Has anyone actually gone to like an acutal live race at a race track?? I'm just wondering.. .would it be worth seeing? Fill me in here.. If so I'll add it to my list of things to do before I die..

I'm definately going up to NH to see a race sometime. I was always thinking it might be boring watching the cars go round and round and round from the stands...but I guess the atmosphere (girls) and the sound of the engines as they pass you is awesome. (as I was told)

Sounds cool... I'll probably try and do that too sometime...

I have been to one race, but never a race weekend. NASCAR has made it so accessible for the fans. I am an avid fan and receive NASCAR Illustrated that has a story, I will post some of what is in there for you guys, I have to go home and find it.

However, I was able to go to Qualifying and Practice and then the Race on Sunday last year in Kansas. During qualifying and practice you can buy armbands for what is known as the fan walk. The tracks have an area fenced off between the garages that you can walk down and observe what goes on, you can even watch as the officials inspect the vehicles before they go on the track for qualifying. From time to time drivers will come over to the fence and sign autographs. Also within the fan walk is the media center, where all day long, drivers will come over to make announcement i.e. new car design, new sponsor, etc. During the both events you can rent scanners that are set to your drivers channel, and you can then listen in to the conversations between, driver, spotter and crew chief.

Its loud, and hot, and the rubber odor can drive you mad, but it was the best event I have ever attended live.

Don't forget about the road course, duncanmac, you see sometimes they do turn right.

dmk

That is exactly what my son says to me when I kid him.My boss(the owner of the place) is big into racing.He races older(vintage?) Porsches.His cars are all street legal but are set up for racing(roll cages,5 point harness etc...).Last Labor day he let me take a 944 for the weekend.My son just went nuts.He wanted to see how fast it went.Yes we did go over 100.I told my boss I could never own one as I would not have a driver license left.

I have been corrupted, I have ridden in the passenger seat of a NASCAR car at a real track, and did 6 laps at 175 - 185 mph. Let me tell you from vantage point as a passenger, at 170 plus making a left turn is not as easy as it looks.


dmk

Man! How the hell did you get to do that?!? And what did it cost?

I want to give it a go!

Yea me too!

I'm guessing those seatbelts are so tight, you can barely move in your seat.

Google Richard Petty Experience, they offer at NASCAR tracks different experience. For a qualifying trial you could experience 2-3 laps for $99.00. After that the price goes up, but you experience a 6 lap shoot out or a 20-30 lap mini race.

They also offer driving classes with the ultimate goal of you actually driving the car yourself.

I was lucky to experience this for free while stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. A few of the ARCA and USAR drivers came to Fayetteville for racing over Memorial Day weekend. We just happened to be putting on displays for the public and many of them came out. They were so enthused with our displays and what we allowed them to do, that those of us who were on detail as members of the displays, they invited us out to check out their world.

I have since also paid the $99 to take a few laps at the Kansas Motor Speedway. I hope one day to afford to actual take the driving course and run the car myself.

dmk

Darlington, the Lady in Black!!! Tonight under the lights. Unfortunately for me it starts at 3 PM here, man Alaska Time Zone truly bites.

dmk