Ford Race to the Dream -More new Pictures, Post #101

[Cincy'sMom]

- hey, why don't you go to a Ford dealer and tell them about your win - maybe they would let you practice on one so they could use you in some way for a commercial or something. Never hurts to ask!

I actually mentioned that idea to Ralph last night! I just don't know how it would look to have me, the wife of a Chrysler employee, begging from Ford! Still, may be worth a shot!

I did talk to a friend here at work, and she said I can practice on her Saturn stick anytime I want, so at least that will help. I was also thinking maybe I should borrow little sis's big ol' Chevy truck to at least get used to a bigger vechile. Whatcha think Christy? I could give you the Firebird for a few days....

[Cinder & Smoke]

I was also thinking maybe I should borrow little sis's big ol' Chevy truck
to at least get used to a bigger vechile.

Will part of the "skills tests" be 4-Wheel Driving (like they showed in the Ford videos)?

Look up "Truck Parts & Accessories" and similar headings in the Yeller Pages ...
pick out the "fancy" 4-Wheel Drive Shops and pay a quick visit ...
A 4WD SHOP may be interested in "Sponsoring" you;
and they certainly know who the Bigger & Better 4WD CLUBS are ...
contact a 4WD Club or two to see if they'd like to help the cause.
(Attend a couple weekend 4WD Rallies - do some Durt Runnin!)

We're gonna need a Team Name and Logo ...
* Truckin Fur Amy (Logo = Girl in 4WD cab, three Pooches in bed, mud flying)
* Amy Rocks ... (Logo = 4WD Truck perched atop huge boulder)
* ??

Who's handling "support donations"?

YEE-HAW!!

[4 Dog Mother]

I'll handle any donations. Just make them out to me --- but I can't promise they will get back to her. After all there would be expenses to do such a thing!

[AdoreMyDogs]

Wow how cool that you get to do that! Congrats on the win, that's really amazing!

[Cincy'sMom]

It's getting closer....yesterday Ford Racing called to let me know that I paased the background/driving check and to book our flight. Seems they couldn't get us in earlier enough on Saturday, and wanted to know if we minded flying down Friday night. Hmmm..another free night in a nice hotel...not at all!!!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Ford Racing called ... wanted to know if we minded flying down Friday night.

Hmmm..another free night in a nice hotel ... not at all!!!

So ... do we have our Team Name & Logo decided upon??

How's the Driver Training going??
Are you an "experienced" 4-Wheeler yet?

Goooooo, Amy!

[Cincy'sMom]

No training yet. I was in Minneapoils this week, speaking at a Medical Device conference. Hope to practice some manual transmission this week!

[AmberLee]

Congratulations. I'm so excited for you. Wow.

[Cincy'sMom]

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!

[Cinder & Smoke]

... even though I can not put everything into words...too amazing!

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**!

[anna_66]

Sounds like maybe she had just a lil bitta **PHUNN**!

OMG I was thinking the same thing! Can't wait to hear "The Rest of the Story"

[Cincy'sMom]

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.