Click on a thumbnail for a larger image.
| I'd never been to a race track before. I guess Daytona
International Speedway isn't a bad place to start! We went to get a tour of the track
and to see the museum. As we got out of our car, we heard a car on the track. Cool! I'll be
able to see a car practicing. We went on the tour, which was pretty cool. All the time, two
cars were turning laps: |
I thought this was just a practice run. |
| We got down to the pits, and found out that they're running
the "Richard Petty Experience." For 100 bucks, they'll put you in the passenger seat for 5
laps at 150+ MPH. It took me about a microsecond to decide. |
|
I climbed in the #36 M&M's Pontiac, and we took off. I
can't even begin to explain the feeling. The acceleration out of the pits was incredible,
and the first turn was normal. We continued to accelerate down the back straight. We're
close to full speed as we enter turn 3, for my first 31° turn at speed. |
As we approached the turn, I was thinking, "OK. At this point
I would probably start taking my foot off the gas." He kept his foot down.
Then I thought, "Now...I'd probably start braking." He didn't.
I'm thinking, "We're going WAY too fast, WAY too close to this wall. We're gonna
hit." |
| As we dove into the corner, I was feeling more G's than I ever
had before. It was incredible. There was so much downforce from the bank pressing the tires
to the ground, the car wasn't going to go anywhere. It turned the corner like it was on
rails. Absolutely incredible. Next stop, the famous Daytona Start/Finish line: |
Pretty good speed shot, Dad! |
|
As we pulled into the pits again, I felt quite fatigued. It
takes quite a bit to brace yourself against the G's. I have no idea how these guys do it
for 500 miles. |
|
Rob Underwood was my driver, so when my Dad called out "Rob!" for a picture, we both turned
and looked! |
The "official" certificate for surviving! |
