While browsing the internets one day I ended up finding myself on a message board discussing an upcoming event in Goliad, Texas called the Texas Mile. I had never heard of this before so I looked it up and what I found peaked my interest beyond belief. Twice a year cars could go and drive flat out down a runway at an old airport less than 200 miles away from where I lived. Needless to say, the situation quickly escalated from wanting to do it to actually deciding to attend the next event to see what it was all about. A friend and I journeyed down in March of 2011 to scope it out and get a feel for what it actually was.

When we arrived we parked ourselves near the one-mile mark and watched in awe as cars and bikes travelling as fast as 230MPH zipped by us less than a few hundred yards away. The sounds of the motors and sheer awesomeness of it pushed me over the edge and I became determined to partake in the next event. As soon as I returned home I looked up when and where I could sign up for the next run. I subscribed to the Texas Mile Mailing List and as soon as I received the email announcing open registration, I logged on and completed my entry for the May 2011 event.

Unfortunately the owners of the old airfield in Goliad (The US Navy) decided to reclaim their property for use so the Texas Mile was forced to relocate to Chase Airfield in Beeville, Texas. Although the airfield was larger and the cool down section was longer, the airstrip was not nearly as smooth nor as easily accessible as the one that had been used in the years prior. Regardless, it was something that I had to do so I prepared for the trip to Beeville and grew increasingly excited as the date grew nearer. To pass through tech I had to install a fire extinguisher in my car and purchase a racing suit and helmet. My tires and car already met the appropriate safety requirements for my anticipated speed so I was all set a few weeks before raceday.

I drove down early in the morning on Saturday, May 28th, and arrived just in time to attend the morning driver’s meeting. After the driver’s meeting all the cars completed a run down on the course and then we returned to our respective pits. Immediately after stopping by my pit area, I got in line, anxious for my first opportunity to blast down the airstrip at wide open throttle. After what seemed like the longest two hours of my life I was lined up, waiting for the all-clear signal from the race director.

Moments later he pointed at me and then he pointed down the runway, giving me the go ahead to live out one of the greatest automotive dreams of all-time. I ran the revs in to the upper range, released the clutch, and began blasting down the runway as though I were an astronaut heading out to space. By the halfway point I was running nearly 120MPH which may not seem like much to most land speed racers, but in a car that weighs under 2000lbs against a 30MPH headwind, I was flying. With every gust of wind I was pushed from side to side while my need for speed beatdown any instinct to let off the throttle early. By the end of the run I was going nearly 130MPH and skirting the edge of losing control at any moment. I blew through the final time traps and began to decelerate as I made my way back to the pit area. I had done it and by the end of the day, I had made nearly twenty passes in total. Without a doubt I would say that this was one of the best days I have ever spent behind the wheel of car!