I can't wait to hear how things went for you Amy, sounds like it was fun!
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I can't wait to hear how things went for you Amy, sounds like it was fun!
She called Christy (home) this morning to say they were at the airport but wouldn't be in Toledo until 5:30 pm. Ralph's parents were picking them up and taking them back to their house to pick up the dogs. Don't know if we will hear from them or not. The awards banquet was held last night but they only announced the top three. She was not one of them. But she said she found out that every one there had more experience than she did. The retired lady raced sprint cars! But she was still very excited about her experience and very glad she got to go - a once in a life time experience for sure!
:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by 4 Dog Mother
A *RINGER* in the crowd! :p
Glad she had **PHUNN** ...
and I'll bet she DID GO FAASST!!
:D
Hey everybody! Just a quick note to let you know we got in okay. We are still at Ralph's parents sharing videos and photos. We do have our computer back, but not re-hooked up. I am off tomorrow so I will do that then and share all the pictures. All I can say is awesome, awesome, awesome!!
Thanks for all the support!!!
The computer is back up and running! I am loading camera software now and will get pictures up soon, but thought I'd start by explaining the weekend, even though I can not put everything into words...too amazing!
We flew down Friday night, planes were all early if you can believe that! We were met at the airport by a private car (extended, but not limo), to take us to the hotel. We got there around 11:30 and walkd around a few minutes, but I was hungry!! We went across the street and got some appetizers at the Cheesecake Factory (YUM!) and then went back to the hotel, where I realized I totally overlooked the welcome package they left in our room. I duffle bag, 3 polo shirts, 2 t-shirts, 2 hats, candy, pop, bottled water, sunscreen, a disposbale camera, a pad of paper, a $200 Visa card and on....
Saturday morning we headed down to the lobby to meet the rest of the contestants and head to the track. One couple was from Jackson, Michigan (only about an 1 hour or so from us). and another couple, although from Iowa, are huge Eldora fans, and come every summer. Another couple has dirt sprint cars and comes racing in Ohio at Fremont and Attica every year.
So we get to the Speedway, and go to the Championship Club. This is a boxed (suite type) area in Turn 1 where we signed all our waivers, got our pictures taken, etc. We then got to meet our instructors, (we each had 2 personal for the entire weekend, one for the truck , one for the car), we had lunch, and then time to talk, get to know each other, etc. while they were shuffling us a few at a time for our physicals. The whole time, the Petty school is going on, so there is carsint he background, and just an awesome setting.
The physicals weren't real detailed, blood pressure, listen to our heart and lungs etc., but they actaully took us, into the infield, to the Care Center. Not somewhere you want to end up, but sorta neat to actually get to see what the infied care center is!
After that, our guests were taken back to the hotel and we start checking
out the trucks. We got a quick overview of the trucks and their features and then we split off into groups to go to the off-road course and trailer tow. My group went to the off-road course first. They ran a demo for us, then it was our turn to jump in and start the ride. Being shy like I am, I jumped up there and was the first one to attempt the course. Wow! My poor Nitro may not be the same, cause I am going to have to find somewhere to go off-roading. It was dirt ina parking lot, but they did a great job! We worked that suspension hard on those trucks! Across bridges, up hills, up on the outside of the race track, just a ton of fun.
Next we went over to the trailer tow. I have never, ever, ever, pulled anything in my life, and now I have to jump in a F350 Dually and haul a 24 ft trailer, through a course, back it up about 70 ft. turn it at a right angle, and drag race down the strip, lock the brakes, and stop before hitting a fence. We hung back on this one and waited til last. I made it through the course fine, only got maybe 1 cone, but man backing it in was rough!! Finally got it, but wow! The drag race of course was awesome and so impressive with how the truck stopped, you would never know it was also stopping a good size trailer.
After that, it was back to the hotel fora quick shower, then dinnerwith the group. And they did not skimp on food either! That night we had steak, a potato bar (mashed potatoes, add whatever toppings you like, cheese, mushroom, bacon, sour cream, onion, etc. and they heated in a pan for you, and served it in a martini glass). Also had a pasta bar with various noodles, sauces, veggies, garlic, etc, cheese trays, fruit and all kinds of pastries for dessert.
I need to restart the computer to finish loading the camera software, and we'll get on to day 2!
