Alrighty then, be forwarned: Tis' the season for shameless self-promotion [evil]
Some of you know I've had this driving instructor gig for the last couple of years over at Texas Motor Speedway working with a group called Texas Driving Experience. Here's the link (if you cruise down to the bottom of the page and click "Meet the Crew," my bio is about halfway down the page).
http://www.texasdrivingexperience.com/ (http://www.texasdrivingexperience.com/)
TDE does all sorts of things - things that essentially add up to games-with-cars. We use a bevy of nine Z-06 Corvettes or a dozen Toyota Scions; Corvettes for track events like rides around the oval or infield road course at crap your pants speed, and the friendly little Scions for Teen School. (Yes, we have had more than one teen ask to do his school in a Vette. He of course was moved to the head of the class [evil] [laugh] ).
I do the once a month Intro to Road Racing class where people bring their own car to drive on the infield road course (we've had some really unbelieveable stuff out there: Aston Martin, Lotus Exige, Ford GT :o, Nissan GT-R, every variety of 911 since the beginning of recorded time, and, of course, Corvettes by the truck load). I also instruct Teen School and will be a driver for the Corvette corporate ride-arounds.
O.K. so much for the back ground. In June, we had a film crew out at the track over a long three-day weekend of TDE events "shooting a spot" for American Express. They had this set program of stuff they wanted - I happened to be unlucky enough to be standing around at the time, and the rest, as they say, is in the can (?!)
This is the AmEx video from their OPEN Business corporate page that high-lights individual small business owners.
http://www.openforum.com/finance/video_texasdrivingexperience.html (http://www.openforum.com/finance/video_texasdrivingexperience.html)
The video is four minutes long and I'm in it twice: driving the #9 yellow Corvette in the on-track Corvette driving segement - there's 7 or 8 cars farting around on the infield. Took 45 minutes of film with the cars so close together you'd be hard pressed to get a piece of paper credit card between them. It all boiled down to 9 secs I think... at least me and the 'ol #9 were there at the end of the segment with a "decisive" pass [laugh]
Then my happy ass appears yet again in a "Pit Crew Challenge" tire changing segment. This excerise is something we do for corporate, team-based events. We normally use a year old NASCAR for the tire changing treatment but in this day they decided to use a Scion - anything to keep a sponsor in the spotlight ;D I'm the goofy tire-roller-outter, high-five'n Team Member... Yea - GO TEAM [roll] That whole 12 seconds of footage only required two hours and a bazillion takes. It was 102 degrees. The girl in the glasses was actually one of the film crew... She eventually fainted. BOOM, just like that, flat on the deck.
Make no doubt about it - motor racing IS dangerous...
Apparently in the Spring, parts of this video will be used for a 15 second TV spot promoting the AmEx OPEN Business credit card. Not sure which fifteen seconds... but who cares. Fame is fleeting [laugh] [laugh] And with the economy the way it is, so may be business...
Awesome Lisa!
Looks like some really cool programs. [thumbsup]
Hmm, only 9 more years to go before I have to start thinking about a teen driver in the house. :P
Very cool!! The TDE thing looks like a blast
That's awesome Lisa!
Now I can say I know a television star! [bow_down]
BTW - now I know who to call on the change-the-tires-on-the-car mod day. ;)
Quote from: Cher on December 06, 2008, 08:10:19 AM
Alrighty then, be forwarned: Tis' the season for shameless self-promotion [evil]
Some of you know I've had this driving instructor gig for the last couple of years over at Texas Motor Speedway working with a group called Texas Driving Experience. Here's the link (if you cruise down to the bottom of the page and click "Meet the Crew," my bio is about halfway down the page).
http://www.texasdrivingexperience.com/ (http://www.texasdrivingexperience.com/)
TDE does all sorts of things - things that essentially add up to games-with-cars. We use a bevy of nine Z-06 Corvettes or a dozen Toyota Scions; Corvettes for track events like rides around the oval or infield road course at crap your pants speed, and the friendly little Scions for Teen School. (Yes, we have had more than one teen ask to do his school in a Vette. He of course was moved to the head of the class [evil] [laugh] ).
