Great Wolf Lodge and Nascar

This past weekend my wife, kids, mom and sister took a trip down to Williamsburg. We stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge on Friday night. That place was cool. They have an indoor/outdoor waterpark, arcade, tons of stuff for kids to do, and some really cool rooms. The kids loved the place. My daughter (age 6) rode most every water slide (they would not let her get on the Howlin' Tornado - Brenda did not like that ride too much) and laughed through most of them. Our son loved playing with all the fountains that come up through the floor. Next year he will be on the slides with us. Overall it was a good day away with lots of fun had by all. If you are going to Williamsburg, I would highly recommend taking a trip there. Although check in times are later in the day, you can still gain access to the water park whenever you arrive until your room is ready. For some reason, our room was not ready on time so they upgraded us to a loft. The rooms were designed like a log cabin with a gas fireplace, log frames on the mirrors, log accents everywhere, etc.... Really cool. When you check in you get a wrist bracelet that gives you access to your room. Now for the comic in me. To get to Great Wolf Lodge you have to take a road called Rochambeau. I busted out laughing. If you are a fan of South Park and watched the earlier seasons, you will know what I am talking about.

On Saturday Brenda and I got up and left for Richmond International Raceway for me to redeem my Richard Petty Driving Experience. I have tried to redeem this for the last two years in Charlotte, NC but have been rained out twice. If you are a Nascar fan, I highly recommend doing this experience. My favorite drivers of all time have been Dale and Dale Jr. Ironically, I was the third person to go out and got to drive the number 8 Budweiser Chevy Monte Carlo. I was pumped when they read out the starting line up.

Before you get out on the track you get to put on a firesuit, helmet, and hans device. Getting in the car with the hans device was a little tricky for someone of my height. I have a new respect now for drivers who are able to wear a hans device and move their head enough to see the rear view mirror. Once you are all strapped in, it is only you and 650 horses under your butt. A W E S O M E ! ! ! ! ! !!

As part of this experience you get to follow a professional driver around the track. If you get to close they will wave you off. If you are not going fast enough, the flagman will wave you up. If you are able to keep up and show the driver you can keep the distance and stay in their line, they will take you faster. It took me about two laps to get used to the car. Being the former owner of a 1988 Mustang GT, I was no newbie to racing. My top speed was 101 mph. My average lap times were in the mid 80's. At the end you get a print out of your lap times, certificate, and the option to purchase your picture in the car as well as your photo beside the Richard Petty Driving Experience car. Also, during this experience you can purchase a ride along. If you do this one, you ride in the car with a professional driver at race speeds. Next time I will take advantage of this one. The coolest/scariest part was toward the end of my run I was in the middle of the track, the ride along experience blew past me on the high side, and a new tandem was coming on to the track. Nothing like three wide at RIR, baby!


**Pictures- Top right - me in the car getting final instructions. Middle left - me on the track following my driver. Lower right - Me strapped in getting ready to go on the track.**