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Published: November 23rd 2008
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Welcome race fans! What a gorgeous day here in Las Vegas, and finally we had the chance to go outside and enjoy it! After a very productive business session this morning, we headed out into the desert for the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where we would be having lunch and taking on the Richard Petty driving experience. I finally got to see a little bit of the strip on the trip out (at least from the back!) and the mountains looked beautiful in the sunlight. The bus finally arrived at the speedway, and drove through a round corrugated metal tunnel to the infield - very cool! We headed into the Blackjack club for lunch, which overlooked the whole track. The food was good, but everybody was so excited by the prospect of riding in a real Nascar that it was almost an afterthought. I grabbed some potatoes, a corn fritter, some orzo pasta, a roll and some cornbread, and it was all delicious. A few of us sat outside to enjoy the fresh air, and I could feel the cough I've been developing here start to lift. A buzz went through the group when it was time to sign the waiver
and head out to the track - everyone was teasing each other, with some people getting heckled for not wanting to do it and others joking that they would bribe the drivers so that they could drive instead. I was in the group that was ready to go, and to go fast!
We headed to the infield, with our bracelets and Richard Petty stamps on our hands, and nervously lined up. I watched a couple of our lawyers suit up and don their helmets, and everyone looked very authentic! I wasn't nervous, so much as excited, to be there. We waited for a little while, and snapped pictures of those ahead of us. Finally, a few of our lawyers climbed into the cars and got strapped in, before speeding off. Some looked a little jittery when they returned, and others just grinned like kids on Christmas day. One of the staff was saying that there is a video camera with sound in the car, and when they're bored, they like to watch the videos. So he warned us not to yell anything we wouldn't want strangers hearing!
Finally, I stepped up, got my racing suit on and signed
in, before they fitted me with a helmet so I could get in line again (lots of waiting for only a few moments on the track!). The track was so loud, and my dad reminded me that with forty three cars, it must be much louder! From trackside, you really got a sense of how many fans they can fit in there - intellectually, I know that Nascar brings in the most fans of any sport, but you could really see it standing there!
The line moved slowly, and then suddenly, it was my turn. I hopped over the barrier and they escorted me over to the Richard Petty car, where I waited for the person in front of me to climb out, so that they could strap on the HANS device and then get me in. It's more awkward than the professionals make it look (big surprise, right), so I managed to pull my hamstring a little getting in! I'm so graceful.
Once in the car, the driver (Chris) introduced himself, and asked me whether I wanted to go fast. Of course, I said yes. I may be a chicken about heights, but not about speed, especially
when a professional is behind the wheel! They finished strapping me in tight and then we were off!
It was indescribably awesome! We were going so fast that I almost got disoriented as we were driving around the track, not knowing which way was up or down! The turns are so steep, and Chris would come into them so close to the wall, so that it looked like he would crash at any minute, and then suddenly, he would turn the wheel and ease us down. It literally takes your breath away! I realized as we were driving that we weren't even going as fast as the professionals go during race time, so it gave me a new appreciation for the line they ride. Pretty incredible! I would totally do it again!
I should also say that it wasn't scary at all either - I felt totally safe with my driver, and all strapped in (they run a very efficient operation), and I thought as we were going around about how petrified I get whenever I'm high up, but how it was just cool to be going so fast!
Of course, it was over too quickly, only
being about three laps (which, at about 165 miles an hour, goes pretty fast!). We waited in line to see our pictures come out of us in the race cars, which was pretty cool, and then it was fun to watch some of the other people in our group suit up and head out. Everyone seemed to really like it, and it was just such a different and fun way to pass the afternoon!
On the way back, we saw a huge building with what looked like a amusement park swing on top of it, swinging out over the empty air. My dad said that it's actually a ride that people can go on, and even just seeing it from far away made my palms sweat more than the driving experience!
Tonight, we head to Aureole here at the hotel for our final dinner, home of the wine tower and wine angels. Then, the great debate begins as to whether I stay up or try to get a few hours of sleep before my 4am wakeup tomorrow! I'm sorry to say that I'm such a nerd, I'll probably be in bed by eleven 😊 I'll just have to
come back to Vegas when I'm not working!
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