In 2020, Dave’s wife and children gave him a very special Father’s Day/Birthday gift: the opportunity to drive a race car for 8 minutes at one of a dozen race tracks in the U.S.
Dave had the choice of driving a NASCAR or an Indy Car. Because he has followed the Indianapolis 500 race for over 60 years (first on radio, then on television) and has been to the race twice, he chose to drive an Indy car. He also picked a location reasonably close to family members – Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC.
On May 15, 2021, eleven family members met at the Speedway to witness the fastest 8 minutes in Dave’s life. This page contains photos and videos taken by family members of the event. Just click on the blue caption to open photos and videos. The files will open in a new window. That way, you can come back easily to this page and continue the story.
Dave picks up the narrative from here. Read the story and enjoy the pictures and videos just as he lived it.
First, here’s an aerial photo of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. You may want to leave this open so you can refer to various locations as we go along.
Track aerial photo
The first order of business is to get suited up and attend a 45-minute drivers’ meeting. This is done in the “Check-in/Drivers’ Meeting” building. Here I am in my driving suit in the check-in area:
Dave in racing suit at check-in
While I am in the meeting, the family finds places along the fence in the Family Viewing Area. During the drivers’ meeting (at which only drivers were allowed), we are given complete instructions, including videos, on how to enter the track, where to position the car on the track (5 feet to the right of the inside white line), how to enter the curves and, when instructed, how to enter the pits at the end of our drive. We are told how to use the radio and communicate with our spotter. Finally, we are verbally tested on what we have learned.
Then we are sent out to the track. I had already figured out that there was no special order in which all the participants were to drive. So I sit closest to the exit door during the meeting and, as you will see, am the first one out to the track.
Dave leading the pack from the drivers’ meeting
Before I get my helmet on, I am able to greet all the family members who are present. Of course, Phyllis is at top of that list.
Dave and Phyllis in the Family Viewing Area
Then it’s time to get fitted for my helmet. I have been told that it will be “comfortably uncomfortable,” and that’s a great description. Here I am, ready to go. Notice the lanyard I’m wearing. Beside my “ticket,’ the pouch contains a chip that will be inserted into the car to measure my speed, time, etc.
Suited up, ready to go
Most of the other drivers are driving NASCAR vehicles, so that’s where all the activity is going. Finally, though, they start taking Indy Car drivers, and I’m first in line. I’m escorted out past the NASCAR cars to the Indy Car, which is on the inside of Pit Road. As you will see, the car is an open cockpit, open wheel “Indy style” car. No windshield means my helmet has a locked visor. Technicians help me get into the car. It’s a tight fit, and I’m really just sitting on a small ledge with my feet stretched out to reach the pedals. There is a gas pedal, brake pedal and clutch. In NASCAR cars, the driver is required to shift gears. But in an Indy Car, there is only one gear. Here are two pictures of a technician giving me final instructions and making sure my radio is working. There is a little trouble with the sound in my helmet being too distorted, but they finally get it fixed.
Final instructions – from left rear of car
Final instructions – from left front of car
Now it’s time to go. I’m told to press in the clutch pedal and start to push on the gas pedal. As you will see in the video below, a modified golf cart pushes me to get started. When I get down Pit Road toward the track, my spotter (who is located high in the stands across from the start/finish line so he can see me all the way around the track) tells me to let out the clutch and “give it more gas.” And I’m off!
Starting push – shot by Marcia (SHORT VIDEO)
Starting push – shot by Lindsey (LONG VIDEO)
My spotter talks to me almost continually. He tells me when to ease on to the track, reminds me of my position on the track, guides me into the turns (there are two big dots that I am to drive between), tells me to not let up on the gas going into the turns, and even tells me, “You can go a little faster.” There are some NASCAR cars on the track. As you will see, one of them passes me. But that is a professional driver who is taking people for rides. No other amateur driver passes me. From my family’s position, they can only see me when I come down the front stretch. So here are two videos of me passing the Family Viewing Area on the front stretch.
Driving on track #1
Driving on track #2
According to the best count, I do 7 laps around the track and I’m driving for just about 9 minutes. I do not consciously let up on the gas and I have no sensation of centrifugal force in the turns (because of the way the track is banked). I also don’t feel the wind because of the visor on my helmet and the fact that only my head is sticking up above the sides of the car. I am concentrating so hard on the mechanics of the drive that I really don’t have time to experience the sensation. But I cross the start/finish line and Marcia gets a picture of me right at the line.
Crossing the finish line
When my time is up, my spotter talks me through entering the pits at the right point (coming off turn 3), braking properly and stopping at the exact point I started. Here’s a photo of my drive down pit road:
Entering pit road
I have a little trouble getting out of the car – primarily because the wallet in my pocket gets caught on the inside edge of the car. The technicians figure it out and, after several minutes, I’m up and walking back to the viewing area. For safety, I am escorted to this area.
Walking from the car with my escort
As I climb across the pit wall, my family is waiting to greet me. Traditionally, when a driver is first to cross the finish line and wins the race, he is greeted with a kiss from a beauty queen. That happens to me, so I guess I am a winner!
The winner’s kiss!
Before I can leave, I have to check out at a trailer next to the Family Viewing Area. They use my chip to determine my speed and give me this certificate:
Driving certificate
Yes, I really did drive almost 155 miles per hour. I think I could have gone faster because my spotter told me more than once that I could speed up a little. We’ll save that for next time!
To celebrate, we all go out to lunch! And we have such a great time together that nobody takes any pictures. It was a fantastic, unforgettable experience. Perhaps it was best summed up by another driver who finished just after me. He said, “Memorial Day will never be the same!”
If you have any questions, please write to me at dave@dbaseler.org.