The experience began with a delicious, catered track-side luncheon. We enjoyed the meal in the same room where the biggest sponsors gather on race days. What a view! After the meal, we were put through driver's training and fitted for our helmets and race suits. When it finally sunk in that we would actually be DRIVING the race cars ALONE for eight laps around the TRACK, I couldn't believe it. I just kept thinking, Nobody would ever let me do something like that! It can't possibly be a good idea for me to do something like that! But they did let us do something like that and it was a great idea.
Robert was one of the first drivers to climb into his car. He pulled in behind his lead car and shifted thru the gears into fourth, crossed the white line and made his first lap. We were told that in order to achieve maximum speed we needed to be three car lengths behind our lead car and stay in his tracks. Three car lengths is so close when you are going 130 mph! Robert did a fabulous job keeping that distance and was one of the best drivers on the course that day. His top speed was 134 mph. He came off the track with a giant smile and a glimmer in his eyes... uh oh! Career change, perhaps?!
I was only one of two women. Earlier in the day I heard one of the previous female drivers say she had topped out at 90 mph and I thought, What a sissy GIRL! I drive 90 mph on the freeway in my Corolla. I have got to beat that! But once I shifted into fourth and crossed the apron, I realized it was much harder than I thought to keep the distance, track the lead and navigate the turns. The G-force was awesome. I could feel the earth pressing on me with every turn. The entire time I was screaming, OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! My heart was pumping. My hands were sweating. My adrenaline was flowing. I was flying. It was incredible. There was hardly a moment to breathe or take in the surroundings. Twice I passed other drivers and left them in my dust. My top speed was 128 mph.
We were also able to drive an autocross course. There were two Mercedes - beautiful cars - set up on a short course for us to navigate. The goal was to complete the course in the fastest time and penalties were given for every cone a driver hit. It went against everything we were taught in drivers' ed... floor the pedal, slam the brakes, screech the tires. It was a thrill and I was especially pleased to score well and complete the course twice without hitting any cones. I am a Mercedes girl now. It was difficult to climb back into our Toyota Corolla to drive home after sitting behind the wheel of a Mercedes Benz.Of all my crazy life adventures to date, including those I enjoyed in Idaho, this ranks in the top three. Insane! Crazy! Scary! Fun!






