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Published: August 20th 2010
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The rest of Tuesday and beyond:
We lazed by the pool for hours and didn’t do a great deal for the rest of the day. Then after dark we headed to the Venetian Casino complex. We had a bite to eat, I found some Coach sunglasses in the amazing lobby area and we had a flutter.
We wandered along the strip stopping at casinos here and there and eventually made our way back to the Paris one, which is just near our hotel.
On Wednesday, Matt made me get up early again! It’s meant to be a holiday!
Anyway after breakfast we headed to the Las Vegas Speedway or race track and Matt had a great time driving an Aston Martin and a Lamborghini around the race track. He got to meet some fellow iRacing (online car racing he does) people too - who work there. They have the really hard job of warming up the tyres on the exotic cars each day, the porsche, the Ferraris, Lamborghinis etc. They really looked like they hated their jobs - NOT!
The guy who owns the business is an ex-racing driver who is now a stunt driver for
the movies. He’s worked on about 150 movies over the last few years. Anyway seeing him take people on hot laps was priceless. He comes flying out of the garage sideways and goes from there!
After Matt’s exciting morning we headed to the outlet shopping centre and bought a few things. Then back to the pool for some relaxing.
Last night we headed to Fremont Street - the old Las Vegas. I taught Matt how to play roulette, so that was fun. Usually he just watches me and spends my winnings, but it was fun having him perched at the table next to me and seeing his pile of chips increase in size.
Well now it’s 7am (my body woke me up early, since I’ve had to get up at the crack of dawn for the last two days - Matt’s snoring still!) and after breakfast we’re heading to our final destination - Los Angeles.
We’re both looking forward to checking into our Garden Cottage at the Chateau Marmont. We’re even considering just spending the next few days relaxing by the pool in the most expensive accommodation we’re ever booked? Oh and Friday night - we’re seeing
Crowded House play at Club Nokia - can’t wait for that.
Matt: Vegas, the casino part anyway, isn’t my thing, but I have found myriads of other things that don’t involve casinos much more fun. You can truly just think I’d like to do this while I’m here, and you usually can.
After deciding not to give my money away at the casino’s, oh have I mentioned all drinks are free at the casino’s, I found a much faster way to spend money - it's called Exotics Race School.
So then my problem was too many cars to choose from not enough money to drive them all, this included:
Porsche 997
Audi R8
Aston Martin Vantage
Lamborghini Gallardo
Lamborghini Murcielago
Ferrari F430 F1
Ferrari Scuderia
None more than 6 months old the Murcielago 3 weeks old!
After a ½ hour briefing it was time to hit the track, I choose the Aston Martin to drive first, what a beautiful car, the instructor sits in the passenger sit and guides you up to speed quickly round the 9 turn tight track, they really encourage you to push them as hard as you can, no holding
back, overtaking and all. My highlight was when the instructor egged my on to overtake the a Ferrari saying “ you’re faster than him, nail him down the straight and get him under brakes” GAME ON, so I did at 120 mph, unreal.
Next I went for the newest and most powerful Lambo 640bhp, rear engine, all wheel drive Murcielago.
I have always wanted to drive/own a Lambo ever since I was old enough to know what one was and had Lambo posters on my wall growing up, this was a big deal for me.
Well holy @#$%@$ %^#@ when I hit the gas to leave the pits it felt like someone was trying to feed me backwards thru the upholstery, this is quick if not quicker than anything I have ever felt. 0-60mph in 3.1 sec’s. I was told this was also one of the hardest of the pack to drive and it is, don’t get me wrong it is fantastic but very twitchy, you really had to balance your braking, too much and the rear got real active, too little and you unsteered badly, it took me about 5 laps too come to terms that this
thing will do far more than I’m able too, but having said that with some help from the Pro sitting next to me for the next 5 or so, smooth lines and smooth trail braking proved how fast this car is and what it can do. Having it jerk sideways under acceleration flat shifting from 2nd to 3rd and a screaming V12 at 9000rpm that pushes you forward so fast it’s frightening and then it brakes from about 150mph to 50 insanely quickly, words can’t describe.
I got out of the Lambo all too soon, covered in sweat, arms hurting with a very sore neck and a huge bloody grin which lasted the rest of the day.
Having driven two great cars I’d have to say I’d take the Aston over the 4 X more expensive Lambo,
The Aston just drove beautifully, prefect balance, no understeer, throttle induced oversteer that just naturally felt wicked, stable under brakes, killer V8, ahhhh I’m in love…………………………
'What else have we done, buggered if I know I can’t stop thinking about cars……..LOL
Later guys, I miss you all.
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Kayleigh
non-member comment
Hmmm
One word for you guys.... JEALOUS! Would you just look at that pool!! No wonder you spent a whole day drinking next to it!