Its been another quiet week in scooterland…..the Derbi still hasn’t arrived either but will be due within the next 4 weeks…… Due to a variety of things, Anthony didn’t get much of a chance to take me out during last week, but that’s ok. We got some time early in the week for a few rides.
But one of the things that he’s been up to lately didn’t involve scooters at all…..it involved one of his other passions, and that is motor racing. For the last 10 months he has been looking forward to a drive in a V8 Supercar, and with the help of the team at QLD Raceway and the V8 Race Experience, yesterday he got his chance.
The day also gave him an opportunity to share the experience with his family. It was an early start to the day, beginning with getting everyone ready and then he and Vicki loaded the kids into the cars and off they went, heading north on the motorway and then about 90 minutes later they arrived at their destination – The Willowbank Motorsport Precinct – home of QLD Raceway. After unloading the kids (and the gear required for the morning) they headed to the pit area…..the sound of the cars getting everyone excited about what lay ahead.
Anthony then attended a drivers briefing, before returning to the pits, getting his race suit and helmet and then waiting in line with the rest of the wanna-be race drivers for their turn at glory.
The time ticked by, and soon it was his turn….car number 40 (a silver Commodore) rolled into the pits, and it was time to get in. After sliding himself into the drivers seat (after climbing over the rollcage) Anthony was then confronted by a very efficient man who’s primary job was to inflict a small amount of pain to each driver as he attached their racing harness, (leaving them feeling like they were ready to ride a roller coaster)…..
…..and so after being strapped in, the radio was connected and then the voice of his instructor in the passenger seat came through loud and clear…..and then off they went.
The first lap out of the pits was slow…..very slow…,but used as a sighting lap, to visualise the corners, braking points etc and also get out of the way of faster drivers who had already completed a few laps…..but once the finish line was crossed, lap 1 of 5 began, and off they went.
With each lap, Anthony’s confidence in the car and his ability to drive it increased until by lap 5 he was pushing 180kmh down the front straight……he was hitting the corners smoother, braking later, and getting closer to feeling like he was driving the wheels off the thing……
It was a great experience, something he has looked forward to for a long time and it was so cool to have his family there watching.
Anthony now has even more respect for the abilities of professional race car drivers after experiencing a taste of what they do for a living. Is he looking forward to one day having another go? ABSOLUTELY!!
He would like to offer a huge thankyou and lots of love to Vicki (for being there with him, for taking some awesome photos and for watching all the kids) and a big thankyou to the kids (the blue ones and the pink ones) for being there to share the day and cheer him on.
Dad, You are Number 1…..
My Life As A Scooter 
It was a great day….and very cool to watch you drive a supercar around the track!!
We loved it. You are a champion!
You are a good racer and it was fun to watch you race. You are good at racing. Your boys were loving it too.
thankyou so much to you all….it was so great and i loved having you there.
Sounds like you all had a great day. Looks like fun Anthony. I can’t wait to see the rest of the photos.