For my birthday, over Easter weekend, my wife and I decided to take our first trip to New Orleans. As often happens, she schedules some sort of amazing event. As usual, I'm more than happy to leave the surprise for the last minute. So I didn't find out what it was until we got there. I had some clues as our cab made it's way to NOLA Motorsports Park, but wasn't sure what it would be. I ended up being somewhat nervous once I found out exactly what it was, as this was amazing yet out of my comfort zone. Turns out, she bought me a couple of drives. The first was in a Lamborghini Gallardo for three laps of their 1.8 mile course (3200' straightaway), which was followed by the same while driving a Ferrari 458. It was recommended that I take the Gallardo first, because the 458 is faster and better to drive. They also had a Porsche GT3 and a Nissan GTR. My driver said that he could do the fastest laps in the GT3 on this specific track. None the less, I glanced at the speedo once on the straightaway and saw the needle sweep past 155mph. I still was in it a little longer, so I'm assuming it go close to 160 before I lifted and broke for the 90 degree turn at the end. Being a drag racer, the whole turning thing was interesting, especially while driving a 500+ hp supercar. If you're in the NOLA area, I highly recommend doing this. Of course, it's probably pretty expensive, but since it was my birthday gift I didn't ask questions. They also have a road show at other tracks, but none of them are close to the length of the NOLA track's straightaway. Yes... best wife ever!
Re: Xtreme Xperience - NOLA Motorsports - Drove a Ferrari 458 and a Lamborghini Galla Yes you better keep her! Sounds like a blast!
Re: Xtreme Xperience - NOLA Motorsports - Drove a Ferrari 458 and a Lamborghini Galla I just wish it would have worked out that she would have driven a car too. She really liked the looks of the GT3. But when she was making the reservations, it was a little too complicated to schedule. But after being there, and she sat in on the driver's training meeting, she would just have to pay for it, helmet up, and hop in. Next time... next time!
Re: Xtreme Xperience - NOLA Motorsports - Drove a Ferrari 458 and a Lamborghini Galla There are often GroupOns for these as well. They have them at the Nashville Motor Speedway and at the Corvette Museum track. https://www.groupon.com/deals/dream-drive-exotics-nashville-1
Re: Xtreme Xperience - NOLA Motorsports - Drove a Ferrari 458 and a Lamborghini Galla I drove the 458 and a Z06 last year compliments of my dad...good times! I would have loved a few more laps though, like 50.
Re: Xtreme Xperience - NOLA Motorsports - Drove a Ferrari 458 and a Lamborghini Galla Since we don't live in an area where they have these experiences, I'm lucky it turned out they did in New Orleans and my wife found them. That groupon looks like an autocross course. They had that as an option at NOLA, but I'm glad I got to do it on the 1.8 mile track - got to really wind the cars out and go faster than I have in a car before. Interestingly, my body seems to have an internal clock for the 1/4 mile. There was an instinct that I should be done long before I had to lift.
Re: Xtreme Xperience - NOLA Motorsports - Drove a Ferrari 458 and a Lamborghini Galla They didn't have the Z06. It looks like they've got a few more cars they rotate in. The owner even said to the other driver that the Gallardo was for sale. It was a 2013, he said. Would have liked to run the GT3 though - maybe next time, if my wife doesn't just drive them all.
