XTREME XPERIENCE :: Come Take A Ride With Us
Daredevil is not my middle name, nor is thrill-seeking adrenaline junkie. Cautious, rule-follower is more like it. I look before I leap, always leave two car lengths between vehicles and over-analyze the risks in literally everything.
Then I got invited to try out a bachelorette “Xtreme Xperience” at NOLA Motorsports.
I think I must have mentally blocked out the “xtreme” part, because something in my brain said “Sure, why not?” and before I knew it, I had RSVP’d for myself and our Creative Director, Angie.
Once the appointment was on my calendar, I didn’t give it much more thought. Angie, however, did. A few minutes after hitting send on our appointment confirmation, I got a text with a YouTube link. “Do u know what u just signed us up for??” she asked.
I did not.
Thirteen seconds into the video, my heart was racing…”What did I do??? Expensive cars, 140+ mph…Next time read the website BEFORE accepting invitations. You’re going to die.”
Not being one to back out of a commitment, I put on my best impression of someone who wasn’t terrified.
The fateful Monday of our appointment arrived. It was a beautiful day. We pulled up to NOLA Motorsports and signed the waiver at the gate. “You just signed your life away,” I jokingly told Angie as we got out of our cars.
We walked in and Mark Olalde, the Director of NOLA Operations, immediately welcomed us and told us we could drive any of four amazing cars parked right outside. They all looked really cool. And expensive (they totally are).
The first order of business was a classroom training session.
Whew! A little more time alive!
Christian Ward, the former Air Force pilot and Xtreme Xperience chief instructor, who would be riding with us during the test drive, taught the session.
“There are no speed limits, no one with a radar gun waiting to ticket you, no other drivers and no kids chasing balls into the street. You can go as fast as you want. There are no rules.” FAST = FUN!
Angie volunteered me to go first.
Angie chose the Ferrari and I, being far too nervous to put much thought into it, decided that sounded like a good car to die in also.
I got my helmet on (because “safety”) and my headset in place and then got in the beautiful, shiny car that I was hoping would still look that good if when we got back.
In an act of self (and Ferrari) preservation, I made up my mind. I would just drive R.E.A.L.L.Y. S.L.O.W.L.Y. …the whole time. Problem solved.
SLOW = ALIVE. ALIVE = FUN. Therefore, SLOW = FUN. So far, so good.
We started a slower first lap (fun!), practiced braking and taking the turns and got to know the course. We were still alive and the car was in one piece. This wasn’t so bad. I started to relax my death grip on the steering wheel a teensy bit.
Despite my vow to go slow, something just…happened. I started going faster and let me tell you that car gets to “fast” fast. Zero to 60 in 3.3 seconds fast.
After a few seconds, I was flirting with 145 mph and I was loving it. The worst part was having to slow down.
Always having been one to play by the rules (see above), I never realized how liberating it would be to have “no rules.”
Angie, on the other hand, decided 80mph was her comfortable speed, but the instructor was excellent, accommodating both of our driving styles. Everyone can have their own individual experience here, which is what makes it truly one-of-a-kind.
Yours truly will be back. Oh, and you can call me “thrill ride” now.
Check out the video from my Xtreme Xperience – it’s like you’re in the car with me!
Visiting New Orleans for a girls weekend? Guys weekend? Or having a group weekend down in the Big Easy? Your Supercar Driving Xperience awaits you at NOLA Motorsports Park where you can have the xperience of a lifetime with your bride or groom. Located just 30 minutes from the French Quarter and having transportation upon request, Xtreme Xperience makes sure you have the ultimate xperience during your ultimate weekend down in the Big Easy. This is the country’s fastest supercar xperience. Visit xxspeed.com to learn more and to schedule your own Xperience!
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