Hi Gang,

We're back from Charlotte Motor Speedway (well, technically it's Lowes, but it'll always be Charlotte to me), and it was a blast.

Anita did pretty well all in all, and extremely well for a complete newcomer in any kind of race car, I was grinning from ear to ear. As it turned out, she wasn't the only female driver, there was 1 other, we were both happy to see.

OK, on to results.........her lap speed was 126 mph and change, with top speeds over 150 mph, so she even beat a number of the men out there. She did close up on her instructor's car closer than anyone else except a couple of drivers there who had experience behind the wheel in stock cars, which I was very happy to see. That is one of the keys to getting faster speeds, closing up on the instructor so the instructor goes faster. Those driving are instructed to remain about 4 car lengths behind their instructors car as they go around the track, slowly at first, then working up to higher and higher speeds, as fast as the student feels comfortable going. Almost all were afraid to close up to 4 lengths and none did except a couple of the experienced guys and Anita. Most of the drivers commented that when they were 20 lengths behind their instructor, at those speeds it felt much closer, and closer than they wanted to get, even at 20 lengths. Anita was within 3 lengths of her instructor on her last lap, which was of course her fastest. Yes, she had times when she was 8-10 lengths back, but with each successive lap she got closer and closer, and at the end was within 3 lengths, I couldn't believe it. I think the grin broke my face.

One guy sat down close to us after he got thru with his stint behind the wheel, and was obviously shaken. This poor fellow was constantly about 25-30 lengths behind his instructors car, always being waved on to speed up & to close up to his instructors car by the starter on each lap, etc. He did not care for the high banking, Charlotte's infamous tunnel turn, or the exit from Turn 4 running right up against the wall. He was one of the nicest fellows you'd ever want to meet, and was very candid with his experience, no "tough buy" bravado. He relayed all this to us just before Anita was to climb in her car, so I was worried that his comments would scare her a bit. She said she thought about what he said the first lap, but quickly discovered the car to be fine and she was very comfortable with it and the track. She just took to it like a duck takes to water.

She hasn't decided what track she'll take on next, and is experiencing a bit of soreness from using muscles that don't normally get used in quite those ways. She has a renewed respect (not that she didn't already have) for what kind of talent & courage it takes to get behind the wheel of a stock car, let alone what it takes to get in a pack of 43 cars all much closer than any were our day at Charlotte, as did many other drivers that day.

Yes, this post is a bit off-topic for this section of the message boards, and is obviously a blatant cheer for my wife. It's also intended for those who have thought of maybe doing this, or those who think that the Richard Petty Driving Experience is hokey and not worthwhile, etc. It is *very* worthwhile, and there wasn't a driver there who felt they didn't get at least double their money's worth & far more, there wasn't 1 person unhappy with what they got & the fun they had. The cars are well prepared & very safe, and while they don't have the full 750 horsepower the Cup cars normally do when actually racing at Charlotte, the general consensus was that they had about 600 hp, and all were very easily capable of running top speeds of 190+ mph in the right hands.

We had a great time, along with about 35 others who drove the 6-8 different Cup cars they had there, & can't wait for her next opportunity to get back to another track and do it all over again.

Nice job Anita!

 

It's not fair. I want to drive a race car!
Yes I am a bit envious.
Wow that sounds awsome! Though it was only a short time I spent with the two of you in Norfolk, I am not surprised that Anita got into it. A bit faster than the Lariat at VMP, eh?
It's great to see more women interested in that type of sport. Hey we all drive. Why wouldn't a woman be interested in going fast?
I hope you two get a chance to run at several tracks.
Thanks for passing it on Mike.
Alright Anita. That is truly awsome.
I hope to be able to try it out muself soon. I hope I don't wimp out! I don't think so!

Tom

 

I clicked on your thread knowing I was going to read about you and you Lightning. Fooled me .

Great to read about your wife's drivin'/racin' experience at Charlotte(agree with you on the name). Last month I got to ride in a #3 Winston Cup car(1997 Monte Carlo--one of Dale's) at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was a birthday gift from a client/friend. Rusty Baker(Buddy Baker's son) drove and I hung on. We only ran 3 laps at speed(165 mph--6800 rpms). Yes, these drivers are athletes for sure--what a strain on the body--and I wasn't steering, etc. LOL!

I've driven my own car(1991 Z281LE) in several driver's schools at Road Atlanta, and that was a 'hoot' but those high-backed ovals are something else.

Way to go Anita .

Dan

 

Just remind her that this will NOT count as a 6 second 1/4 mile!

Never been on one of the high banked tracks and was always curious as to what it's like. I guess that will go on my list, but will remain under a ride in the McLaren/MB two seater F1 car.

 

Hi Wittom,

You're absolutely right, that was quite a bit faster than her drag strip debut in her 5500+ lb. Lariat, which ran a whopping 18.4 @ 80 mph that day in bone-stock trim. Actually, she could have easily handled a 13-second ride, as she's certainly had her own and driven enough of my hot-rods over the years to handle that much, but it was her responsibility to get the stock times on that ORP Lariat, so those are the numbers she's stuck with. She's much happier with her numbers at Charlotte, no doubt.

By all means, don''t hesitate, just pick up the phone and do it. The cost for 8 laps at the track of your choice is very low, far less than it's worth. You did very well at VMP at your debut, and I know you'd do well at this too!

 

Hi Dan,

You got to ride in one of Dale's actual cars? Nice!

165 mph laps would have you hanging on for dear life, and I'm sure made every muscle you had ache for awhile, I can only imagine.

The 1LE F-bodies are nice, we used to do a lot of work with them in the early to mid-90's

Thanks for the post!

 

Hi SIgnmaster,

I hear you, and I'd have to agree, a ride in a McClaren F1 car, or any F1 car for that matter, would have to be a notch higher up on the list, no doubt. However, given the realities of that being about as probable as landing on the moon, along with it only taking only a relatively few dead presidents to make the high banks happen...............

I think anyone into speed would like it, NASCAR fan or not. A fast prepped car is a fast prepped car, even if it does have fenders.