Richard Petty

CLICK HERE for more information on MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDING!

CLICK HERE for more information on HORSES!

CLICK HERE for more information on RACING COMPETITIONS!

The Richard Petty Driving Experience: Get Ready for Some Serious Action!

Do you enjoy watching NASCAR races? If you answered yes to this question, then ask yourself another one, would you like to ride in or drive a NASCAR vehicle? If you answered yes to this question, then consider trying the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Disney World or at over 20 other locations in the USA.

The enterprise has its roots in the late 1980s but it started to take its present shape in 1994 when the company known as the Richard Petty Driving Experience (RPDE) was formed with a hand-full of cars, a small shop and an office in Concord, North Carolina.

The thrill of riding in fast NASCAR cars has really caught on since then and by last year the RPDE was run on 27 tracks nationwide with over 1, 168 track days.

They offer two basic programs, as well as several variations on them. There is the ride-along experience in which you get to experience the thrill of racing by riding “shotgun” in a two-seat NASCAR style stock car driven by one of their professional drivers. It is a three lap qualifying run and you will experience speeds up to 165 MPH. The ride-along program is offered at over 20 locations around the country.

For the more adventurous NASCAR or fast driving enthusiasts they offer the Driving Experiences where you take command of the wheel and experience the thrill of racing first hand. You have to be able to drive a car with a manual transmission in order to participate in one of these programs, and there are several “driving experiences” to choose from.

There is the Rookie Experience in which 16 people take part in a three hour class. There is the King’s Experience with eight people in a three hour class, and in the Experience of a Lifetime you are in a class with only five people. In the Racing Experience there are only 12 people in a full day class.

So what’s it like to take part in this? Well, you start off by getting into a special driving suit and helmet. You watch a video and then enter a van that takes you out on the track so that you can learn about the track signage. Someone on the tower gives hand signals. In the King’s Experience you drive eight laps and then go off the track to get a review of what you need to correct or change. This review takes place in the car and then you go out again for ten laps.

While driving on the course you follow a Pace Car. The pace car let you know about the turns, banking straight stretches of the course, and the pace car drives as fast as you can follow. It is not uncommon for the fastest driver in a class to reach speeds of over 120 MPH.

If this sounds like fun to you, and for many people it is definitely the “Experience of a Lifetime” then check this out. It will be a thrill, but not a cheap thrill. For example the Rookie Experience around $450 while a ride along experience starts at around $60.

You have to book your “experience” in advance and it is best to call 1-800-BE-PETTY to get complete details about the Richard Petty Driving Experience

About the Author

Mark Whichard is a frequent writer on Orlando area tourism. He is the proprietor of Orlando’s Finest vacation homes (http://www.orlandosfinest.com) and you can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Homes by visiting his website

King Richard Petty last lap

A.J. FOYT JEFF GORDON RICHARD PETTY DALE EARNHARDT BOBBY ALLISON TIM RICHMOND $40,000.00

RICHARD PETTY – BOOK SIGNED $4,999.00

RICHARD PETTY KING RICHARD TREASURES MATTED AND FRAMED # 6 OF 10 ARTIST PROOF $5,000.00

RICHARD PETTY NASCAR WINSTON CUP ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING $4,000.00

RICHARD PETTY BELL 1992 HELMET #27 OF 250 $3,000.00

AUTOGRAPHED DALE EARNHARDT LEE & RICHARD PETTY DAVID PEARSON HERB THOMAS JUNIOR $2,999.00

Dale Earnhardt Richard Petty 1998 SP Authentic Autographs PSA 10 Gem Mint 1/1! $2,499.99

Richard Petty Blue 1964 Belvedere Original Art Painting $2,000.00

2010 five star Richard Petty ” Jesus ” prime patch AUTO 1/1 $1,999.99

1992 Richard Petty Fan Appreciation Tour COMPLETE PIN SET+AUTOGRAPH-VERY RARE!!! $1,000.00

Richard Petty signed blanket CHRISTMAS GIFT $1,000.00

STERLING 10K GOLD RICHARD PETTY LARGE BELT BUCKLE $995.00

Richard Petty / Petty Enterprises / STP HELMET $995.00

J30 Dale Earnhardt & Richard Petty Traks Autograph Series Signed With COA! $899.99

