Fast ride

"You mean I get to drive one?" I asked. "Seriously?"

Michelle Siderius, co-owner of Montana Raceway Park, called me a couple of weeks ago and said that the track was open for a media day, and any of us wannabes could come take a few hot laps in a Legend.

Now because I drive a Dodge Neon, I'm used to high-performance vehicles, but the thought of flying around a short track in a car with a roll cage that I didn't have to pay for really had me excited.

So last Wednesday I made my way to the track with one eye on the road and another on the ever-darkening sky above. As long as the weather held, the event was good to go.

Our hosts at MRP had a tent set up with food, information about the park and a couple of Legends parked nearby. A local driver had been cruising around the track to warm up the car and the pavement. As he fishtailed out of each corner, the squealing tires got my attention.

I was the first to go, and I actually got a little nervous. I've been watching races at MRP since I was a kid, and it looks easy from the grandstands. I mean, how hard could turning left be?

I put on the requisite bright yellow jacket and wore shoes akin to wrestling footwear. Climbing in to a little Legend is a cramped affair. You sit just a few inches off the ground, and your elbows touch each side. The cockpit is Spartan - no speedometer or tachometer, just an ignition button and kill switch.

I got myself seated in John Logan's car after thanking him for his bravery. He was friendly, but I think I sensed some nervousness behind his eyes. Hands snaked their way through the windows and strapped me in.

The instructions about driving were surprisingly brief. The gear shift is on the right side where a door handle would normally be. Push forward once and the car is in first. Then pull back quickly to shift into second through fourth.

"Don't go into the wall," someone suggested.

"I'll try my best," I said. "Other than that, no promises."

A hand reached in and pushed the ignition button and the car roared to life.

The throw on the clutch is quite long, but only the first couple of inches are needed to shift. I spent a couple of seconds revving the car without moving. I'm sure I looked completely stupid.

Finally, after a few herky-jerky movements, I had the car rolling toward the on-ramp.

"Putt around for a couple laps while you get the hang of it, then go as fast as you are comfortable," someone shouted.

"Awesome," I thought. "I just got consent to speed."

Visibility on the track is much more limited than I imagined. The helmet cut down on my peripheral vision, and I was at eye level with the hood.

I took the first half lap in second gear, then shifted into third. After two laps of playing it safe, I was ready to make some people nervous.

I threw the car into fourth and floored it. I was pushed back into my seat as the car took off under me. As I approached the first turn at my higher speeds, I came in high and swooped down to the bottom of the banked oval. I let my speed bleed off until I could see the next straightaway in the corner of my eye.

I punched it again. The crowd standing by the fence was just a quick blur. The car handled well and taking banked curves is less difficult than it may look. But I was just one car. I can't imagine running at 80 mph surrounded by cars, floodlights and packed grandstands.

After twelve laps or so, I slowed down and made my way to the off ramp. Others were waiting for their turn, and I'd had my fix.

While there were no official results, I'm pretty sure I crushed the competition. Michael Laurino from Flathead Living was pretty fast as well, but I think I could take him.

No matter who had the heaviest foot, all of us had a blast. The Legends will be in action on Saturday night for the 5th Annual Legend Thunder, and I'll be there.

So if anybody needs a driver, you know where to find me.