" days of thunder......"

"America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad ass speed." -Eleanor Roosevelt, 1936

      Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! It's that time of year again.  The festivities and racing season flashes Green, Green, Green at Daytona International Speedway beginning this week and culminating next weekend with the Daytona 500. It took the enthusiasm of a few family members and one smokin' hot driver to capture and pique my interest in professional motor sports.  Once you attend a LIVE race you're hooked. The smell of burning rubber, the grit in your eyes and the extreme ROARRRRR of the engines is a unique experience. There is an exquisite slow and powerful crescendo of reverberating motors gathering speed after each restart. The sound is so overwhelmingly intense!  The low growling  fills my ears and the bleachers rumble beneath my feet. Can't get enough!. The headset is whisked off as I jump up to meet the cheering crowd discerning the cars circling the entire length of the track. SWOOSH the wind takes your breath away. The cars swell and sweep past us humming again and again.

      Who hasn't imagined themselves a Sprint Cup, Indy or Formula One driver on the highway? No fear.  Most of us are excited when we get to drive a vehicle over eighty miles an hour. Admit it.  Every one would love to be a race car driver. You seem to  harness control over the  uncontrollable forces of speed and time. You and your car become one as you focus so intently, you're lost in the zone. Now envision yourself accelerating to 120mph or even 190mph. You would never be late for work again. Speed.  Do we know what that feels like? The  powerful sensation of thunder in our bellies. Most drivers describe their days on the track as incomparably exhilarating. Despite the dangers, adrenaline junkies, thrill seekers and the curious race enthusiast sign up for "driving experiences" costing thousands of dollars for mere minutes. We want to taste, smell, see and touch the moments of full force speed.

      A TV race, unfortunately is not as thrilling  though a great time. Engaging in track smack with my family and friends becomes creative." How many drivers does it take to set a track on fire? Just, Juan". Who is  prettier, Danica Patrick or Kasey Kahne?  Will I see a backflip this weekend?  My niece Bri is an aspiring public relations specialist and Communications Major who will realize her dream of being track side. Her knowledge and adoration of the sport inspires all. Of course her father was a major influence as well being  part of the motor vehicle industry. If you have the means  or opportunity to attend a race, never pass it up! Satisfy your need for speed and fall in love with racing just because you" want to go fast"!