Marlboro Hot Laps

Every few months for the past 10 years or so I receive something in the mail from Marlboro. Being on their mailing list results in invitations, cd’s, coupons and various other mailings. I normally throw this stuff away, but last month the item caught my interest because it was about racing. As a lot of you know, I have truly fallen for Nascar and so I decided to check into this. I called the number on the form to check on height and weight restrictions and also to see what “the catch” was. This event was promoted as a free event for invitees and a friend 21 and over. Well, I went ahead and scheduled and appointment for my racing sidekick Cristi and I.

Wednesday of this week was the day. I will begin by saying that Tuesday was a horribly emotional day and I thought about cancelling. In the end, Cristi and I met at the house and started towards the Nashville Super Speedway. Marlboro had sent directions and then posted signs for us to follow to the infield tunnel.

As we neared the tunnel we came across the first greeter. This woman handed us our release forms and placed our id’s under the wipers. The next greeter was stationed about 10 yards further and he had us hand him our signed waivers, checked our id’s and sent us to the next station. Here we signed another waiver for the track and headed in to park. As we parked the car another greeter welcomed us and asked us to place our belongings in the trunk to be safe and assured us that we didn’t need anything but cameras and our id’s. Nothing but gifts here and nothing to buy. :)

We headed into the building to start our adventure. At our first stop we presented our id’s and received a comment card to fill out at then end, then we were ushered into the next room where we got our numbered id’s and printed our names on them. At this point we are starting to get excited and we are ushered to the next station where we are each given a bag and some gifts. The basic bag included a ball cap and earplugs. Since I was the invitee I also received a disposable camera, butane lighter, and personal/pocket sized ashtray.

On to the next station and the excitement really hit. This was the fitting room. There were several people in here that assed your size and handed you a racing suit. It’s amazing how accurate these people were without asking any questions. :) Once dressed in our racing suits we were posed in front of a blue screen for picture of us in our suits holding a racing helmet. This was very similar to any event you have been to where they want you to buy the picture for just 19.99, however they printed one for each of us in a 5x7 that was ready when we left! As we left this station we were given our racing gloves and head sock. Since I didn’t know what this was I will explain that it looks kind of like a ski mask made from t-shirt material. It is worn over your head, hair and neck I’m guessing is used as a sanitation thing since we all wear helmets.

The next station was for helmet fitting and again they were extremely accurate on site as to what size helmet we needed. The size was printed on our lanyards and we were off.

We started in the pit area where we learned the history of the IROC car and racing. There were several speakers that explained about the IROC car and the INDY car present. We were also taught our hand signals to use in the car. Because the cars are so loud you cannot verbally communicate during the drive. Thumbs up meant “I’m great and go faster”, thumbs down meant “slow down please” and reaching out with your left hand meant “ I can’t take this, please take me back to the tent” I will also add that at every station they had provided snacks and drinks for us. :)

Next we headed out to the track where a tent was setup. Our group consisted of about 30-40 people. They called 5 at a time to get your helmets on and then started loading the 5 cars that were used. Each person got 3 full laps at up to 140 mph. As the first 5 were loading up, they started helmetting the next 5 and so on. Once your number is called and your helmet is on you wait your turn to be directed to a car. The attendant at the car attaches your neck brace and has your climb in the car. Now keep in mind, these are real IROC cars. They don’t have doors. :) So you climb in through the window Dukes of Hazard style. My only remark here is that window is a lot higher up than you might think. I had to take two tries to get my leg up and over the window and climb in. :) Then the assistant and driver get you strapped in the seat. These harnesses are very similar to what you find on a child’s car seat. I was literally attached to the seat of this car and going know where! Then the race begins!

My driver was Juan and he introduced himself to me before we pulled out. I was a bit worried about my motion sickness. Riding passenger in any car usually makes me sick so I tend to drive a lot! I did have my motions sickness wristbands on just in case though. :) I have to say the ride was exhilarating!! I loved it! I don’t think I would ever want to drive myself in that I don’t have that kind of confidence, but it was a blast!

Once out of the car you go over and turn in your racing suit (it fits over your clothes) and wait on everyone else to finish.

The next stop was the Mustang Drift course! Here we only needed helmets and the cars are new Mustangs with doors. Again, we are called up a few at a time to get helmeted and loaded into a car. I wasn’t sure exactly what drifting was myself so I’ll try to explain. Drifting is fast driving on a any track (this one wasn’t a circle) where you fly into the curves and let the force of the car sling you around the corner. Extremely cool! We each got 3 laps around this track with a driver and I think everyone should do this at least once. It’s such a wild feeling. Of course there were a couple of true southerners standing beside me as we watched the first cars go out. He explained that he and his buddies did this sort of driving every weekend. J

After we had all ridden on the drift course it was time for our final stop. We were ushered to dinner tent where we had very nice meal, picked up our photos from earlier, filled out our comment cards and received some more gifts. Dinner included fruit salad, corn and bean salsa, southwestern tossed salad, Spanish rice, chipotle cream chicken, mango chutney pork loin, a hot dog stand with every fixing imaginable, soft drinks and cookies. It was fabulous! The additional parting gifts we each received were a travel coffee mug and a Swiss army watch.

Can you say awesome!!! I can’t believe this is the first time I have ever gone to one of these events and will definitely go to any more that come my way!!!