My Mrs. and I got to Las Vegas first week of March every year for a little R&R and to catch NASCAR weekend in Vegas including the Spring Cup race on Sunday. Going this year as well. Easy trip, 1 hr flight on Southwest from Reno to Las Vegas.
Back at Christmas 2010 she gave me the 30 lap Richard Petty Driving Experience, and since we were going to be in Vegas for that 1st weekend in March in 2011, I scheduled mine for Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.5 mile) the Monday after the Sprint Cup race.
After about an hour of basic information, it was time to do it. The 30 laps were broken down into 3 segments; 8 laps, 10 laps, 12 laps. You are always following your driver/instructor who is in a car just in front. The idea is to maintain 3 car lengths distance. If you get to far behind, he flashes his right taillight (green) which is your indication to close up. If you are too far back, he flashes his left taillight (yellow) which is your indication to add separation - that you are too close. Your basic mission is to follow his tire tracks and maintain the three car length. IF you can do that, he will keep increasing speed (up to about 160 or so); if you can't, he won't.
After each of the 1st two segments, came into the pits for a review of what I did right and what I needed to do better in the next segment. Never had the throttle down probably more than 2/3, never touched the brakes, and the car never came close to bobbling. It was like it was on rails. Average speed for the 1.5 miles was 139, topping out at about 155 down the back straight and across the start/finish line.
Entering the pits begins on the back stretch with rolling way out of the throttle and moving down onto the apron. As you get about 1/2 way through turn 4 your turn and enter the pits and take the car out of gear. As you come down the pits, you see 1st a sign that reminds you to make sure the gearbox is in neutral. Secondly, you see a sign that tells you to tap your brakes to be sure that they are there. About 2/3 the way down pit road you roll to a stop at the designate location and you get some more instruction on how to improve.
The reason for taking the car out of gear and coasting in neutral is that they do not want anyone downshifting - way too easy to get in trouble and spin the car around if someone doesn't know what they are doing.
Once stopped, they raise the hood, take a quick look see, roll the car back and forth slightly to look at the tires, close the hood and get you ready for the next segment.
You have the option to purchase a video of your ride (which comes to you as a CD in about 4-6 weeks). I purchased mine. On the screen in the videos are images from two cameras; one looking out the front of the car and one looking back at you.
It was quite the experience. My youngest daughter and her husband are going with us this year. Won't be able to fit it in this year, but we're already talking about doing the "experience" next year. I'd love to see the look on Matt's (son-in-law) face.
Definitely a bucket list item, well worth it.
Richard