Sounds like maybe she had just a lil bitta **PHUNN**!Quote:
Originally Posted by Cincy'sMom
:D
OMG I was thinking the same thing! Can't wait to hear "The Rest of the Story":DQuote:
Originally Posted by Cinder & Smoke
Day 2
We got to the track on Sunday morning around 8 am and had breakfast in the Busch Garages. Little weird to be eating where next week, they will be working on their cars, but cool at the same time.
After breakfast, we headed out to the track for our first 10 lap session. I was in the last group to go (3 at a time), and got to drive one of Elliot Sadler’s old 38, M&M’s cars. It was a blast! Since we were on the track with other cars, we could pass if we caught, and so toward the end of my run, I did catch someone on the backstretch and passed in turn 3.
After that, we then went out for a 20 lap run, and had to come in 3 times for stop and go on pit road. Somebody else screwed up my 38 (problem in the rear end), so I had to change cars, and ride in the Fusion’07. Not a bad ride, but not quite so hooked up. We had to run the course a little more true, and not cheat so much, couldn’t get back in the throttle as earlier. And of course, all three times on pit road, I stalled it out, but we got her back running. We ran out of gas with 3 to go, so I had to squeeze in my 3 laps a little later, during competition. Worked out well, gave me another pit road start, and my instructor and I worked out a plan, and fixed a few things for us. I did my 10 lap competition run, when we had to come in a make a stop and go, and that time we didn’t stall her. It was a good run.
We then had lunch, before heading over to the on-road courses. First, we ran the precision driving course, where we just had go through an auto cross course. Next we went and practiced the drag race with the tree and everything. Finally it was back to the trailer tow for another practice run there. I still didn’t get as well as I liked, but a lot of the instructors were firefighters, and were offering the same advice as Phred. It did help, but it still was tough for me.
After that, we started competition. First up was the off-road course. I was 8 out of 9 to go, and what a ride!!! I took the first part pretty easy, but after coming down the banking from the speedway, I was moving pretty good. There was one tight turn, I had to back up and re angle, to missed the concrete barrier, hit the gas, sent some mud flying and up the hill we went. I gassed it on the way up, hit the huge bump, bounced, came down, my foot landed on the gas, and my arm (or chest?) hit the horn. We launched! Went airborn and planted it on the other side of the hill. I think we scared all the Ford People on the other side of the hill. Finished the run, my instructor and I were laughing!!!! It thought it was so cool! And everyone that it awesome I honking the horn to get their attention so they all got to see us flying. I think they were all making much more dramatic then it was, but it was cool.
After that was the trailer tow, competition and man, that was a struggle. But I got her backed in, didn’t get a DQ, and survived. That was what we were hoping for. After that we ran the precision road course, pretty decent there, only caught 1 cone, in 2 runs. Finally (and by this time it was dark!) we competed in the drag race. I didn’t get quite the jump I would have liked, but how cool. We only got up to about 80 (1/4 mile), but we only had a few hundred feet to get ‘em slowed down. By the end of the day, my right leg was a little sore, from standing on the gas, then standing on the brake all day.
After that we went back for dinner, where we had steak, and chicken, and salmon, and potatoes and veggies, salad, and bread, and a sundae bar with alllllll the fixings.
I should mention, guets stayed at the hotel Sunday, so Ralph missed all this and only got to hear the stories later. He took a cab down to South Beach, spent some time there, and then came back to the hotel and had some drinks with some of the Dale Jarret instructors.
WHOA Amy, I'm exhausted just reading about it!! :eek: :D Good job!!
Sounds like you had a great time - can't wait to see the pictures. You can't know how proud I am of you kiddo. You are always willing to try something new - I know I would have never been able to take part in that kind of competition. And no matter what - even going up against others who had some experience at least in driving trucks and backing trailers - you turn it into a fun and awesome experience. You are truly Awesome Amy! Your brother is smiling down from heaven saying "I could have done better but wow, you did great, sis! I am proud of you!"
Amy that is so AWESOME! Wow, I don't know if I could have done it!
What an experience!!!!
I'll be waiting for the pictures:D
Day 3
For the final day, our guests got to go with us. We started with breakfast at the track again, then it was photo op time. We got lots of pictures with the group, with our instructors, etc., etc. Finally we got to get back on the track, and go out for another 10 lap run. My instructor warmed up the Aaron’s Dream Machine 00 and decided he had to get me in that car. It was too big for me, but we padded her up and what a ride! We could run a little higher line then the day before and there was so much grip, we could stay in the gas a lot longer in the corners, and then get back in the throttle earlier.