Richard Petty Signed F/S OPEN FACE Simpson Helmet PSA $674.99

Richard Petty SIGNED Bell F/S Helmet + HOF 2010 *RARE* PSA/DNA AUTOGRAPHED $660.00

Richard Petty David Pearson Signed 11×14 Photo PSA/DNA $624.99

Dale Earnhardt Sr & Richard Petty Signed Framed Photo 2 $579.99

Dale Earnhardt Sr & Richard Petty Signed Framed Photo 3 $579.99

Signed Richard Petty Elliot Sadler & Crew NASCAR Metal Panel Used Best Buy $545.00

Richard Petty & Sam Bass AUTOGRAPHED “Royal Finish” A/P, Framed & Matted,MINT! $500.00

RICHARD PETTY SIGNED BLACK FULLSIZE RACING HELMET PROOF COA RARE $499.99

Autographed Richard Petty photograph framed, with COA $499.00

Dale Earnhardt Sr Richard Petty Autographed Card Watch $499.95

#43 Richard Petty 1967 Plymouth Belvedere Franklin Mint Diecast Nascar $499.99

Richard Petty 50th Anniversary AUTOGRAPHED Cars and Custom Display Case $500.00

Dale Earnhardt Sr & Richard Petty Signed Framed Photo $479.99

Richard Petty Franklin Mint 1:43 Scale Racing Hauler $400.00

RICHARD PETTY HAND SIGNED 8X10 FRAMED DISPLAY ~PSA DNA~ $400.00

2004 NASCAR RICHARD PETTY PLATINUM #43 TRIBUTE 200TH WIN ANNIVERSARY AUTOGRAPHED $400.00

FRANKLIN MINT RICHARD PETTY CLEAR DIE-CAST RACE CAR $375.00

Dale Earnhardt Sr. & Richard Petty SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED Photo ~ CUSTOM FRAMED $399.99

Lot of Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Die Cast Collectibles $400.00

One Of A Kind Autograph Richard Petty Nascar $400.00

DALE EARNHARDT / RICHARD PETTY 1992 AUTO. BGS MINT 8-9 $399.00

Richard Petty Framed Signed Liscense Plate PSA COA $350.00

RICHARD PETTY AUTOGRAPHED #43 NASCAR BUMPER!!! $300.00

Richard Petty Collectible Car set of 4 $375.00

ACTION 2003 CHEERIOS -DUAL AUTOGRAPHED BY RICHARD PETTY & JOHN ANDRETTI !! $359.95

RICHARD PETTY AUTO MARIO ANDRETTI AUTO 2010 SHOWCASE QUAD AUTO DAYTONA WINNERS $349.99

THE KING RICHARD PETTY’S CORNING WRAP AROUND SUN GLASSES BY STP FROM THE 70′S $350.00

Richard Petty’s 1964 Belvedere Autographed Collectible 1:24 Diecast / LAST ONE! $349.99

LOT OF 29 HAND SIGNED RACING PHOTOS RICHARD PETTY+STIRLING MOSS+ANDRETTI $325.00

Franklin Mint #43 Richard Petty 1970 Superbird “Signed” By The King,With Hangtag $299.95

Richard Petty & David Pearson DUAL SIGNED 11×14 Photo PSA/DNA 1976 Daytona 500 $315.00

Four Richard Petty Franklin Mint Cars 1:24 $300.00

1984 Limited Edition COA Autograph RICHARD PETTY Pontiac 200th Win FRANKLIN MINT $295.00

#43 Richard Petty 1974 Dodge Charger White Gold NHOF Hall of Honor Die-Cast $300.00

