In my last blog I threw out a couple unique Father’s Day gift ideas involving travel; specifically giving dad the chance to put the pedal to the metal—-legally. If your dad feels the need for speed you might consider gifting him with enrollment in a school that will allow him to get behind the wheel of a racecar.
One of the most popular driving schools for racing fans is the Richard Petty Driving Experience. The program is offered at two-dozen tracks across the United States and has an annual enrollment of more than 100,000 drivers. (So, yes, it is very popular.) Petty’s program in the States was actually inspired by NASCAR Australian champ Barry Graham, who founded a school for teaching racing fundamentals in Australia in the late 80s. Graham’s long-time friend, Petty then brought the concept to the U.S. in 1990 and it has become a huge success.
Petty, a seven-time NASCAR champ, prides his program on simplicity. Drivers can sign up for a variety of experiences starting with a standard three-lap ride-along (for novices) and work their way up to more challenging programs such as the “Racing Experience,” which includes 80 laps across eight sessions, and costs $3,000 per person.
If your dad is a bit more laid back and simply wants to enhance his driving skills then you might consider enrolling him in the Bridgestone Racing Academy in Canada. It features Formula cars, one-on-one coaching, and open lapping. Or your pop might find his pace at the Team O’Neil Rally School, which offers a six-and-a-half-mile road course and specific learning areas that teach real-world driving techniques.
Another driving school option caters to four-wheeling fanatics; the Hummer Driving Academy is a Mecca for off-road adventurers. The school is located in the boonies (translation: the hills of northern Indiana, near South Bend) so speed demons with big wheels can gun it to their hearts’ content. The programs utilize current model H1, H2, and H3 Hummers. The H1 academy ($5,250) lasts four and a half days, while the H2 version ($3,575) lasts three. The H3 experience is the most affordable at $2,250, but lasts just two days. After classroom and controlled setting driving, your dad and the rest of his class will move on to 320 acres of obstacles, including mud runs, side slopes, steep inclines, rock crawls, sand pits and more.
Now that’s what I call a dream Father’s Day gift.
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