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Written
by: Ralph Sheheen
Charlotte, NC – 7/20/2007
We all have racing heroes. They range from
Juan Manuel Fangio to Ricky Carmichael,
racers who seem to be super human in their
skills at top speed. They always make the
amazing pass and the incredible save. Their
no stranger to Victory Lane, but when they
do lose it's devastating.
For me that racer was Mario Andretti. When
I was five years old my parents took me
to my first race. It was a dirt Champ Car
event at the old fairgrounds mile in Sacramento,
CA. where I grew up. Today this series is
known as the USAC Silver Crown championship.
I became a huge fan of racing that day and
an even bigger fan of Mario. I followed
his career and rooted passionately every
time he was on the track. I was thrilled
when he became World Champion and crushed
when he suffered heartbreak at Indy.
I've been very fortunate through my
career to get to know Mario. I've broadcasted
races he has been in, interviewed him, and
just hung out bench racing with him. However,
during each of those moments I had to be
a professional journalist. Even though some
of those times were very relaxed, I never
let on to the fact that he was my racing
hero.
The opportunity to just be a fan of Mario
Andretti came up recently courtesy of Bob
Lutz and the staff of the Mario Andretti
Racing School. They put together a Mario
Andretti Fantasy Day to help celebrate the
schools new program at the Lowe's Motor
Speedway in Charlotte, NC.
I was invited to drive one of the schools
Indy Cars and then go for a ride in a two
seat Indy Car with my racing hero, Mario
Andretti, behind the wheel! Anytime you
get invited to drive a race car it's
a great opportunity, especially at a world
class venue like the Lowe's Motor Speedway.
But to go for a ride with Mario would be
incredible!
Upon arriving at the Lowe's Motor
Speedway, I noticed how well organized the
Mario Andretti Racing school program is.
There were plenty of well marked signs directing
you to the right location in the infield,
where I was met by a very enthusiastic and
friendly staff.
Brightly painted race cars were lined up
on the pit lane. A hospitality tent was
loaded up with plenty of tasty food and
drinks. There was a large rack full of look-a-like
Andretti Bell helmets and two full size
transporters. One was set up for the students
to try their hand at pit stops with a car,
tires, air guns, etc. The other was a combination
merchandise rig and DJ booth as it pumped
out hard driving rock music to help get
your adrenaline flowing. As if I needed
any help with that. I was about to go for
a ride with Mario!
Once you checked in and picked up your
driving suit and Andretti replica helmet,
it was time to go to Victory Lane for a
photo op alongside one of the Andretti Racing
School machines. Then it was off to the
media center for an explanation of the day's
events and our first encounter with Mario.
Mario got up in front of the crowd and
talked about how much he enjoys giving the
rides since it allows him to get back in
the car and run some laps. Before he was
done that day I figured he turned close
to 100 laps based on the amount of people
and the number of laps each guest got in
the car. He also answered questions about
racing and talked about what we could expect
while he chauffeured us at warp speed. He
also mentioned that he was always looking
for talent for his son Michael’s IRL
team. Then he joked that maybe he could
talk me out of my day job and into the cockpit
of an Andretti Green entry. Done deal, where
do I sign!
The next step was to load up two vans for
a couple of laps around the mile and a half
speedway so that the instructors could show
us the proper line, which entailed slicing
between some white squares that had been
painted on the track surface. Then it was
time to strap into the cars.
The Mario Andretti school cars are exceptionally
well built and maintained. They don’t
look like some old race car that a team
was selling off to clear up some shop space.
The staff helps buckle you into the cockpit
and prepares the car for launch. All you
have to do is keep the clutch in. They push
you off with a four wheeler. Once you travel
about 30 yards you dump the clutch and give
it some gas. The car roars to life and off
you go. You’re already in high gear
so you don’t have to worry about shifting.
You tuck in behind your instructor for
a lead and follow session and the speeds
begin to build. The better you are at maintaining
your line the faster your instructor will
go. By the time I was done with my 8 lap
run we we’re whistling around Lowe’s
Motor speedway at over 176 mph. It was a
very comfortable pace and I didn’t
feel like either the car or myself we’re
near the limit of what we we’re capable
of. Certainly not the car, you never have
to lift and it’s on rails through the
banking.
As fun as driving the Indy Car was, the
anticipation of riding shotgun with Mario
was even greater. After a few warm up laps
and a quick debrief with the crew, the ultimate
thrill ride was ready.
He told the crew he wanted to get the tires
good and warm and he wanted to burn off
some of the fuel load, before his niece
and I were put into the car for our runs.
Mary Jo Andretti, his brother Aldo’s
daughter went first. Her first ride with
her legendary Uncle, the ear to ear grin
on her face told me exactly what I had figured.
This was going to be a very memorable ride.
Just before I climbed in, I made sure that
Mario saw that I was next. He gave me thumbs
up and I started the process of slithering
down into the cockpit. My legs straddled
him. You sort of wrap yourself around his
seat. The passenger seat is just a tick
higher then his so you look through his
roll hoop. They belt you in nice and tight
and give you a steering wheel to hold onto,
which does nothing but give you a place
to lock in your death grip.
Mario dropped the hammer and we rocketed
down pit lane and up onto the banking.
Yes, I was screaming. Not out of fear but
total exhilaration. It was incredible! To
see that silver helmet with the classic
red stripe right there on the other side
of the roll hoop and to know that that was
Mario Andretti at the controls was awesome.
We blasted down the back stretch and he
pointed it right at the apex of turn three.
The G forces took over and slammed me down
deep into the seat as we accelerated off
of four and screamed along the front stretch.
The momentum continued to build as we clicked
off the laps. I was having the high speed
time of my life, with my senses on complete
overload, while Mario looked so relaxed
that at any minute I thought he might whip
out his cell phone to make a call.
I didn’t want this terminal velocity
joy ride to end but eventually the checkers
came out and he backed out of the throttle.
When I climbed out of the car the cameras
were rolling to catch my reaction. For a
guy that gets paid to talk I had a hard
time putting into words how incredible the
ride was. The crew guys were laughing as
they walked up saying that I had gotten
a very good ride with lap times down to
.34 flat. They said we were well over 190
mph down the back stretch!
Before he left, Mario took the time to
autograph the framed pictures and certificates
that each guest was given for attending
the school. For me it was one final chance,
to share a few minutes with arguably the
greatest driver of our time, as just a fan.
After a few more pictures, Mario headed
for the airport.
We all choose our racing heroes for different
reasons. Maybe you like the way they drive,
or maybe you just liked the color of their
race car. For me Mario Andretti was as fast
as anybody. He was fearless, aggressive,
versatile, cool and a winner. He could drive
anything and won in every conceivable type
of car. With wins at Indy, Daytona, Sebring
and hundreds of dirt tracks, it was easy
to become a fan of Mario Andretti. I’m
proud to say that after all of these years,
my racing hero Mario Andretti still has
all of those previously mentioned traits,
plus one more, he still stands on the gas.
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