Joe and Jamie's Blog

I finally got to cash in my birthday present on Monday. My parents purchased a 20 Mile Super Speedway Program, part of the Stock Car Racing Experience at Pocono Raceway. This program allows me to drive a 600hp stock car around the 2.5 mile Super Speedway for 8 laps, reaching speeds over 160MPH.

When my father booked it he got a free 3-lap ride-along for free, so we gave that to Jamie. She got to ride in a car with an instructor who went around 170MPH for 3 laps. She thought it was awesome and crazy fast. Around the first turn she thought she was going to slam into the wall.

Now I spent around an hour in class watching videos on safety, the track, and how to operate the car. We took a test run in a big van around the track so we could see all the markers we saw on the videos. After getting fitted in the racing fire suit and helmet, I waited my turn to strap in and drive one of those puppies. Well over an hour went by and of course, I was the last person to go. Not fun waiting in 90 degree heat and sun in a fire suit. Anyway, it was absolutely awesome to drive. It’s amazing how much damn power they have. The turns felt sketchy the first few laps, but I got used to them after awhile. I got up to around 8500 RPMs, which is over 160MPH, just amazingly awesome. Needless to say this is probably the best gift I’ve gotten so far, even trumps my first laptop and Xbox.

Click here for more information on the stock car that I drove.
Click here for more information on the driving programs they offer.

Enjoy the videos and pictures from the day.

I’ll be nice and keep his age secret, although I think he wouldn’t mind, it’s my mother that would kill me!

This past Saturday was my father’s birthday. Typically Father’s Day and his birthday fall on the same weekend, but since Father’s Day was a week early this year we had to celebrate them separately. It’s not so bad, just more cake and ice cream for everyone.

His major gift was the NASCAR tickets given to him on Father’s Day (it all stems from the days typically being together), so we had to just get him a little something to open with cake. He likes cigars and the lottery so it was one stop shopping to Smokes-4-Less over by Marist College. I like that Smokes-4-Less best because it is bigger than all the rest and has a walk in humidity controlled cigar area. I picked him up some various styles of the Romeo & Juliet cigar brand that he enjoys along with a bunch of scratch-offs.

We went out to dinner to the newly opened Red Robin on Route 9 near the new CRM building. I have had the pleasure of eating at a Red Robin before so I knew how great the burgers were. We went a little early because that place is still packed with about an hour wait if you go at the “typical” dining time, even though it has been open for a few months now.

Here’s the classic overly decorated Hannigan ice cream cake. I have no clue how it started, but regardless of who’s birthday it is we get an ice cream cake, with or without regular cake as well. It’s a good tradition, I love ice cream cake.

It was so nice out we decided to enjoy the evening outside. We had cake, ice cream and coffee while he opened his gifts. Afterward Jamie and I kicked around the soccer ball till dark.

Once again another busy week, sorry for the late posts.

Happy Father’s Day to all the father’s out there, hope you had a good weekend two weekends ago. I’m just going to quickly post some pictures from father’s day. Jamie and I got my father tickets to see the Nascar race at Pocono Raceway in August. He just recently became a Nascar fan and has never been to a race so we figured it was a great gift. Pocono is in Pennsylvania, about 2.5 hours away from home, so not a bad ride at all for such a major event.

Aren’t the gifts pretty??