Left Turn University

I received a special birthday present in 2001 — a session at Left Turn University at the Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford, CT. This consists of a short "classroom instruction" session where they go over the cars, safety issues, the track and how to run it. This is done by a local mini-stock racer. Then you get to go out on the track for a couple of warmup laps, followed by ten hot laps.

The Waterford Speedbowl

These are pictures of the track, taken from the pits.

The front straight and the grandstands

The back straight and scoreboard

A couple of the cars waiting in the pits

The third car is on the track, with a student from the previous session finishing up his run.

In the next set of photos, I am getting buckled into the car, then I am being shown how to get out of the car quickly in case of a problem.

The reigning American Truck Series regional champion, and that years' points leader helping me get buckled in

Here I am being shown how to get out of the car quickly in case of a problem

In this photo I am putting on my glasses and getting ready to drive the car to the area to await going out on the track

Getting last-minute instruction as we watch one of the other students taking his hot laps

Getting ready to go

Getting out on the track

Here I am, going through turns three and four.

And here I go down the back straight.

And here I am after it is all over. It was a great time. All I need now is someone with lots of money to back my new racing career! (During interviews, I promise to say the sponsor name in every sentence.)