissCandice What a great experience! Thanks for sharing it with us. Now, I too want to lose weight so I can do that!
Originally Posted By Ursula I am so glad you finally were able to go. In case others didn't know, the date of this event changed and was rescheduled. 999 had been looking forward to this for months. It looks like she had a great time!!! Did you hit any octotillo plants out there? And yes, I adore my Auntie Toni...she's definately someone to have on your side!!!!!!
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS dr jones - We had to stay behind the pace car who was clocking at 140mph. Since my car was an automatic, my gauge stayed around 125. I think that's why I was lapped!
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS And Labuda, If you give this gift to your DH I bet he would even do the dishes once in a while LOL It's an experience I would never trade for anything.
Originally Posted By Labuda Actually, he already does the dishes. And the laundry. And he takes out the trash.
Originally Posted By Labuda Oh, but looks like you may have gotten a better deal where you did it than I'll get at the Petty place @ WDW - for them, it's $399 (plus tax, of course!) for the "Rookie Experience" which includes 8 laps! ugh!
Originally Posted By smedley This looks like it was awesome fun 999, glad you had a good time, and thanks for sharing the pictures with us. I've done something similar to this over here, but we don't have those big walls to contend with lol!
