News Director 
Column By: DON COUSE / RPW – MIDDLETOWN, NY – Ever since I started going to the races as young boy, I always wondered what it would be like to drive a modified. Flying down the straightaways and then hard on the brakes, sliding it into the corner, and back on the gas with the tail hung out, exiting the corner to blast down the next straight. Well, Sunday I got my chance when my wife gifted me 10 laps with the Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience at Orange County Fair Speedway.
Now, I do not have any experience racing cars at all, much less on dirt. Thankfully, before taking to the track I and the other participants were led to one of the sponsor booths at the top of the stands, where an instructor gave us a 45 minute class. The class covered a variety of topics like the general layout of the cockpit area, 5-point harness operation, putting the steering wheel on (and taking it back off), and how your helmet should fit. Helmets and firesuits were provided as part of the experience, so there is no need to bring your own.
After the safety aspects of the car and equipment were covered, the instructor discussed some driving basics; where the racing line was, entering the track from pit road, and getting back on pit road at the end of the session. The instructor used a white board to illustrate the general racing line, which was out towards the outside wall on the straights and closer to the inside wall through the corners. The staff had placed cones about two-thirds down each straight to mark throttle off points, and three cones in the corners at each end of the track to keep the cars down in the “racing groove”.
The cones were represented on the whiteboard as well, and the instructor also used the cars on the track from an earlier session to illustrate his point and provide examples. The school used a one-way radio and a spotter in one of the sponsor booths to monitor your progress, provide some driving hints and tips, and orchestrate passes, since there would be multiple cars on the tack at once. Using the one-way radios, the spotter would tell the slower cars to “left and lift”, staying left to the inside wall on the straight and lifting off the gas exiting either turn 2 or turn 4, while the faster car remained up on the racing line.
Speaking of cars, the Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience offered a wide variety to choose from; a sprint car to 3 Big Block Modifieds, a late model, an L-mod which is a smaller car powered by a motorcycle motor, and a 2 seater Sprint car. The late model also had a passenger seat, and both were used to give rides by a local track pro. Unfortunately, the L-Mod broke as we watched, and was retired for the day. Being a long time dirt modified fan, I had chosen a modified for my 10 laps.
Finally is was time to walk down to the track, suit up and get in the cars! I was nervous and excited, I was finally going to get the chance to drive a modified! The staff helped us pick the right size suit and helmet, and then we walked out on pit road where we would be assigned our cars. I was given the number 20 modified, and some more of Kenny Wallace’s friendly staff gave me some quick instruction on climbing in the car, and assisted me as I contorted myself into the cockpit.
Once in the car, I put on my helmet and he gave me some foam earpieces for the one-way radio to slide up in the helmet. He then helped me tighten and fasten the 5-point harness. Once I was securely in the seat, he helped me put the steering wheel on, and handed me off to JD, who was in charge of everything on pit road. JD communicated to me using the radio, and had me tug on the wheel and my belts a few times and give him a thumbs up out the window. After that, the tow truck slid up behind me; the cars were already in second gear and were pushed started. I felt the bump of the truck, and a quick stab at the gas pedal and the motor roared to life and I was off!
This was it, time for my ten laps on the track in a modified! I was struck immediately about how quick the steering was; it seemed like the car was turning before I even thought of turning the wheel. As I pulled out on the back stretch, I hit the gas and the tires were quickly spinning! Unfortunately, Orange County had not raced in three weeks due to our lovely New York weather, and it had rained the night before as well. This meant that no one was able to work on the track, and it was dry, hard, and dusty.
With the track conditions the way they were, it was difficult to hook those rear tires up! Coming around my second or third lap, I was passing a car on the back stretch and got into the gas too hard and had a nice tank swapper moment that caused the spotter to remark “Whoa there 20 car!” I also quickly noticed the car had a tendency to jerk right when lifting off of the gas, which seemed to be the way the car was setup. However, as my laps progressed, and I learned to be smoother with the gas, and I could start to anticipate what the car was trying to do. I was having a blast! I was driving a race car on dirt; hundreds of horses beneath my right foot while I made my way around the track!
Too soon my 10 laps were over, and the spotter came over the radio “Checkered flag car 20! Bring it down pit lane.” I brought the car in, came to a stop on pit road and my experience was over. Once again, the staff was there to help me get out of the car, and I walked over to return the firesuit and helmet.
Overall, the Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience was fantastic, and I would highly recommend it. For anyone who has sat in the bleachers at your local track and wondered what it would be like to drive a race car on dirt, the Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience has the package for you. They travel to numerous tracks, and I am sure you can find a date at a track close by. So get out of that bleacher seat and go get on the track!
