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My Talladega Experience

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tony barnhill

tony barnhill

Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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For my 40th wedding anniversary - today - my daughter gave me 16 laps driving on the Talladega race track in one of Richard Petty's cars.

All I can say is WOW!! That is something everybody needs to put on their bucket list...I can see why Jack Nicolson & Morgan Freeman put it on their list in the movie.

But, I'm home....I'm worn out but what a day....it started out this morning with me riding 3 laps with one of the instructors to understand the track...then driving & car systems classes, fitting my helmet & uniform, & then 8 lapsin the car by myself...my first lap was 109mph & my fastest of the first 8 laps was 150mph....en a thshort break for additional instructions based on how I did during the first 8 laps & back in the car for 8 more laps...first lap of the second 8 was 139mph & my fastest was 165!!

Exciting, invigorating, intense & hard work...hot & soaking wet in that suit & helmet....those cars don't want to turn right & I had to constantly pull to the right to stay up high next to the wall....at Talladega, once you're in 4th gear you never let off the accelerator - especially in curves....& I was in 4th gear before we got onto the track from pit row.

& it took me a couple of hours & a great meal to come down from the high.

Everybody should do it & the Richard Petty Driving Experience is the way to go (https://www.1800bepetty.com/home.aspx)! WHOO HOO!
 
That is so COOL!!! It's already on my bucket list! I would love to do it with my husband...then we could see who really loves speed!
 
I'm envious. Sounds like fun.

I recently discovered go karts...we had three hours of track time at VIR's out door track in June during the V8 meet....and Pete and I found a nice indoor track in Indianapolis last month.
 
Tony,

You're very fortunate - Our Daughter stayed with us,
& gave me ....... an empty gas tank in the Dakota (X3).

- Doug
 
Oh, wow!!! Tony, sounds like you had a fantabulous time. I can't even imagine how fun that must have been. If there was ever any doubt, surely we now know-- YOU ARE THE MAN!!! :driving: Now I'm wondering what is next on your list!BTW, super congrats on 40 years!!--Monica
 
Yeah, at first I thought it was weird until I saw what she gave her mom....she said she wanted us each to have something we would like for ourselves but would never purchase....it was also my Father's Day gift since it was so expensive.
 
So...how's come no picture yet?

I want to see Bubba Tony standing next to the car in his driving suit.
 
Mt photo program isn't working properly & when I try to remove it from my laptop to reload, I'm not able to do so....gotta take it to the computer shop so they can see it but, I'l try a different direction tonight.
 
They had both out there but, after learning what a dog the COT was, I chose an older Cup car....number 25, actually....& I was passing COT's all day long - with faster lap times.
 
Tony,

Forgive me - I meant no disrespect,as I've
only made it to our 31st.My hat's off to you.Of
course your Wife deserves most of the credit (if -
you're anything like I am).

- Doug
 
Doug....I didn't see anything disrespectful in your post so no big deal...
 
Wow. That's awesome! So how does 165mph feel?

Oh, and of course, Shake and Bake! :jester:
 
MadRiver said:
Wow. That's awesome! So how does 165mph feel?

Oh, and of course, Shake and Bake! :jester:
Click to expand...
I was so busy fighting that car to stay up on top of the track that I never knew how fast I was going!
 
#25! A good number!!! :thumbsup: (Was it red & white?) Niel Bonnet was in this vintage! :wink:
 

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tony barnhill said:
....it was also my Father's Day gift since it was so expensive.
Click to expand...

My son did the Richard Petty track thing in Orlando. They didn't get going as fast as you did (about 120-125 mph IIRC), but he had a blast. Since my son knows I'm a road racing guy, he got for me a <span style="font-weight: bold">Father's Day gift </span>of the "Introduction to Racing" by Skip Barber at Lime Rock Park. All I can say is WOW...An hour flinging around a formula car at Lime Rock was a real treat.

These kind of experiences are definetly 'bucket list' musts.

Here's me at speed...well, it's all relative... :laugh:
 

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As soon as I get my photo program straightened out, I'll post some photos.

Mike, the number 25 car was red and yellow.

My daughter told me that, now that I've done the 16 lap program, I can do 8 laps at any track where Richard Petty has his program running for $199.00!! There are several around me: Nashville and Charlotte to name a couple.
 
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