We met up this morning, and I revealed the day's plan through a series of photo hints. Everyone was super excited about the adventure, although I'm not sure whether it was the riding in racecars or the wearing of jumpsuits that was most tantalizing - haha. We drove from Overland Park to the Kansas Speedway in KC, KS. After arriving at the speedway and paying our fees, there was no question that priority number one was a preparatory emptying of our bladders . . .
After visiting the facilities, we got in line for our ride and were each given jumpsuits, flame-retardant caps, and helmets to wear. We shared many laughs at each others' expense over how ridiculous and unattractive we looked in our get-ups, and we most definitely drew a few stares as we made fun of ourselves throughout the entire process. From Jessi's XL jumpsuit she was drowning in, to Lisa's small head size ("Excuse me, do these helmets come in XXS?"), to my look being compared to a Star Wars Jedi in that awesome black cap, we had plenty to chuckle about. Not to mention, it was 80 degrees out on this unseasonably warm morning, and we were wearing black shirts UNDER our full-coverage suits! Needless to say, there was a lot of sweating going on. Check it out for yourselves; are we hot or what?!?
After about an hour and a half of waiting, we were finally up! They had six or eight cars running; a mix of Dodge, Chevy and Ford, painted in bright colors and adorned with company logos. Alli and I were escorted to our cars first, followed by Meagan and Meghan and then Jessi, Lisa and Amy. Neck stabilizing devices were attached to our helmets, and then we crawled through the window and took our seats. We were strapped in, instructed on how to operate the emergency release on our belts and window, our photo was snapped by their staff, and we were told to "enjoy the ride!"
My driver's name was Troy. I asked him if he was a safe driver. I can't recall his exact response, but I do remember there was nothing reassuring about it. As I sat there, awaiting the inevitable roar of the engine, I couldn't get Cake out of my head . . . "Reluctantly crouched at the starting line, engines pumping and thumping in time. The green light flashes, the flags go uuuuuuuuuuuu . . . . . ." and we were off! Troy cranked the gearshift, unloaded on the accelerator, and it was suddenly so loud I couldn't hear myself think, let alone recite the lyrics to one of my favorite songs from high school. I wasn't sure where to look: straight ahead at the approaching turn; to my right at the concrete wall that seemed way too close; to my left at Troy for reassurance that everything was as it should be. I wouldn't say it was scary. I wouldn't say it was sickening. It just felt fast. Very. Very. Fast. As we made each turn, my head was involuntarily pulled to the right. I made it my goal to try and keep my head upright, but failed miserably. The gravitational pull was too strong, and a reminder of just how crazy awesome it was that I was there, experiencing this once in a lifetime activity!
One thing I was trying to look for the entire ride was a speedometer, which I never found. As we were pulling back into the pits, I asked Troy if there was one. He said "no." I asked if that was normal. He said, "It's better not to know," but assured me that we were driving at close to 165 mph. We came to a stop and someone was immediately there to unbuckle my belts and assist me with crawling back through that window. Meagan was approaching my car, as she was to be the next rider. I told Troy she was my friend and to be safe with her. As we each walked away from our cars there were only smiles and lots of thumbs up to be seen. Everyone said they enjoyed the experience, although Alli and Meghan found it to be slightly nauseating.
Here's a before and after comparison to prove that we all survived unscathed . . .
While I can't think of anything deep, spiritual or enlightening to say that we gained from this adventure, I can say it was pretty darn fun and something we will never forget. So glad that I could share such a memorable activity with this group of amazing, fearless, and unforgettable women! One of whom has not yet been mentioned . . . Brandi finally joined us for an adventure! While she was unable to participate herself, she was a great sport and came along to snap photos, guard our purses and cheer for us!
We also met another fearless femme while we were waiting in line. There was a mature, gray-haired woman standing in front of us who seemed to be there by herself. My curiosity was peaked, and I asked her if this was her first time. She said it was, and that her family had given her this experience as a gift for her 80th birthday, which she celebrated this past January. She went on to tell us of her love for NASCAR racing, which has taken her to tracks all around the country, and her adoration for some of her favorite drivers, of whom she would say, "Oh yeah, he's cute!" Turns out, she was not alone either. She had at least ten family members there to cheer for her and capture the momentous occasion on film. What a great memory for their family! Here's to you, Mitzie! I hope that you enjoyed your special day as much as we enjoyed you.
Now, our individual, adventure-specific photos for your viewing pleasure . . .
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| Lisa |
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| Meghan |
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| Alli |
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| Brandi |
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| Destiny |
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| Meagan |
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| Amy |
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| Jessi |
And what could be more appropriate than a lunch at Hooters after a day at the Speedway?!
