Texas Motor Speedway is by far and away the most deluxe road track in the region. Therein lies the problem. That is, they are really too concerned with big professional events, such as CART, NASCAR, and the American Lemans Series to bother with us amateur "weekend warriors" who just like to go to the track and drive fast for fun. Sure, TMS will give you a silly ride at 50 MPH in their van for $6 so you can get "the same hold-your-breath sensations experienced by the greatest race drivers in America" HA!
Even more of a tease was the last time we were at TMS for a "track event" when around 100 sports car drivers showed up to drive the high-speed oval in their own cars, only to be limited to 75 MPH by a pace car!! ARRRGH!!
Well, this was to be different! Somehow, Rick at the Driver's Edge somehow managed to convince the track management to allow us hacks to come out and REALLY drive the track for a weekend! It was very lucky for us since we like to turn both left and right, that the track had just a few months prior added a 7-Turn infield road section to the track for the American Lemans Series. We would be running the entire 2.4 mile ALMS course, including the chicane along the main straightaway to slow us down!
We had a fantastic time at this event! I was really loving it, as the track favors high-horsepower cars. This was probably the only opportunity to see what your car can do at high speed against the likes of the Dodge Vipers, Porsche Twin Turbos, Ferrari's, and the like. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to take too many pictures, but I did mount my mini-camcorder to my front bumper for a few lapping sessions.
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View from the pits of the main straightaway. |
here's me crossing the finish line at +/- 148 MPH |
Through the American Lemans Chicane |
Coming up behind a Viper out of Turn 5 |
Caught him on the infield straightway (ho-hum) |
 |
he's one turn from getting back on the NASCAR oval. |
Waiting for the 355 to waive us by |
now he guns it! |
After the 355 waives us by, we see how a supercharged NSX does against a slightly more powerful, but heavier Viper |
No problem, we reel him in, but cannot pass until he gives the signal to do so, which ain't gonna happen in a banked turn at 130 MPH |
We are both at about 150 MPH coming up to the start / finish |
Braking now going into the chicane |
Now we can pass him! |
 |
Click Here
for a Video of this Track Event....
TOO MUCH FUN!!!! |
Epilogue- as of the date of posting this webpage, some 6 months after the event, there is still no word of any other amateur "track day" event being scheduled. We were told when we ran that this was only on a "trial basis" and if anyone crashed or "hurt the track", then this would never happen again. Well, we had a perfect weekend with no accidents, and it still looks like we won't get the chance to run this track again! :(