2008 Richard Petty STP Signed 1/24 Diecast Car PSA Lmt $299.99

RICHARD PETTY SIGNED – JEANNE BARNES “START TO FINISH” NASCAR LIMITED ED. PRINT $299.95

Dale Earnhardt Sr, Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte, Bobby Labonte $275.00

AUTOGRAPHED RICHARD PETTY Legends Magazine $275.00

New Cal Ripken Jr. Richard Petty SIGNED Framed 16×20 $265.05

ATLANTA 500 1960 NASCAR PROGRAM 1ST YEAR RICHARD PETTY $274.99

SAM BASS ARTIST PROOF “7 & 7″ DALE EARNHARDT & RICHARD PETTY FRAMED PRINT $275.00

“WINGED WARRIORS” D.McCRARY 1983 #57/500 Richard Petty Superbird, Dodge Daytona $249.95

RICHARD PETTY 2011 PRESS PASS LEGENDS MOTORSPORTS MASTERS AUTOGRAPH SER#1/1 $259.95

RICHARD PETTY 1970 PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD FRANKLIN MINT 1/24 COA NAMEPLATE COMPLETE $249.00

RICHARD PETTY ’70 SUPERBIRD FRANKLIN MINT 1/24 COMPLETE $249.00

THE CARS OF THE KING RICHARD PETTY, BONGARD & COULTER, NEW NASCAR BOOK $250 $250.00

Rival Crock Pot Richard Petty #43 Nascar Slow Cooker & Bonus Bag …

Nascar Richard Petty #43 / Garfield The Kings Tote Bag 16 x 16 Tapestry $25.00 Tote bag for groceries, clothes and more…

Richard Petty 2010 Hall of Fame Ceramic Mug in Gift Box White 15 oz. Ceramic Mug with a full color sublimation printed with a large C shaped handle. The image is a full wraparound, and the mug is microwave and dishwasher safe….

Live Aid (4 Disc Set) $24.99 Billed as “the day music changed history,” the Live Aid concerts of July 13, 1985, were held to raise money to fight the horrifying famines sweeping Africa. The brainchild of Bob Geldof and representing the efforts of countless musicians and technicians, Live Aid was a genuine and inspiring effort to help the victims of an overwhelming calamity. Twenty years after the twin concerts (one in London,…

Free Willy (Snap Case) $2.88 Moving family drama about a troubled 12-year-old boy who gets a job at an adventure park, where he befriends the star attraction, a 7,000-pound killer whale named Willy. When the boy realizes Willy is miserable in captivity, he plans a way to release him to the ocean. Jason James Richter, Michael Madsen and Lori Petty star. 111 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Sp…

Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute $7.36 Like 1999′s tribute to Gram Parsons, Return of the Grievous Angel, this successful collection revives the tired “tribute” concept and applies it in homage to a key figure in country music. Interpreting songs from across Hank Williams’s short and troubled career, a range of high-profile artists use different approaches with equally gratifying results. Tom Petty, Sheryl Crow, and Hank Williams III p…

Cadillac Man [VHS] $1.74 Robin Williams is in his edgily desperate mode as a Queens car salesman whose life is in turmoil. He’s fooling around with someone else’s wife, his marriage is on the rocks, and he has to sell 12 cars in 12 days or he will lose his job. He’s so desperate that he even tries to pitch a sale to a widow at a funeral. As if he didn’t have enough problems, the crazed husband (Tim Robbins) of one of his …

Free Willy [VHS] $1.79 Some of us will never understand why this boy-and-his-whale tale became the hit family film of 1993 and one of the bestselling videos of all time. But it is easy to see how clever marketing and a tear-jerking story could touch the hearts of kids and parents the world over, especially because the endangered Orca whale named Willy is such a majestic creature. The story couldn’t be more conventional-…

Clutch Performers (Reinforced Hardcover) $27.77 Profiles ten athletes that turned defeat into victory, including Richard Petty, Mark Messier, and Derek Jeter.