I have always dismissed motor sports as ridiculous and repetitive, so when a complimentary ticket was offered I was not sure I was worthy of taking the plunge and accepting the offer of going 165mph. I swallowed hard and hoped my friends that I gently mocked for spending weekends at the track or watching NASCAR on TV would not point out the double standard.
I arrived at the Kansas Speedway and was immediately in awe of how monstrous this place was when you are standing in the infield. I signed the waiver, got my wrist band, slipped on my flame retardant jumpsuit, and was in pit row face to face with a shiny blue dodge with the legendary #43 on it's side within a blink of an eye. I was fitted with a helmet, told how to enter the vehicle, strapped in with a neck brace, told to smile for the recording camera and in what seemed like 3 seconds we were out of pit row and heading for a banked curve at a speed I've only encountered sitting in a jet on take-off. Adrenalin pumping, a rumble and a roaring engine blasting me and then the surrealism kicks in - an awareness of the danger when you see the approaching wall and have no idea how those tires are gripping that embankment without sliding into the wall or the car next to you; and it just doesn't matter; you're face to face with the monster yet a professional is behind the wheel and all you have to do is soak up the experience.
This is truly a bucket list experience that anyone who needs speed. G forces, or just a healthy serving of adrenalin in their life. read more