I Ride Along in NASCAR style with Mike Guerity

Posted from Royal Oak, Michigan--

     I recently keynoted a conference for some talented software developers and their customers in Charlotte, North Carolina.  We were treated to a thrilling ride-along in a stock car at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

     I took three laps around the 1.5 mile track at 160 miles per hour with Mike Guerity, a friendly, polite and confident young man.  Mike is one step away from joining the superstar ranks of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR).  His proud mother, Linda took some of the photos here.    

     All NASCAR drivers and passengers must where helmets.  The foam on the inside of my helmet was soaking wet with perspiration from previous passengers.

     The car is an 850 horsepower, Nextel cup car that weighs 3,400 pounds.  A Ford Escort has 110 horsepower and a Dodge Viper has 450.  An Escort weighs 2,470 lbs. and the Viper weighs 3,320 lbs.

     The ride-along was fun, even though it wasn't an actual race.  The turns were pitched at 24 degrees and roar of the engine sure kept me awake.  As one conference attendee put it, "At 160 miles per hour, you don't go toward things as much as things come toward you."

     Our race day was exciting, but I'll bet a full house of 167,000 fans on race day  really makes the track rock!

     Thanks to Bob Arndt at Integral and Mike Guerity for another great adventure!

Comments

[Harv Carter]

Michael you are a lucky fellow. If you check you can go buy a ride and drive one ---- for about $1500.

Was this a customer or was this the treat for the customers?

Good usage within your presentation pointers. It really holds the interest.

[Brad Walker]

WOW!!! I'll bet that was a great ride. Being from Birmingham, AL and very near the Talladega Superspeedway, I would love to take a ride-along around that track. 2.66 Miles at 180+ MPH, what a rush that would be.
Just remember, "186,000 Miles per second, it' not just a good idea, it's the law"