OK, this was a complete blast..... at first we are put into a class room where we are briefed on the day, all the while, NASCARS worst crashes video is playing on a monitor....
There are 26 in the group, six of us driving today. We are broken into 4 groups. We will compete for fast times on the track. Each group is asigned an instructor, chances are he has driven in the Busch or Truck series races.
My group poses for a class photo. (see photo 1)
We get a tech session on the cars. (see photo 2)
We are put into a van and shown the best race line on the track. (see photo 3)
I drew the #17 NGK Spark Plug Grand Prix. (see photo 4)
Cockpit of the #17. (see photo 5)
Engine of the #17. (see photo 6)
Getting into the car is trickey with all the safety equipment. (see photo 7)
Last instructions before the ride (see photo 8).
The idea is to follow your instructor at a 3 to 4 car lenght distance, any more or less, he will slow the pace. Also, you must stay "inline with him" through the race track. One of the instructors reaches in and starts the motor. It's like the end of the world. I have never heard an engine sound so powerful. Adrenilen rush !!! It is as this point that camera man sticks his camera in your face. (Top right photo) I am told the pics either show terror or unbridled fun.
Rev to about 2500 rpm and pull away. I tweak the pedal and this car lunges. I hit third and I was a bit to aggressive, the tires start to smoke. Back under control, I get out on the track. (See the track map) You leave pit row and immediatley left bank (running CCW). As you come out of the turn your in fourth and pull up into the race track. There are other students on the track already and you sequnce in. My instructor takes off. I finally get to my 3-4 car distance after turn two.
The car handles like a go-cart. I never use the brakes the entire time on the race track. No matter how hard I push the car it sticks!!! The instructor charges out of corner one and flies up to wall. I can't manage to keep his line. It was to un-nerving!!! You always expect the car to slide, but it doesn't. This problem of not running against the wall, slows down my time.
I find the balls on my last lap. I run about 10 inches from the wall!!! More rush!! Unforntunatley I have run out of laps. The checkered flag is raised. I have to re-enter the pits, bummer. It went to fast!
Lynne asks how it was. I told her how enjoyable it was, but I was a bit embarrassed, because it's just a mile long track and the longest straight is only about a thousand feet long. I didn't believe I got the car over 90mph! As you might know, there is no speedometer on the dash.
After all the drivers have taken there laps, they have a graduation for the students. We get our printouts of lap times and speeds. I find out that several of the drivers have done this before. The fastest time is from a second time driver, he hits 125.18 mph. I open my packet and find my high speed was 124.38, but I had the fastest lap time of the day !!!
A complete blast. When I transfer the video to an AVI file, I'll send it to you.
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