Video Link:
http://videos.beyondmainstreet.com/BeyondMainStreetSE8.m4v
Let me know what you think about it.
RichO
Will, you did a great report on this weeks show, it brought back my entire experience listening to you talk about RPDE. I wish Pete, Kevin and John went with you, I think they would have a different image of the whole day seeing all that is involved with this. Here is my report on the ride along in April.
For Xmas this year my family got me the Richard Petty Ride Along Experience. As Will said 'It was awesome!'
I entered the building, gave them my gift card and drivers license, had to sign the 3 page waver. They gave me a USB flash drive and ticket, picked out my driving suit and out I went to pit road. I checked in there, filled out a computer screen with my name and address and information that was transfered to the flash drive. This is used for the video of your ride.
When it was my time I was fitted with a helmet and a HANS device, so your neck does not flop around in case of an accident. Over the pit wall to the car, it is one of the new Cars of Tomorrow/Today style. They took some pictures of me, I slid into the passenger seat through the window, one of the crew got me all strapped in and told me some safety information. Going in through the window is pretty easy, I do not see any problem for a large size person. The driver asked me where I was from, got me all pumped up and started the engine. The car does have a LOT of power. We did 3 laps around the WDW track, it has 3 corners but I was surprised by the far corner, it is almost a double corner coming down over the hill. We were in the 120 MPH range during the ride. It went by fast, I would have loved to ride for another 10 laps or so.
I went by myself, my wife was not feeling well and stayed at the CBR. THere was one more person after me, and when he was done the pit crew guy took some pictures of me with my camera, a very nice touch.
I did purchase the DVD of my ride, it was $29.99 for the ride along. It shows 2 views, one of me and the driver in the car and one pointed out the front window. It only took a week to arrive. I was surprised to watch the video and see how when you go into the corners your head is pushed to the side of the seat, I did not notice that during the ride. It is great to pop in and watch every so often. I would do this again in a heart beat, and would tell anyone they should do it and experience it once. I would like to drive myself in the future just to get the true feeling of driving a stock car.
I know Pete kept talking about the price but when you look at everything that is involved, the car, racing engines, tires that are $250 each, gas, plus insurance which must be HUGE (imagine going to an insurance company and telling them we will be putting people in a stock car who have never driven a stock car on a race track and let them drive it by themselves at 120+ MPH, it is going to cost them some big bucks!) it is not cheap to operate this type of business. I agree the pictures and plaques are high but if you are willing to pay $400+ for this experience, you want to remember it forever.
Below are a couple pictures from my ride along, hope you like them.
http://videos.beyondmainstreet.com/BeyondMainStreetSE8.m4v
Let me know what you think about it.
RichO
Will, you did a great report on this weeks show, it brought back my entire experience listening to you talk about RPDE. I wish Pete, Kevin and John went with you, I think they would have a different image of the whole day seeing all that is involved with this. Here is my report on the ride along in April.
For Xmas this year my family got me the Richard Petty Ride Along Experience. As Will said 'It was awesome!'
I entered the building, gave them my gift card and drivers license, had to sign the 3 page waver. They gave me a USB flash drive and ticket, picked out my driving suit and out I went to pit road. I checked in there, filled out a computer screen with my name and address and information that was transfered to the flash drive. This is used for the video of your ride.
When it was my time I was fitted with a helmet and a HANS device, so your neck does not flop around in case of an accident. Over the pit wall to the car, it is one of the new Cars of Tomorrow/Today style. They took some pictures of me, I slid into the passenger seat through the window, one of the crew got me all strapped in and told me some safety information. Going in through the window is pretty easy, I do not see any problem for a large size person. The driver asked me where I was from, got me all pumped up and started the engine. The car does have a LOT of power. We did 3 laps around the WDW track, it has 3 corners but I was surprised by the far corner, it is almost a double corner coming down over the hill. We were in the 120 MPH range during the ride. It went by fast, I would have loved to ride for another 10 laps or so.
I went by myself, my wife was not feeling well and stayed at the CBR. THere was one more person after me, and when he was done the pit crew guy took some pictures of me with my camera, a very nice touch.
I did purchase the DVD of my ride, it was $29.99 for the ride along. It shows 2 views, one of me and the driver in the car and one pointed out the front window. It only took a week to arrive. I was surprised to watch the video and see how when you go into the corners your head is pushed to the side of the seat, I did not notice that during the ride. It is great to pop in and watch every so often. I would do this again in a heart beat, and would tell anyone they should do it and experience it once. I would like to drive myself in the future just to get the true feeling of driving a stock car.
I know Pete kept talking about the price but when you look at everything that is involved, the car, racing engines, tires that are $250 each, gas, plus insurance which must be HUGE (imagine going to an insurance company and telling them we will be putting people in a stock car who have never driven a stock car on a race track and let them drive it by themselves at 120+ MPH, it is going to cost them some big bucks!) it is not cheap to operate this type of business. I agree the pictures and plaques are high but if you are willing to pay $400+ for this experience, you want to remember it forever.
Below are a couple pictures from my ride along, hope you like them.
) but he has always enjoyed driving, and played a lot of GT 1/2/3/4 on his Playstations 
He LOVED his RPDE! You sounded just like him when he was done (his speed topped at 122 too). This was the highlight of his trip. 
I bet a lot of the rides are initiated by family as gifts, anyways.
:
So I go into the Kennel bldg and ask the staff at the Land of Forgotten Stuff (IIRC, it's the desk to the right) if the RPDE shuttle arrives regularly, etc. It's not their schickt so they're positive but non-committal. No worries, I'm in Magic World and so far something unexpected and wonderfully magical has happend to us on every day of our trip. 
