He's off and flyin' as he guns the car around the track He's jammin' down the pedal like he's never comin' back Adventure's waitin' just ahead… Go Speed Racer!
On Tuesday, right after a stimulating staff meeting at Discover Lehigh Valley, I took a short drive over to Lehigh Valley Grand Prix in Allentown for my first ever indoor racing experience. This was my first time at LVGP, but I had driven their outdoor counterparts before and I figured I was somewhat prepared.
I arrived around 10:30 a.m. before the "pros" and regulars showed up so I wouldn't embarrass myself nearly as much. That 8-minute stretch on the track was the most fun I've had in a while. It felt like I was a kid again. These gas-powered karts can reach speeds up to 45 miles per hour, which happens to be about as fast as I feel comfortable going in my Hyundai.
The layout of the track is nice and windy, and after once or twice around you can judge your turns better and know when to accelerate or brake. In all, the track is ¼ mile long. The standard race format is eight minutes on the track, and you're judged by your fastest lap time. I was able to get about 14 laps in during the 8 minutes I had. My slowest was my first lap at 45.042 seconds and my fastest time was a 31.563. When I was finished, I was handed a printed report (as seen in the gallery below) outlining my lap times and overall improvement.
In case you haven't heard, our next LVP photo contest giveaway is a set of 4 free races to Lehigh Valley Grand Prix. Find out how you can enter here.