My Richard Petty Experience

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

For fathers day this year, my wife & kids bought me a Richard Petty Ride-On Experience at the Orlando Speedway in Walt Disney World.

Been to Disney 4 times in a row & always said I wanted to do it but never really fit it into the "schedule"....this year I was "scheduled" for Tuesday July 21, 2009 @ 9 am

I had a really cool time suiting up & hitting my head on the window opening sliding into the seat (good thing for the helmet)  

The driver (Tommy King..... Talledega Nights or what?!?!) did a great job of returning me to my wife & kids in one piece, even though I had to sign my life away before I got suited up.

The 3 laps only lasted for what seemed like a minute (looking at the vid its about 2 and a half ) but it was a really cool feeling to turn left at 120+ mph and stick to the track like glue.
Down the straight away we averaged between 145 & 150 mph.

Next time I'd love to save up the ducats to actually drive (start around $400 for 8 laps)

Heres the cheesy vid....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJDJBmKQyTM

PS---turn up your speakers....not for my NY accent but for the actual driving....

[69bronzeT5]

That looks sooo awesome. The car sure sounded great. That thing had balls for sure!

[resq302]

Chris,

My wife did that for my b-day a couple years ago at the Pocono raceway in PA.  It was a blast!  Words can not express the rush that I was feeling.  Granted, I did the ride along for 6 laps (and yes it felt like it was over in 2 mins.) but the rush was amazing.  Small little chunks of rubber coming in off of the track and landing on me who was sitting in the pass. seat.  I had the choice of doing the driving but opted not to do it for my first time for fear of putting it into the wall and then owning a mangled piece of metal and having a huge bill for it.  After it was all said and done and pulling back into pit row, I asked the driver how fast we were going and he said 160.  Also, every little crack and bump in the track you felt straight to your ass!  Kinda pricey but was a hell of a lot of fun!

[WINGR]

 Awesome Chris, looked like alot of fun. A few years ago I did the Track Tim Driving School  at Michigan International Speedway two years in a row. The first time it was a twelve lap deal and was a present from my father in law. The next year I won a twelve lap session on a radio contest so I let a friend of mine do six laps and I did the others. It too was an awesome experience. I just recently had my Charger 500 out on the same track for about six laps but we were only allowed to go about 70 MPH, or maybe a little more if no one is listening. It's funny how you remember where to get in and out of the turns. Anyway congrats on the great experience.



WINGR/Steve

[mauve66]

if you want to do one of these try to plan to buy the package (whichever one you want) around Xmas time

my wife did this for my 40th b-day (January) and had save all year for the 8 lap basic package, when it cam in the mail they offered a free upgrade to the next package (16 laps).  Maybe it was only our track here in Vegas or maybe just that year but it doesn't hurt to try to buy it around Xmas.

I hadn't driven a fast car in about 5 years when i went out so i was more timid than i thought i would be going into the corners, feeling my 250 lbs pushing out the side of the seat, i was really glad we got the free upgrade as it took me the whole first session to get used to the car.  the second time around was alot better but i was still letting off the throttle too much as i came into the turn, it was a blast nailing it half way through and coming out the back side right next to the wall though

i would recomend anyone wanting to do this to do the 3 lap ride along first, i think if i had done the ride-a - long and realized how much the car could take as well and watch the RPMS of the "regular" driver in the corners i would have done alot better and had more fun.

everytrack and lead driver is different so some places get to go faster than others (especially you folks by the shorter tracks) but on my 2nd set of 8 laps i averaged 136+ so i was happy

as a matter of fact i sorta resemble a young Richard Petty.......................... now where is my cowboy hat???

[maxwellwedge]

My business partner and I did the Orlando one years back. We did the ride around first just to get the feel before our solo laps began. Wow - 4th gear wide open out of the pits onto the track and the first turn....I didn't think the thing would stick - but it sure did. Now the class. Talk about throwing you out there! No instructional. They drove everyone around in a mini-bus and said Gas here, brake here. They didn't even ask the class if they could drive a stick. The only real question was, "What size driving suit do you take?". 
Well, it was such an unbelievable blast we just kept putting more laps on our credit cards. We were the last two there after a couple dozen laps. You can't explain the thrill - you have to do it. I really appreciate what the Cup guys do with 43 cars on the track and 100-200 more horsepower.

[Silver R/T]

Cool. Nothing like driving fast car yourself though

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Wow - 4th gear wide open out of the pits onto the track and the first turn....I didn't think the thing would stick - but it sure did.

Thats EXACTLY how I felt...I was like "OK....full throttle & a turn coming up....when is he gonna let off....uummm  let off, let off!  NOPE full throttle all the way through & it felt like the car was on rails (sorry for the cliche but it really felt like it!)

[71ChallengeHer]

Looks like a blast. But I don't think my back could take it.

[ChgrSteve67]

If they only had that for a top fuel dragster 300+

The piss your pants experience.

[tan top]

wow awesome stuff Chris   looks like you had a  great time  

i love  that  when your sitting in the car & it all quite & you crank the motor & hear the best  sound known man  !! a V8 uncorked

[Shakey]

Cool stuff - always wanted to do it!

[Ghoste]

If they only had that for a top fuel dragster 300+

The piss your pants experience.

Not exactly what you were looking for but there are a couple of tamer versions of it.

http://www.frankhawley.com/
http://www.dougfoley.com/

[moparstuart]

      here is my richard petty experience

[chargergirl]

If they only had that for a top fuel dragster 300+

The piss your pants experience.

Could be why they DON'T do that! I would have to start saving now cause Mark would be first in line. Grab the card baby I'm going! We'll pay it off while I enjoy the memory.

[694spdRT]

My dad went for a ride at Monster Mopar Weekend a few years ago. He still talks about going into the corner at full throttle too!