I do the once a month Intro to Road Racing class where people bring their own car to drive on the infield road course (we've had some really unbelieveable stuff out there: Aston Martin, Lotus Exige, Ford GT :o, Nissan GT-R, every variety of 911 since the beginning of recorded time, and, of course, Corvettes by the truck load). I also instruct Teen School and will be a driver for the Corvette corporate ride-arounds.
O.K. so much for the back ground. In June, we had a film crew out at the track over a long three-day weekend of TDE events "shooting a spot" for American Express. They had this set program of stuff they wanted - I happened to be unlucky enough to be standing around at the time, and the rest, as they say, is in the can (?!)
This is the AmEx video from their OPEN Business corporate page that high-lights individual small business owners.
http://www.openforum.com/finance/video_texasdrivingexperience.html (http://www.openforum.com/finance/video_texasdrivingexperience.html)
The video is four minutes long and I'm in it twice: driving the #9 yellow Corvette in the on-track Corvette driving segement - there's 7 or 8 cars farting around on the infield. Took 45 minutes of film with the cars so close together you'd be hard pressed to get a piece of paper credit card between them. It all boiled down to 9 secs I think... at least me and the 'ol #9 were there at the end of the segment with a "decisive" pass [laugh]
Then my happy ass appears yet again in a "Pit Crew Challenge" tire changing segment. This excerise is something we do for corporate, team-based events. We normally use a year old NASCAR for the tire changing treatment but in this day they decided to use a Scion - anything to keep a sponsor in the spotlight ;D I'm the goofy tire-roller-outter, high-five'n Team Member... Yea - GO TEAM [roll] That whole 12 seconds of footage only required two hours and a bazillion takes. It was 102 degrees. The girl in the glasses was actually one of the film crew... She eventually fainted. BOOM, just like that, flat on the deck.
Make no doubt about it - motor racing IS dangerous...
Apparently in the Spring, parts of this video will be used for a 15 second TV spot promoting the AmEx OPEN Business credit card. Not sure which fifteen seconds... but who cares. Fame is fleeting [laugh] [laugh] And with the economy the way it is, so may be business...
very cool. so I can do this alone according to the website right? I don't think my to-be will let me race her Benz but I would love to get in a Vette. What would be the best package for a solo guy you think?
Very cool Lisa. There was one scene where the instructors were talking to the four pit-members and you were always getting blocked. I knew who it was though! [thumbsup]
Quote from: muskrat on December 07, 2008, 09:14:59 AM
very cool. so I can do this alone according to the website right? I don't think my to-be will let me race her Benz but I would love to get in a Vette. What would be the best package for a solo guy you think?
I recommend you do the ULTIMATE Racing Combo. Pick either 10 or 20 laps (you'll wish you did 20 if you only pick 10). After 10 laps driving, with an instructor in the passenger seat, I was feeling pretty comfortable. Also wishing I had more laps. But then you take your turn as the passenger in the same car with the instructor driving for 5 laps - oh my, how little you were actually pushing the car. It's a blast! [thumbsup]
Quote from: BarneePhife on December 07, 2008, 03:08:25 PM
I recommend you do the ULTIMATE Racing Combo. Pick either 10 or 20 laps (you'll wish you did 20 if you only pick 10). After 10 laps driving, with an instructor in the passenger seat, I was feeling pretty comfortable. Also wishing I had more laps. But then you take your turn as the passenger in the same car with the instructor driving for 5 laps - oh my, how little you were actually pushing the car. It's a blast! [thumbsup]
I think I found my Christmas present
Thanks guys, it's a fun thing. Glad I can share it here - I thought there might be one or two "car guys" (and gals!) that might get a kick out of the whole deal.
As far as the best bang for the buck Muscrat, B.P. is right - Utimate Racing Combo is the way to go (the laps are done on the TMS infield road course, not the oval) [thumbsup] Our next event like this is this Saturday, December 13th. Then we'll start back up in January with our URC course offered once a month. Hope to see you sometime soon!
Thanks for sharing Lisa! I think you are a great role model for strong, vibrant women everywhere! Hugs, M