My run at the speedway

[Brian Skeoch]

all I can say it was everything I ever dreamed it would be. the weather was perfect and the car was set up just right. I remembered what Al Unser told me and I was able to run the car flat out for all of my laps. I didnt lift which was a goal of mine. the car stuck like paint in each corner was ran without a hick up.

I was able to enjoy the first lap and try to imagine what it would be like with 32 other cars on the track,. then, I got down to business and stuck the nose of the car just where Mr. Unser suggested and with those instructions I was able to run the car wide open. I notified Mr. Unser that I used his advise and didnt lift and he was pleased.

all I can say is anyone who can be in the speedway area to contact Shonda More at www.indyracingexperience.com

it was worth every penny I paid...

[Autocross7]

And that is all that really matters... you feel like you got what you paid for!
Now, you need to try the Esprit Flat out through all 4 turns.


Cameron

[Kylie]

You lucky lucky bugger Brian, that must have been amazing, and its experiences like this youll never forget.

Wow!! :thumbup:

[WayneB]

I didn't lift which was a goal of mine.

$100 a lap, thats not bad! (to make a dream come true):)

[GregWO]

WOW Brian!!! Thats awesome! I bet you were flying high all day after that lifetime experience. How fast do you think you were going?

[Brian Skeoch]

thanks. it was a ball. a tad over 125 in the straghts and then speeds scrubed off in the corners.

I was calm as could be too I thought I would ne nervous, but I was more comfortable than anything. I believe I could qualifty a car there but wouldnt have the schnitzva's to race there with 32 other guys trying for the same piece of realestate.

It was the best thing that I have ever done. period.

Wayne, would you please post those pictures to this thread that I sent you ? I cant figure out the uploading procedure.

thanks.

[eurosport]

Yes! This thread is worthless without pics! :yes:

Glad you had a great time, Brian. I've done the Richard Petty thing elsewhere but would love to go open wheel at the Brickyard some day.:icon18:

Eric

[WayneB]

Wayne, would you please post those pictures to this thread that I sent you ? I cant figure out the uploading procedure.

thanks.

Sure Brian, here they are with the captions you wrote.:)

Looking up at the famous room where Paul Newman was filmed in "Winning"

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/WayneBarr/brian1.jpg

Me being wheeled back to the paddock after my stint.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/WayneBarr/brian5.jpg

No caption with this one, but I presume Brian is watching someone else do his or her laps.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/WayneBarr/brian3.jpg

Me and my buddy (blue fire suit) getting ready for our stints.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/WayneBarr/brian2.jpg

No caption. Brian modeling the Sparco firesuit that I have been pestering him to buy ever since I first saw it!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/WayneBarr/brian4.jpg

[lwasson]

Brian

Looks like you and Mike had a great experience. Mike said coming off of turn 4 and looking down the straight with stands of both sides was something then imagine the stands full of people! Indescibable!!

Well done,
Louis

[GregWO]

Thanks for sharing the pics. You need that fire suit Brian... Looks good :thumbup:

[Brian Skeoch]

It was the greatest day of my life...

[Brian Skeoch]

the track is 2.5 miles in length, but those laps go by quickly. there is just a short moment to rest going down the back stretch but not much time. I took the first lap and enjoyed it. I remember being on the back stretch coming off turn 2 and looking over the right side pod and saw a couple golfers on one of the holes and they were watching me. on the left side pod I looked at the bleechers and saw the rest room in turn 3 that I used to use as a kid and up to my adult years. interesting perspective seeing that bath room go by so fast. I remember sitting in the grand stands in turn 4 for many years and eating fried chicken with my mom that she always made the night before.

coming out of turn 4 and seeing grand stands on each side was cool. you get swallowed up as you go down the front stretch that seems like it will never end.

I just tried to imagine myself as Ralph Depalma ( 1928 ) going down the front strtch looking over at his pit wall and seeing the guys holding up chalk boards telling him how many laps were left.

the cockpit was tight. thankfully I lost some weight in preperation of the run.

visibility is nearly non existant. the helmet cowl prevents your helmet from moving so you can only use your eyes to look left or right. looking out each way the only thing you see are the tops of the tires going round and rond. the mirros are long but short so you cant see much on the side. the top of the dash is nose level so you dont have my frontal visibility .

I felt at ease in the car. comfortable and relaxed. not cramped at all.

I could do 200 laps in the car but not with 32 other drivers.

the engine noise was lovley.. especially going down the front stretch with the engine sound echoing off the grand stands.

I was the neatest thing I have ever done.

[Kylie]

Wow thanks for sharing the pics, I was going to post yesterday saying this thread is useless without pics but no need now. :mf_dribble:

You have to love that suit with the gold on it, really looks the part. :flowers:

[WayneB]

errr the suit says Canadian Club, not New Zealand Club, Kylie girl!:yes:

But I admit it would look better on you than me.:flowers:

http://adsoftheworld.com/files/images/CC_metrosexual.preview.jpg

[Kylie]

Id get it unpicked to replace with SPORT 350 :icon18:

[Martin]

Brian, that is simply amazing! I am glad you got to live your dream. Pics look great, thanks for the story.

[Brian Skeoch]

get this. while at the speedway motel bar I asked the bartender which room they used to film the scene where Paul Newman walks in on Rober Wagner messing around with Joanne Woodward for the 1968 movie Winning. she said she had no clue and that I was the first person to ask. she then said, " what movie"

I just put my head in my hands and said " are you kidding me ?"

then I heard a voice say " it was room 212 "

I then ended up speaking with this gentlmen fo rnearly 2 hrs in the bar. turned out the fellow was Tim Wardrop, race engineer for Little Al, Scotty Brayton and Arie .

it was sooo cool.. he told me that the car in the movie Winning was actually a 1965 Gurney Eagle that was reskinned in 1968 sheet metal.

I was in pure heaven talking with Tim that afternoon.

it was like I was in Yankee Stadium speaking with the coach of the Yankee's during their world champion domination...

[MickOpalak]

I got to do the speedway too on Saturday!

(one lap at 20 mph):sleep1:

[Brian Skeoch]

was that not the neatest thing you have ever done ?

[Brian Skeoch]

oh, you took your Exige out there ? thats cool. 20 mph huh ? well, at least you have had your car out on GODS OWN CATHEDRAL...

[clockwork]

Lovely story,days like that live with you forever,as a side note film makers always seem to use mock up cars from le mans to Indianna Jones.Clockwork :)

[Autocross7]

oh, you took your Exige out there ? thats cool. 20 mph huh ? well, at least you have had your car out on GODS OWN CATHEDRAL...

I bet he did better than that! 20MPH... (track police?) Got the Miata up to 80 there... and his car is a Lotus!

Cameron

[Brian Skeoch]

yeah, Mick can drive... he is good. I bet he was fast. I have seen him drive that Exige at Road Atlanta and he is fast.

[MickOpalak]

The LOG 28 Concourse was at the Speedway last Saturday. The track officials let everyone take one lap in single file order at 20 mph. It was pretty cool on the front straight looking to the left and seeing your car's reflection in the mirrored windows. I wish I had gotten a picture of that.