Speeding with Brett Bodine
Sometimes it's hard to wake up in the morning. I'm a person that doesn't drink caffeine, so getting a jolt early in the morning sometimes is hard thing to do. I found the perfect cure for anyone who suffers from early morning sluggishness -- a ride around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
While I was setting up shop to cover the race today, a nice young lady came by and casually asked if I would like to take a ride in the pace car. I answered sure and made my way downstairs. I mean who could pass up a ride in a brand spanking new Chevy Camaro?
Well, imagine my disappointment when I got down to the track and realized I would be making my way around legendary IMS in a four-door Chevy passenger car. Talk about lame, right? Once I strapped in and realized that the driver was former NASCAR driver Brett Bodine, I knew things could get interesting.
Going from stopped to pit lane speed in a matter of seconds, put a smile on my face and I was loving the moment. After a quick stop in a pit stall, we made our way onto the track and my emotions went from having fun, to being concerned, to being a little scared and then wanting MORE.
Once the wheels of our Lumina touched the track, Bodine hit the gas and began talking about how he used to race on the track. We reached about a good amount of speed just inches from the wall between turns one and two and I was still a happy camper. But once we hit the back stretch, I will admit, I got a little concerned.
Bodine hit the back stretch and continued to talk us through what racing on the track is like. Then I over and noticed we were traveling at 120 MPH, with Brett having only one hand on the wheel. Seriously, no kidding here folks -- 120 MPH and one hand on the wheel. Now that's one cool customer.
I took a deep breath, but understood this guy has done this for a lifetime and knows exactly what he's doing.
It wasn't the back stretch that really got my blood pumping, it was the slamming into the corners at a high rate of speed, waiting for the moment when the tires lost grip, we started to skid and ultimately smashed into the wall at over 100 MPH. But I was on a track where legends whisper from the past and they began to whisper to me "don't ya wanna go faster?"
Yes, yes I do.
But after my courage returned and I wanted to take another corner even faster, our ride was over and we were making our way down pit lane.
I began the day a little sluggish, but after a ride with Brett Bodine, I'm like a six-year-old hopped up on a Monster Energy drink.
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