Has anyone ever done the Nascar racing experience?

[Jakesmom504]

My DH has always wanted to drive one of those stock cars so I was thinking about surprising him with the Rookie experience since we are planning on going to WDW close to his birthday next year. Anyone ever done it or know anything about it? Thanks

 

[eeyore45]

We just signed my dad up for this - its $400 for the "Rookie Experience" (if you do a search, this question comes up every now and again!) That gives my dad 8 laps around at over 140 mph (I think!) Its a class, they go around the track in a van, safety class, if its raining, they dont go (but they have the ability to dry the track fast!!)

Its the Richard Petty Driving Experience...

check this link>> http://allearsnet.com/btp/petty.htm

PS If you watch the Disney Channel, with the Herbie commercials, they do this experience!! I only know this since dd8 watches disney non stop!!

 

[dgaston]

My DS24 did it for his birthday in April 2005. I have AAA and was able to get the discount for him. He was so happy and excited. Now DH wants to do it too. I'm having him wait until our Christmas trip, since even with the discount the $322 is pretty expensive. Andy's average speed was 118, and he still grins when he talks about it!

 

[Jakesmom504]

Thanks for the info, I think he would love and I'm definetely going to check into it!

 

[Simba's Mom]

My DH did it Memorial Day 2004 (the "Rookie Experience"). I've never seen DH like this! My normally calm, unflappable DH was giddy with excitement getting into that race car. And he did it in the AM; he was useless for the rest of the day. He alternated between repeating "Did I tell you I had fun?" and calling everyone he could think of on his cell phone to give them a "minute by minute" replay of his experience. I think he kinda liked it!

 

[lovewdwdvc]

My DH did it too... Loved it..........

 

[tn_disney_addict]

COOL! I didn't realize that AAA gets a discount for that!! Thanks for the tip!

 

[milmore104]

Suprised my Dh w/ the rookie experience for his 30th B-day. It was AWSOME!!!!! He loved every minute of it.It's about 3 hours long. First they go through a class and drive around the track then they get to drive the cars. We headed over about 2 hours after he left to watch him. Not to brag but my DH WON the race his average speed was 126.4mph. No they don't actually race eachother they just see who has the fastes and best time. He won a picture and a hat for finishing first and also a discount for the next time. Little does he know I've set up another one for him on this upcoming trip only I went for the KING's experience. This is just the best suprise you could give your DH. Mine still talks about it and we watch the video every week. He stills has that smile from ear to ear on his face like he was just getting in the car!!!!

 

[Marilynbn]

Has anyone done the ride along experience? I'm afraid the rookie experience is a bit steep for our budget. Honest answers please. If it is not very thrilling to do the ride along then I don't want to even spend the $105 for it and maybe wait until next year for the more expensive ride. Marilyn

 

[kkana]

I'm hoping DH can do a ride along as well - does anyone know if you can prebook this - or is it first come first serve? Also is it everyday or just certain days, we will only be there July 3 - 6

 

[dirkus]

We went after Thanksgiving this past season and at the time, they had a discount for the ride-along. You had to contact the RP HQ (not just the WDW location) and you could pre-buy a ticket for the $99 ride-along for $49. Not sure if this is an ongoing thing but you might check it out.

Also, obviously there would be no way to ensure this but... When we went, the plan was to get the discount just for my wife (I surprised her with it -- she's a speed freak) and I wouldn't go. We took the van that they have that runs from the kennel at the TTC to the track and during the ride we struck up a real friendly conversation with the driver. It came out that just my wife was going to be riding and he reached in the glove box and grabbed a coupon for a $25 ride-along from a bundle of coupons that was in there!! He handed it to me and said, "Have fun!" Now, if I had known about this and hoped to get one, I'm sure it would have never happened...

By the way, we LOVED the ride-along!! It was great fun! We didn't want to dedicate a whole day of our vacation for the experience so this was perfect. Also, our 5 year old was able to stand there and watch each of us without it being so long that he got bored. I think he had as much fun watching his old Mom and Dad as we did doing it!

 

[marcij]

Yes -- my husband did the Rookie experience here at our track in Texas and loved it. They also did something for the kids that were along. They piled them in to vans and took them around the track for a couple of laps (we have a huge track). I also did the ride along, and it was fabulous! It was exhilarating -- not scary. I would definitely do it again.

 

[bctripp]

My husband went to Daytona a few weeks ago and did 16 laps and he loved it! It's pricey, but worth it.

 

[aubriee]

We just signed my dad up for this - its $400 for the "Rookie Experience" (if you do a search, this question comes up every now and again!) That gives my dad 8 laps around at over 140 mph (I think!) Its a class, they go around the track in a van, safety class, if its raining, they dont go (but they have the ability to dry the track fast!!)

Its the Richard Petty Driving Experience...

Believe me if it's raining the least bit they don't go. I booked the Rookie Experience for my son when we went in January. It was sprinkling pretty hard that morning, but not raining hard. We called and they said we had to show up at the track. We took a taxi, just to be told that is was cancelled. The ones that were going to be there the rest of the week could reschedule, but if you were like us and leaving within the next two days you got a raincheck to be used either at WDW within the next twelve months or at a RPDE track near you. Thankfully we had one in Dallas/Ft Worth (but they're only there twice a year in April and July). My son was able to rebook his for this past April and had a blast. The top speeds were 112-127 MPH. I think with the Ride Along they go about 140 MPH. Basically if your driving, you can't pass the lead car, but are to try to stay within a couple car lengths of him. As you get closer he goes faster. You can get a discount with an AAA or AP. Be sure to carry a little extra money with you, because when it's over you can get a really nice plaque with pictures of you in the car and beside the Richard Petty car. They're like $75.00, but worth it.

The Ride Along you can book onsite, but the driving experience you are supposed to book and pay for ahead of time. Saying that, when we went to Dallas to use his raincheck, my younger son went with us and decided he wanted to do it. We asked and they said to let them see how full the class was. He got to do it and also loved it. One thing to remember: schedule it for early in your trip in case you have to reschdedule due to rain or make sure there is a RPDE near you. Some people there in January were really mad, because they didn't have a RPDE near them and just lost their money. One guy had booked the Experience of a Lifetime (over $1200.00) and just lost his money. Not a pretty scene!

 

[bubba73]

My DF paid for my brother and I to do the ride along program a couple of years ago. It was an awesome experience. I think it would have even been better if it had been at a Superspeedway instead of the 1 mile track at WDW. My brother and I kept commenting on how close the wall was coming everytime we took a turn. I would definitely recommend it and I am hopeful that I will be able to do the Rookie experience sometime.