richard petty driving experience

My husband and I drove real Nascar cars at+ 130mph (he was beyond 140mph)! Although we are not car race fans, he suggested to celebrate my birthday by getting into helmets and racing cars and I loved every second of it!This is not a tourist spot-there will be no hot dogs, no drinks, the loo is 300 yards away and the driver outfit(yes you will wear one of those overalls and helmet) will have you sweating like a pig but I loved the misery The team is very professional and will brief you, coach you, and help you every step of the process and nothing can describe the feeling of riding the oval, seeing that curve and wall coming at you. Driving at that speed, is not easy and brings a total new dimension to the expression "tunnel vision". Trust the car, listen to your coach, get her roaring at 5000 rpm for the ride of a lifetime !!!I want to go back next spring :D

I am not at all a race fan, but I still had fun! Everyone was very nice, helpful, and patient. My brother gave a Driving Experience to my son for his birthday (he's 17). He also gave the whole family a Ride-along. As we entered the speedway, we loved that we got to drive under the race track (through a tunnel) and park in the inner circle! When we arrived, we checked our son into the Driving Experience portion (we had reservations), where he also got a fireproof suit and badge. While he waited for his classroom lesson to begin, we walked over to the track and got each of us a "Ride-Along" ticket (which is first come, first serve). Then we sat in with our son on the lesson, so we also got to hear how to drive, etc. (They allow anyone to do this, but encouraged us, as family, to go). Afterwards, half the Drivers tried on helmets while the other half listened to a safety video through headsets. Then we all walked over to the track. After getting pictures taken in front of a race car (sadly, this was just one of the cars there, not necessarily the one you will drive), you wait your turn on some bleachers. They will give you your helmet and goggles when it is close to your turn to drive. When called, you climb in through the driver's side window (there are no doors, of course) and pose for another picture. If you are not able to drive a manual, there is a van that will push start you. A professional driver is in the passenger seat giving instructions. And away you go! You get to go around 8 times, with the Rookie Experience. Afterward you get a print out of your statistics - the fastest you went, etc. Plus, of course, the option to buy the video of your experience (video and audio was taken the whole time in the car). For our Ride-Alongs, we just stood in line in that area, put on a fireproof suit, helmet, and goggles just before our turn and then climbed into the passenger window. it wasn't hard to get my legs in, but my big helmet kept getting caught! We posed for a picture and away we went. Because they were professionals, we went pretty fast (about 165) around the track 3 times. it was a short, but fun ride! Then you climb out and take everything off. Of course, they try to sell you pictures and plaques and videos of your experience - which is pretty expensive, but we still bought some things for our son. There is a trailer by the track for drinks, snacks, and t-Shirts to purchase if want. Restrooms are in the main building where you check in for the Driving Experience. We were there for over 3 hours, mostly waiting for our turn to go - our son was last to drive, and 6 of us did the ride-along. My son would love to do another driving experience (and the boys in the family would love that opportunity), but the Ride-along was not something any of us girls would do again. It was fun and a good experience, but in our minds you just sit in a crowded car and go fast in an oval. I think the hardest part about booking an experience is that they are only offered a few times throughout the year. However, they are offered at other speedways, too, on different weekends.

Where else can you drive a car at 140 mph and get away with it !!! Great Time. Will go again for the price