Applying the brakes to a fast trip down the strip | Kris Hill

Time for a confession.

I had the opportunity to take a breakneck ride with a Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School instructor at Pacific Raceways last week.

But I couldn’t go through with it.

It was an invitational media event, leading up to the National Hot Rod Association’s 25th O’Reilly Auto Parts Northwest Nationals at the historic Kent track.

I arrived early and took photos of others going down the quarter-mile drag strip in a super gas car and a super comp dragster driven by NHRA Funny Car driver Jack Beckman.

Both cars go in excess of 140 mph.

As I climbed into a two-layer fire suit, I was feeling stoked to take a swift, unforgettable ride in a drag racing car.

The super gas car? Imagine your driver’s ed car on steroids.

The suit was uncomfortable. But, no worries, the ride would last a mere nine seconds.

I very not gracefully got into the passenger side of the car. As I got strapped in tightly, the visor on my helmet went down and my vision was significantly reduced.

At that moment, my heart rate skyrocketed.

I had a flashback to my last enclosed MRI in 2005 for a bad back that eventually required surgery. I barely managed to survive the 20 minutes in the machine. I told my orthopedic doctor I would never do one of those again, but by then, I had done it twice.

The final straw for my ride that was not-to-be was when one of the drag racing school employees guided my left hand to a lever and said, “Press this if for any reason you need to pop the seat belt off.”

I thought to myself, “Crap! If something happens … “

Then the claustrophobic response was in full force. I had to get out of the car. The driver understood. I left the cockpit, feeling a bit embarrassed.

In that moment, I had a whole new appreciation for men and women who race cars for a living.

My fast lap never materialized, but I was not alone.

Other dignitaries were invited to take a trip down the strip. They bailed at the last minute.

Others, notably Gov. Chris Gregoire, reportedly had huge grins on their faces after she got out of the race car.

“I believe that the governor was very impressed, not only the experience of the car but the gravity of the show that the (NHRA) series brings to town,” said Jason Fiorito, track president.

The experience brought smiles to Kent Mayor Suzette Cook and Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis as they weathered the ride.

Fearlessness.

I confess it’s something I thought I had, but maybe not as much.

It was humbling

Cheers to the drivers, the crew members and the folks at the track for their patience.

And next time I say, “Oh, this is nothing, I’ve had an emergency appendectomy, back surgery and given birth,” someone should just smack me upside the head.

I confess, I am not fearless. And I am not afraid to admit it.

Kris Hill is assistant editor of the Covington/Maple Valley Reporter. Reach her at 425-432-1209, ext. 5054, or khill@covingtonreporter.com.