| Do you enjoy watching NASCAR races? If you | | | | programs, and there are several "driving |
| answered yes to this question, then ask yourself | | | | experiences" to choose from. |
| another one, would you like to ride in or drive a | | | | There is the Rookie Experience in which 16 people |
| NASCAR vehicle? If you answered yes to this | | | | take part in a three hour class. There is the King's |
| question, then consider trying the Richard Petty | | | | Experience with eight people in a three hour class, |
| Driving Experience at Disney World or at over 20 | | | | and in the Experience of a Lifetime you are in a |
| other locations in the USA. | | | | class with only five people. In the Racing |
| The enterprise has its roots in the late 1980s but | | | | Experience there are only 12 people in a full day |
| it started to take its present shape in 1994 when | | | | class. |
| the company known as the Richard Petty Driving | | | | So what's it like to take part in this? Well, you |
| Experience (RPDE) was formed with a hand-full of | | | | start off by getting into a special driving suit and |
| cars, a small shop and an office in Concord, North | | | | helmet. You watch a video and then enter a van |
| Carolina. | | | | that takes you out on the track so that you can |
| The thrill of riding in fast NASCAR cars has really | | | | learn about the track signage. Someone on the |
| caught on since then and by last year the RPDE | | | | tower gives hand signals. In the King's Experience |
| was run on 27 tracks nationwide with over 1, 168 | | | | you drive eight laps and then go off the track to |
| track days. | | | | get a review of what you need to correct or |
| They offer two basic programs, as well as | | | | change. This review takes place in the car and |
| several variations on them. There is the ride-along | | | | then you go out again for ten laps. |
| experience in which you get to experience the | | | | While driving on the course you follow a pace car. |
| thrill of racing by riding "shotgun" in a two-seat | | | | The pace car let you know about the turns, |
| NASCAR style stock car driven by one of their | | | | banking straight stretches of the course, and the |
| professional drivers. It is a three lap qualifying run | | | | pace car drives as fast as you can follow. It is |
| and you will experience speeds up to 165 MPH. | | | | not uncommon for the fastest driver in a class to |
| The ride-along program is offered at over 20 | | | | reach speeds of over 120 MPH. |
| locations around the country. | | | | If this sounds like fun to you, and for many |
| For the more adventurous NASCAR or fast | | | | people it is definitely the "Experience of a |
| driving enthusiasts they offer the Driving | | | | Lifetime" then check this out. It will be a thrill, but |
| Experiences where you take command of the | | | | not a cheap thrill. For example the Rookie |
| wheel and experience the thrill of racing first hand. | | | | Experience around $450 while a ride along |
| You have to be able to drive a car with a manual | | | | experience starts at around $60. |
| transmission in order to participate in one of these | | | | |