Next was our 2 lap qualifying run. I should mention all the competitions were in an ’08 Fusion. They had 2 of those, so everyone was using the same car, same step, etc., one was just a little longer, since we had contestants from my short little 5’3” up to Dave, who was 6’8”. There was no way we were driving the same car!
So my first lap wasn’t bad, I think Ralph timed it at about a 41.5 (or average speed of 130 mph). I had run some quicker laps in practice, but lap 2 was going to be better. We cheated the corners bad, were back in the throttle earlier and cooking!!! We came into Turn 3 hot, and about the place you wanted to start maintaining speed, we were already getting back in the throttle. The car got a front end chatter, so I had to let off the gas. We turned toward the wall, to try to get the tires to catch, but no luck. We had to yank off the wall, and start headed for the grass/pit road wall. Tires were screaming! We finally caught, fished tailed out of it, and came down the front stretch in the middle of the track, never hitting a thing! We still ran a 42.3 that lap, with all that. If we held it, I think we would have been in the 39’s, easy. Of course, we go back around, to get on pit road, and as I am braking I am shaking like a leaf. My right leg is doing a tap dance on the pedal. We got in, I climbed out sat on the window and pumped my arms. Then I decided that was enough, so I stood up on the door, like the drivers do. (After that everyone started doing it, but I was first!!)
We weren’t done of the track yet. We ran another 10 lap practice, and I was little gun shy at first. Ran up a bit slower (average speed around 123), and I got passed. But as my confidence built back up we got back run 40.5 second laps, and ran that car down, and passed ‘em back! This one we did our practice pit stop, where the guys come over the wall, jack the car up, run the air gun (don’t actually change any tires), but then we are down and away. Our final even on the track, was the competition just like that, 5 laps, pit stop, 5 laps. I stalled her out on pit road, but got it re-fired on my own and didn’t loose too much time. All told, we ran 72 laps. Quite an experience!!
After that, it was back to truck competition. We ran the off-road course again, and this time I kept it a little more under control. I finally made the gate at the top of the first hill (only about 3 or 4 of us ever got through it clean), and it wasn’t as exciting as the first run, but I think we had a better time. We wrapped up with the Precision course, and I ran it my fastest and I ran it clean, no cones touched.
After that, we had out victory lane celebration, champion and all. The winner was a firefighter and late model racer from Mississippi.
Finally, dinner was at a restaurant that was open only to our group. We were there from about 7:30 to almost 11, having a few drinks and saying goodbye to everyone. The whole thing was amazing!
I can’t say enough about the way Ford put this together and the people they had involved. If you ever want to go to a racing school, check out Dale Jarrett’s. The guys there are awesome! Great people, a ton of fun, and very talented!
As for my 2 instructors, they were the best! I’m sure everyone thought that about theirs, but I know I had the 2 greatest guys there. We're going to try to meet up in Kentucky at some point with Joe, my DJ instructor and let Ralph have a turn. Sean, my truck-driving instructor is from our area, and lives pretty close to the track up in Michigan. He is going to be in Toledo in a few weeks, so we are going meet up with him then, but we are also talking about going to the dog park (he has an 11 month old lab, and isn’t too far from the parks in Saline or Lansing), going go-kart racing and hanging out. I now you always say those things, and they don’t always happen, but I do hope we get the chance to keep in touch with both of them.
So, sign up for next year! But make sure you use a phone number that you can always get to. I found out they called once and if you didn’t answer, they called the next person on the list. I was #2 my week, but some people were 5 or 7 or even 11 for their week.
OMG :eek: , that sounds like so much fun for you, although I would have been quite happy hanging out with Ralph on the sidelines! You're brave, girl!!! Plus it sounds like you're going to get a chance to get together with some of them for more fun & fast driving - cool! Looking forward to the pictures!
One more thing, and hopefully the pictures are almost done uploading. There will be a 3o second commerical sometime Sunday during the race, showing highlights from Monday. I don't know if I'll be in it or not, but it will show what we did, and the champion.
Okay, this is a new site, so I'm not sure how to share pictures yet, but we'll give it a shot. It says it could be 24 hours, before it becomes a public album, so I'll try to send out some invites to it as well.
It doesn't seem like it is going to let me post anythign directly here, but here is the album, maybe?
Ford Race to the Dream
It doesn't look like it is there yet, but by tomorrow, you will be able to use that link, go to public albums, and under Sports, select Auto Racing. My album is called Ford Race to the Dream