We went up to
Santa Pod to crew for Paul Marston Racing. They had a lot of passenger rides
to do, so the help would prove useful!!. Seff, who had a ride last year, when
the car was still running in the tens, but was able to speak from experience
as to what the ride was like. Me? No experience at all. I have bought people
passenger rides as presents, and have been saving up so I could have one.
The weather was beautiful, hot and sunny, the girls and guys who had turned up
for their “experience” were suitably nervous, but once back in the pits,
adrenalin kicked in, and gabbled incoherently!!
I had just got back from the ticket office to collect timing tickets, Seff and
Sam however had wandered off. Didn’t think too much of it, but when they
came back, Sam accosted me, and put a wrist band on me, said “get changed,
your turn” I was gob smacked, I was going to have a ride!! Steve French was
on video detail, and Seff took photos, thanks fellas.
Nerves took over, I couldn’t do anything apart from shake, and grin
manically. Gary was going to be driving, God help me!!
I got into the car, Sam strapped me in a told me not to flap.!! Neck brace on,
gloves and helmet, shown how to get out of the car, if I needed to, in an
emergency, and down to the start line.
Gary looked at me, and grinned like a mad man, and although I knew I was in
safe hands, it’s the fear of the unknown.
We were waved through to the burnout box. WOW!! The burnout looks like nothing
really special from the outside, to the trained eye, but inside, the car
vibrates, the noise is incredible, and you can feel the tyres rise!! I started
to laugh, hysterical laughter, “no need for the run”, I thought “this is
fun on its own”!!
We drove up to the start to pre stage, Sam seeing us to the correct spot,
pulled a face at me grinning, Gary said, “are we ready then?” “No”,
said I, “but lets do it anyway!”
Pre stage, edged
up to stage, footbrake launch, and green lights…….
Bloody Hell!!!!! An aggressive launch, pushed me right back into the seat, I
couldn’t see the end of the track properly, I experienced tunnel vision, my
heart was going 19 to the dozen, the noise, for some strange reason I wasn’t
expecting it to be as loud as it was. The ad boards whizzed passed me in a
blur. I felt like I had been punched in the stomach, a truly remarkable
feeling, but not unpleasant. I don’t remember any gear changing, but I guess
Gary must have!!
Through the top end, and slowing down, by this time I was gibbering, and
grinning like a cheshire cat!
Got back to the pits…… Sam asked me what I thought the time was….. no
idea. It was a 9.93 @ 135 mph……. Fantastic!!
I was unbuckled, and tried to get out of the car, but my legs had other
ideas….. total rubber, it took me about half an hour to calm down! Still
gibbering, I thanked Gary, Sam, Paul and Seff, what a cool surprise!!
Was it worth the wait? You bet!!! I would recommend it to anyone.
The following weekend, we were crewing again for passenger rides, it was nice
to be asked by one of the “victims” have you ever had a ride, and able to
speak from an incredible experience, still fresh in my mind.