I've been wanting to do this too.
NASCAR Driving Experience??
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: New Bern NC
NASCAR Driving Experience??
Any C5 guys tried the NASCAR D.E.?
How did you like it?
Our local club is planning a tentative trip to Lowes Motor Speedway this Summer for this event.
Classroom training, 3 laps with a driving instructor in a NASCAR, then he gets out and you do a few laps as fast as you have the cajones to go. There could be a few cars on the track at a time ( your buds) to race down.
What great fun, but pricey, $ 600.00 thereabouts.
How did you like it?
Our local club is planning a tentative trip to Lowes Motor Speedway this Summer for this event.
Classroom training, 3 laps with a driving instructor in a NASCAR, then he gets out and you do a few laps as fast as you have the cajones to go. There could be a few cars on the track at a time ( your buds) to race down.
What great fun, but pricey, $ 600.00 thereabouts.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,325
Likes: 0
From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I worked with a guy who did the Richard Petty experience and he liked it. I even work at a place now where the safety inspector did it with her husband , but I can't remember which track they went to. She had a photo on her desk standing in her driving suit in front of a Nascar car.
She said it was amazing. It is pricey, but you only live once. I'm thinking of taking my son to Spring Mountain in Las Vegas when he graduates from college.What could be bad about running a race car flat out at a track as long as you don't punk out, and lift your foot off the "fast peddle" on the straight?
She said it was amazing. It is pricey, but you only live once. I'm thinking of taking my son to Spring Mountain in Las Vegas when he graduates from college.What could be bad about running a race car flat out at a track as long as you don't punk out, and lift your foot off the "fast peddle" on the straight?
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 507
Likes: 5
From: Macungie Pa
I participated last October at Pocono. It was a father's day gift that I'll never forget.
Even though it was free for me, I would've considered it money well spent. Plan on making it an all day event weather permitting as I chose my event to coincide with the fall foliage season in the area. My "rush" came when you carry all that straightaway speed down to the apex in turn 1...note to self, remember to breathe....picking the throttle back up as you exit, letting your ride just walk out to the wall, running down your instructor,.....I could go on all day!
.....and, wether you're a waxer or greaser, you will come away with a much greater appreciation of what Nascar does week in and week out..... while experiencing just a very small part of it...
My 1st comments to my kids when my session was over...."the grip in those tires..."
Chas
Even though it was free for me, I would've considered it money well spent. Plan on making it an all day event weather permitting as I chose my event to coincide with the fall foliage season in the area. My "rush" came when you carry all that straightaway speed down to the apex in turn 1...note to self, remember to breathe....picking the throttle back up as you exit, letting your ride just walk out to the wall, running down your instructor,.....I could go on all day! .....and, wether you're a waxer or greaser, you will come away with a much greater appreciation of what Nascar does week in and week out..... while experiencing just a very small part of it... My 1st comments to my kids when my session was over...."the grip in those tires..."
Chas
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 108
From: Ocala, Fl. State of Confusion
I did it at Orlando. Great fun, but only 1/2 mile track. All the others didn't nail it and were sorry they didn't. I tried my best to keep it on the floor as long as I could, but the walls in the turns come up in a hurry. And don't worry about the instruments, you won't have time to look at them. The 1 1/2 mile at Charlotte or Daytona is next on my agenda.
You won't regret it.
You won't regret it.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Seeing that I am a big NASCAR fan, I was lucky enough to get a ride along with Jeff Gordon a few years back, I have never done the Driving Experience, But I tell you what, If you get the chance do it, If you are any kind of motor head you will love it, Something you will remember for a life time.
Bill K
Bill K
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 475
Likes: 79
From: getzville ny
My wife got me the 2 day experiance at Lowes motor speedway for Christmas a few years back. What an experiance that was! They gave me 80 laps on the track in the two days. They instructors were great, they treat you like you really are a race driver. At the end of day 2 my fastest speed was 162 mph. Someday I hope to do it again!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 753
Likes: 2
From: Denville NJ
Probably most of the deals are comparable.
I did Pocono and it was great. A bit closer for me in north Jersey.
Keep in mind the track layout and length. Pocono has the longest straightaway and is around 2 1/2 miles long, so your moving out pretty good the whole time.
It would be interesting to drive a more curvey road course though.
In any case you must do this where you can!
I did Pocono and it was great. A bit closer for me in north Jersey.
Keep in mind the track layout and length. Pocono has the longest straightaway and is around 2 1/2 miles long, so your moving out pretty good the whole time.
It would be interesting to drive a more curvey road course though.
In any case you must do this where you can!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: New Bern NC
My wife got me the 2 day experiance at Lowes motor speedway for Christmas a few years back. What an experiance that was! They gave me 80 laps on the track in the two days. They instructors were great, they treat you like you really are a race driver. At the end of day 2 my fastest speed was 162 mph. Someday I hope to do it again!
I better start dropping hints for next christmas
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 330
Likes: 1
From: loves park Illinois
I did the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Chicagoland Speedway back in 2002. Will never forget it . Things that I remember most is how you the g forces effect you and how you steer toward the wall in the corners. Doesn't seem right at 150 mph plus. Wany to do it again. Tom
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Wylie Texas
My buddies and I used to go to Daytona each year for Speed week. We did the ride along at Disney one year. What an awesome experience. A couple of years later we decided to do it again. When we get to the track my buddies informed that I was not going to do the ride with but was going to drive a car. You see Valentines Day falls with in the week of Speed week. My wife had arranged a surprise Valentines Gift for me, the Richard Petty Driving Experience. What can I say what an awesome awesome experience.
If you ever have a chance to do one of the driving schools do your self a favor and do it.
One very important thing. As I was about to get into the car the pit crewmen that was helping me gave me this advise. He said while pointing to my buddies who each had some kind of a camera pointing at me recording the big event, “Now as you climb in the car can you imaging what my life would be like if I fell while getting in. So make sure that at have a firm hold on the car with at least one hand at all times.”
Having passed this on have a ball. Post pics and let us know what it was like.
Tony
If you ever have a chance to do one of the driving schools do your self a favor and do it.
One very important thing. As I was about to get into the car the pit crewmen that was helping me gave me this advise. He said while pointing to my buddies who each had some kind of a camera pointing at me recording the big event, “Now as you climb in the car can you imaging what my life would be like if I fell while getting in. So make sure that at have a firm hold on the car with at least one hand at all times.”
Having passed this on have a ball. Post pics and let us know what it was like.
Tony