It's every race fan's dream, to get the chance to
race with your heroes, to prove yourself against the best, for a few moments to
feel like a driver. Thanks to the organizers of the Monterrey Grand Prix, media
members and fans got the chance to do just that in a go-kart track that was set up
in Fundidora Park.
Mario Dominguez
Everything a fan could want was there, a beautiful
sunny day, 4 top Champ Car drivers, Michel Jourdain, Mario Dominguez, Roberto
Gonzalez and Oriol Servia, pit babes (including the famous Tecate Girls), but most
important 10 go-karts to battle your heroes.
Jorge Lozano, Director of the Monterrey Grand Prix, told me that the main
objective was to give normal average guys a once in a lifetime opportunity.
So instead of making this an event for the sponsors they decided to make this a
fan fest. Local TV sport shows had different contests to select the lucky fans
that would have a chance to race with the Champ Car drivers.
Jose Arrambide (back center) with the Champ Car drivers
The first hour of the event was to give fans a
chance to get an autograph, take a picture or just talk with the drivers.
Then it was time for the main event. First the drivers had an exhibition race.
The 4 drivers got into shifter Karts and raced each other for 20 laps.
After that they got into the karts that are used in
the Rotax Challenge Series, the idea was to have one Champ Car driver and 6 fans
or media members, race together for 10 laps. Some fans got to race Michel,
some got to race Mario, some Roberto and some Oriol, but everyone had the chance
to race with the BIG BOYS.
Getting ready to race
I had the chance to race Mario Dominguez, and
although I have experience driving shifter karts, I was no match for Mario.
Funny thing is that I had never felt so good after being beaten so bad.
It was as Jorge said, a once in a lifetime
opportunity.
After everyone got the chance to race their heroes, Oriol and Mario decided to
settle once and for all who was the best driver. They decided to race each
other.
Posing for photos
They were the only ones on the track. It was
unbelievable to see the love of racing of these 2 men.
They battle wheel-to-wheel for more than 7 laps, no
one giving an inch, until they crashed each other on the main straight. Both
Karts spun out of the track. They both ran to one of the fans with a video
camera to see who was ahead when they crashed.
Jourdain explains go-kart
After 10 minutes of replaying the race, they both
decided to call it a tie.
At the end of the day everyone went home happy, with a story for the
grandchildren.
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