Sounds of Petty (Les @ 145mph taking the checker)

After safety instruction and several trips around the track showing you the optimal driving lines and areas to watch for, they turn you loose with an instructor to "chase".

You follow the lead car trying to "keep up" with his speed and getting "no asphalt" between you and the instructor --- about 4 cars lengths is optimal.

As they feel better and better about your skills, you ramp up the speed.

Warm up lap and cool down lap with 8 laps of checkered flag in between --- usually three groups of two on the track at a time plus the "ride along" cars so there is traffic.

Most incredible feeling to hit the high bank corners and understand just how "narrow" the track appears. Then try to imagine a car in front and one in back and maybe one or two on either side of you -- and the car "moves" around the track much more than it appears on races.

More later on --- shuttle launches at 5pm and we're headed south to fine a place to watch from.

Petty Racing School

Saturday morning briefing prior to heading out to the track



A few last minutes with the famly.....



Janice getting ready for her 165mph three lap ride with one of the professional drivers

The new face of NASCAR....

Finding out where the kill switch and fire extenguisher bottles are....

Sunrise from the Balcony

Florida Part II

A few more....... VaughnEAST enjoying the day




Kiddos' went down for a nap so Janice/Kathy snuck away for a few minutes of quality time on the beach together....

And it would not a day at the beach without burying a MOM!

After Christina, it was Kathy's turn....

And so the day went........

Florida Part I

Here's a few pics from Florida so far --- spent 3 hours in the emergency dental clinic getting my front crown re-attached and the LHS should be ready tomorrow afternoon from the starter soleniod sticking......

Here you go! Tomorrwo 7am is Petty Racing school for Kerry and I plus the shuttle launch around 5pm....

Sunrise from our balcony this morning.... Janice is still recovering from us leaving a local adult beverage establishment about 2:30am -- what a great band, great music with the surf coming in about 200 feet away....



















Maddy waiting patiently to hit the beaches --- Christina and Maddy arrived about 7am this morning from Virginia --- Becky took Christina's car and went on to Tampa Bay for the weekend.



















This is the "third" picture of Janice --- had to finally say the "right" words to get her to smile!




















Finally got Christian over his fear of water --- tomorrow should be more progress we hope...