*We at Bucket List Publications are overjoyed when we can make bucket list dreams come true for our readers. It filled my heart with happiness and excitement when I personally contacted one reader, Ian, and told him his bucket list dream of driving a race car was going to come true. After making arrangements with Paul at GASS Racing School, he was going to feel the G-force at Iowa speedway behind the steering wheel of an actual race car. Although we can’t make every dream come true or respond to all bucket list requests, we try to select one at least once a month and make it happen for our readers. Maybe you could be the next bucket list recipient; you can be fulfilling your dreams like Ian Timberlake. You can read about his experiences at GASS Racing School below. Thank you GASS Racing School; you helped make a bucket list dream come true.*
Bridling at over 400 horsepower, smelling the gooey rubber as it pealed across the radiating asphalt, tasting the bitter 100+ octane fuel vapor in the air, blinking away the sweat rolling in my eyes as my vision ever narrowed, deafened, and feeling the weight of my innards being thrust out of place, my brain was processing information faster than if I were attacked by a lion… although, I could argue I was being attacked by a lion.

Suiting up!
Nearly one week before Memorial Day, I was in the passenger seat experiencing all of the above in one of GASS Racing‘s professional stock cars. GASS Racing School offers racing fans, or gearheads in general, the opportunity to either ride-along for an experience, all the way to a full day of racing lessons and entrance into an official stock car race broadcasted on GASS TV. I was there for a ride-along followed by watching the professionals do it from the hot pit. Soon, I plan on returning and actually race one of these beasts.
My initial reaction upon arriving to the Newton Iowa Speedway was that of sheer zeal. Pulling up to the immensely large oval speedway to find out it was actually short by speedway standards (7/8 mile), followed by the rumbling echo of highly tuned V8s jackhammering their way around the track. I was entering the pits as a car would thunder by on their qualifying lap at over 150 mph, disappear for a matter of seconds only leaving a trail of sound and sticky rubber behind, to reappear with an even more thunderous hurrah than it came with. Spin-outs were commonplace as racers pushed their cars to the limit of grip in an attempt to get as high of a pole position as possible once the official race commenced. I watched all of this in aw, at the same time itching at the eventuality that I would soon be in a first person narrative of the racecar, lack third person.

My number 20
Suiting up, I could hardly contain my excitement. The cars were all in the pits, lined up and ready to be released from the gate. I put on my fire suit provided by GASS Racing, my Nomex head sock, Nomex gloves, neck protector, and then finally my white racing helmet… initially with the visor up. I stood next to my black, number 20 car, waiting to be assisted into the window (there were no doors). A man with GASS began locking me into my 5 point harness, two at the shoulders, two near the legs, and one on the helmet… the word “move”, does not exist within the racecar, but it sure as hell does outside of it. This is when claustrophobia can easily creep in. Not to mention it was easily 100 degrees inside the car, sweat was dripping everywhere and it was impossible to wipe my brow, noxious fumes coupled with melting rubber was all that could be smelled, followed by the waiting anticipation of wanting to just “GO!”.

Immediately before given the green light
Given the go-ahead, my driver Paul turned on the engine, which was immediately deafening. The sensations were incredible, it was quite literally a sensory overload… a true symphony of science was at work. A mechanical machine melded with an organic man, simultaneously conspiring to get around this racetrack as fast as both will allow. You can tell from my first paragraph that no input was left unchecked. The true mastery of what happened when I was in that racecar could never be accurately expressed in words, let alone video or photography. A watched 10 minutes on the track was a mere 30 seconds internally… how’s that for relativity?

Full speed!
I do plan on going back, but next time I will be behind the wheel… I can’t even imagine the experience that will ensue once that cultivates. All I can do now is tell everyone and their nearest friend to get out and experience it themselves because nothing really compares, except for maybe being attacked by a lion.
Writers note: I would like to thank Lesley and her bucketlist webpage for making all this possible, much appreciated and hopefully I can turn the favor the other way some day.
WOW ……
Happy shivers 🙂 🙂 🙂 xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Cat xo
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That’s what I call adrenaline!
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Great Pictures!
http://londontandemskydive.co.uk/tandemskydive.html
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Awesome!
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That is amazing! You must be so pleased that you can make dreams come true (and have some fun yourself while doing it!). 😀
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Love the writer’s note at the end… when we can help someone obtain their dreams they benefit and we do too!
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I enjoyed reading your blog, I agree with divanveelen making others dream manifest sharing an experience in others lives that you will always remember too. I enjoyed shared as well.
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What a RUSH that would have been! I got my OH a track day with the R8 and boy did he love me!
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That had to be the coolest!!!
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Something I’ve always wanted to do! I felt like I got to experience it personally through your post – thanks!
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Cool!!
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That is so fun! I love race cars. It’s always my favorite game at the arcade when I take my nephew. Thank you for making his bucket list ream come true. He sounds so happy. We need more happy people in the world. What an awesome gift. You rock!
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*dream
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How exciting! It’s awesome that you made his dream come true!
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Sounds pretty amazing! I had a family member who in the mid 90’s went to the race car school/camp/experience that have in North Carolina (can’t remember which city) . She went around the track with a professional and ultimately was supposed to do it herself, but she decided it was too scary.
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As a petrolhead myself, what a brilliant experience that would have been!
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Just toooooo much funnnn. reat post… and pictures…
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Way to go Ian!
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Hi,
Recently I came across some great articles on your site. The other day, I was discussing (https://lesleycarter.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/sensory-overload-with-gass-racing/ ) with my colleagues and they suggested I submit an article of my own. Your site is just perfect for what I have written! Would it be ok to submit the article? It is free of charge, of course!
Let me know what you think
Contact me at [email protected]
Regards,
Audrianna Parker
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Just follow the submission guidelines at http://www.bucketlistpublications.com/submissions/
Thanks for your interest,
Lesley
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Now that’s adrenaline ‘rush’! And to share the adventure with someone else who dreams to go……So many levels to this blog.
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That would awesome. I didn’t even know something like that was possible. I can imagine the rush of it though!
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nice
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Thanks for making things like this happen for others. 🙂
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Cool work and I look forward to reading more bucket list dreams come true. Wouldn’t have found your blog without your liking mine; I appreciate that!
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I love the idea of making bucket list dreams come true. What a great way to spend your time on this planet.
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The best thing in life is to raise up others in some way, there are so many ways and opportunities to do so, it is far more blessed to give than to receive for as you give you will receive.
Make it happen for those around you
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I admired the idea and all about the blog, felicitations 🙂
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Very cool! Can’t wait to try that someday!
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are an awesome person Lesley..I am one of your fans 🙂
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