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My dad's 60th birthday is coming up soon (9/15), so my mom, my brother, and I decided to do something special for him. We got him the Rookie Package at the Richard Petty Driving Experience

My brother was tasked with shooting photos. I'd have preferred to get a few more pics, but what can you do? I was too busy running video, because I have bigger plans

Ok, the event was held at Michigan International Speedway. It's a 2 mile, 18* banked oval in southern MI.



If you've ever been to a major race track on race day, it's an amazing event. People and media and sights and sounds on a scale you don't usually experience. Your average football or baseball game is nothing compared to the scale of a NASCAR event in terms of both size of the venu and the number of people present. It's enough to cause sensory overload. So going to the track on a weekend when there's maybe 100 people there, and only about 8 race cars running is quite a different experience all together. A lot of our spectating was done from the roof of the corporate suites, or right along pit road. Being able to wander around the track and see things that are normally only seen by the media and the race teams was also a treat.

For an overview of the event, click here

Shot from the top of the suites. Rookie drivers getting their final instructions.


View from the suites, watching another lucky person go past at somewhere north of 120mph. These cars sound amazing


Dad all suited up and ready to drive. Mom talking to someone out of camera


One of the race cars sitting in the garage.


The MIS Media Center prior to the start of the welcome meeting


Dad posing with the RPDE promo car. This was also used as one of the instructor cars


At least I got to sit in one!


Looking down pit road towards turn four.


The start/finish line and victory lane, viewed from the outermost pit wall


All business in here. Note the camera on the dash. You can buy a video of your drive. Also note these are modified 2-seater cars. The right seat is used for ride-alongs with an instructor


Looking along pit road towards turn one


Instructor and student exiting turn four


Dad getting strapped in. He was cranky that he had to drive a "Ford" I told him to watch it, because my Ford Focus got him there


Dad leaving pit road. He later said the clutch was pretty easy to handle


Dad coming out of turn four around 120 mph. His peak speed of the day was 137


All in all, it was a very cool day. I wish I had a few pics of the back stretch of the track as viewed from the top of the suites. It's a cool view. That'll have to wait until I figure out what to do with the video.

His fastest average speed over a single lap was 120. His peak speed was 137 mph, both on his last lap. That doesn't sound very fast, but it's really a whole different experience driving one of these the first time. Most of the people there didn't make it over 140. If I understood correctly, the only people who were allowed to go faster than 140 were people who had done it before. The ride-alongs with the instructors were only going 160-165. Consider that the actual race drivers typically run average speeds over 200 mph here.

Even if you're not a NASCAR fan, I definitely recommend this. I want to go back and do it myself one day. I haven't seen my dad this happy in a VERY long time. It was absolutely worth it.

It's nice putting a smile on a cranky ol' parents face.

That definitely looks like it's a unique and fun experience! If only we could all go for a spin...what a thrill!

You look exactly like your father.

[quote=""oxrageous""]You look exactly like your father.[/quote]

Ya he does.


That looked like an awesome time for your dad Gate.

That looks cool as hell!

Audible says I look like my mom, Ox says I look like my dad.

Any day you get to go drive a 600hp race car at triple digit speeds on a super speedway is a good day

I think you look like a mix of both. I can see how Mike thinks you look like your mom, but I can also see your dad as well.

Either way, I bet that was awesome. That would be a ton of fun

dude, that was so awesome. i think the only thing that could compare to that for my dad would be a live attendance to the Howard Stern show.

Dude, that's so awesome! Great idea for a b-day present, well played.

Awesome gift.

I wish my dad would enjoy something like that. He has a stroke anytime I bring car parts (Clean) from school that i have done into the house. He says to put them on the front porch but there to good to do that too.

What a great idea for a birthday! That looks like so much fun. Thats funny he complained about driving the Ford

Yeah. Dad is a Chevy man.

if you dont mind me asking how much does something like that cost?

I wanna do it!

edit: just checked that site
around 500

His was $399. The price varies a bit depending on which package you get and which track you go to.

[quote=""oxrageous""]You look exactly like your father.[/quote]



And you are an awesome son

I think you look more like your mom facially, and you have the hair of your dad

Great present Jeff. I can't wait to do something for both my parents when my mom finally retires.

I think you look like the anime character who used to be your avatar

I think you look like the anime character who used to be your avatar

I don't think it's any coincidence that Vira said the same thing.