I went for a 15 lap package on a cold (46 F) overcast day. The check in at the front was efficient…read moreand friendly, even though I am sure the employees were freezing. I watched a group of cars for about 15 minutes before my class, from the stands, the cars looked slow. Then I saw the pro-drivers taking people on a ride along. They went fast. Most of the public was driving slow and probably scared to go fast. I attended the class and then waited my turn. The full time staff is great, but the kids they hire for a couple of days are poorly trained and not knowledgeable at all. On my ride along, I had to switch cars because the belts were too tight on the one they put me in and my helmet was hitting the top of the car. I am not that big. 5"10" about 200. The driver was great and gave me lots of instruction. It was well worth it and he showed me just what the car (and he) could do. When they put me in my car to drive, I knew right away it was too tight. The seats are welded to the floor. No adjusting. The steering wheel was in my chest, literally and my head hit the roof. The kid who was trying to buckle me in (and didn't know that job well either, I had to help him untwist the belts) told me it was ok. I said no it isn't and just started unbuckling and getting out. The manager came over and agreed it was too tight and put me in another car. I asked the same kid at least 10 times if he had inserted a SD card for the video. In a minute sir, I'll go get it, etc. Finally the spotter in the stands radioed me and told me to go. I went. I took one lap at a reasonable speed and then drove the way the pro driver showed me. It was fast, the tires even on a cold day stuck in the corners and I went hard our of the corners and down the straight, braked hard then smooth acceleration around the corners. The spotters had me pass 5 times other drivers so I must have been going good, or at least better than those on the track with me. I had the track to myself for 5 laps and went faster. It was a blast. I will do it again at a bigger track. This is a 3/8 mile and you only get up to about 85 - 90 MPH on the straights. When I got done the same kid came to get me out and then I said make sure you get the video card and guess what, no camera is even in that car. That was a mistake by the manager and the kid. No one checked even after repeated requests on my part. When I got out of the car I went to the manager and he apologized and told me I could have a refund or get a photo plaque of me sitting on the car with my helmet and a cap or t shirt. My choice. I said what about another drive with the video. He said he could arrange that at another date as they were booked out for this run in Houston. I took the photo plaque and a cap, like I need another cap. All in all it was a good time, but more training is needed on the temp help. These kids no almost nothing and putting me in a car that did't fit is downright dangerous. I am glad I took control of my own situation but I still got burned on the video. When I go again it will be at a super speedway like Talladega where I was told you go about 150 MPH. If you have your won full face helmet bring it. I should have brought mine. Fits better and a thousand others have not used it. The visibility is not the best in the helmet I wore.

I have now been twice to this experience at the Houston Motorsports Park. I find it absolutely…read morethrilling especially with the great discounts you can get through Groupon and Living Social. One thing I have found is that some people misunderstand what this is at this location. This is an experience to see what it is like to be on a race track, driving in a real race car, and with other cars on the track where passing is encouraged. The key here is that most people don't know what it is like to drive a race car and especially how to drive around a short circle track. Because of this alone I have seen that most people have an unrealistic expectation of what the experience is. This is not about how fast you are going to go. Daytona and Talledega are 2.5 mile tri-oval Super Speedways where the PROFESSIONAL NASCAR drivers are driving at speeds of 180+mph. Bristol Motor Speedway is a .533 mile oval track with heavy banks where PROFESSIONAL NASCAR drivers are driving at speeds 120+mph. The Houston Motorsports Park is a .38 mile circle track. You are not going to go 180mph much less 120mph on a .38 circle track. This is not about how fast you are going to go. In my opinion in order for you to get the best experience you must buy the Ride A Long with a Driving Experience. This is for two reasons. The first is so that you can get a feel and understanding for what it is like to drive around this particular track with someone that knows what they are doing. Without this understanding you are completely short changing yourself in the Driving Experience. The second is because this is going to be your chance to go the fastest around the track. If you don't do the Ride A Long and you only do the Driving Experience you are going to be spending half or more of your time trying to get comfortable inside this powerful vehicle that you have never driven before in an environment you have never been in before. Spend some time on youtube and watch other peoples experiences. They are great to set the expectations. If you are fan of racing in any way shape or form I think this will be an experience you will never forget. Just go into it with the right mindset. I enjoy it so much that I will probably make it a yearly tradition.