Destinations, Featured Partners, Italy, Lamborghini, Ted's Short Reads

I’ve Always Dreamed of Driving a Race Car

May 11, 2012

Generally speaking, I’m afraid to dream.

Letdowns are a letdown for me, so refusing to dream means less disappointment in life. Right or wrong, I feel safer that way. Ironically, my wife is a good dreamer. At 10, she dreamed of marrying her future husband. At 15, she dreamed of being a Landscape Architect.  At 20, she dreamed of taking a year off to travel the world.

Needless to say, non-dreamers benefit immensely by sticking close to dreamers.

If you know me, you probably didn’t know I’ve dreamed of driving a race car. That’s because I didn’t know either. There weren’t any exotic car pics on my bedroom wall growing up. I don’t really know how engines work. I didn’t know a single exotic car model by name before this week.

Last week here in Italy, Lamborghini offered my friend Michael and me the chance to participate in their 2012 Driving Academy. I woke up from a nap in the peaceful city-center of Bologna to the news. Shutup! I thought my wife was pulling my leg.

A few days later, I found myself standing in the pit at a Formula One race track in Imola, Italy.

Without having driven over 80 mph in a car, without having stepped foot in a Lamborghini, without having been on a race track, I was given the keys first to a Gallardo and then to a 2012 Aventador, with 700 horsepower capable of 350 km/h.

I reached 200 km/h on my first lap.

Solo.

Sweat. Screams. Swearwords. Prayer.

Is this something I’ve always wanted? Yes. I realized that sometime in the past, in the deep recesses of my mind, a dream seed had been planted. No one really knew except Bethany, because I don’t entertain most dreams. Nevertheless, it was there.

If the Aventador could talk, it would tell you how scared I was, how I didn’t trust it at first, how I learned to trust it later, and how I finally surrendered to instinct and drove.

It would tell you that I realized my dream in 24 laps on the race track that day.

Sometimes, we don’t know our dreams until they come true.


Thanks for reading our series from Emilia-Romagna: A region of Northern Italy ripe for exploration. And thank you especially to Lamborghini for hosting us at their 2012 Driving Academy. If you’d enjoy coming along for the ride, follow us on Twitter (@twoOregonians), like our Facebook page, and stay tuned for more photos and stories from the racetrack and behind the wheel.


Related Posts:
Farmgrown Lamborghini Legends
An Italian Fairytale: Three Days with Lamborghini

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32 Comments

  • Reply heidi May 11, 2012 at 5:05 am

    loved reading this. especially the bit about how sometimes we don’t know what our dreams are until they come true.

    • Reply Ted ~ twoOregonians May 16, 2012 at 12:30 am

      Thank you Heidi! Makes me wonder what other dreams will come true on this trip

  • Reply Turtle May 11, 2012 at 9:07 am

    Great post! The best dreams are sometimes the ones you never knew you had! :)

  • Reply Heather Espana May 11, 2012 at 9:39 am

    So. Awesome. I keep my Life List as a section of my To Do list on my phone, and it’s funny how frequently I put things on there only after I have done them already. Because I didn’t know it was a dream until I did it. So true!

  • Reply Barb May 11, 2012 at 5:35 pm

    I so happy to see all of the vast experiences the Lord has allowed you to have on this trip! With many more to come, I’m sure!! BTW….YOU have exceeded my wildest dreams and I’m so proud of you..lots of love…

  • Reply Farmgrown Lamborghini Legends - twoOregonians May 12, 2012 at 12:07 am

    […] Post navigation ← Previous Next → […]

  • Reply Angie Away May 12, 2012 at 3:17 am

    Love it, love it, love it! Ted, you might think about changing careers and moving to my neck of the woods. Daytona is always looking for drivers!

    • Reply Ted ~ twoOregonians May 16, 2012 at 12:34 am

      Angie-as freaked out as I was, I don’t think I’d make a very good Daytona driver :/ But it IS addicting

  • Reply Cindy Buck May 12, 2012 at 6:10 am

    Love, Love, Love!!! I’ve so enjoyed every, single experience you two have shared on your trip, but for me THIS ONE stands out far apart from the others!!!!! It’s been so exhilarating to read every word and makes my heart race to see your pictures! For many years growing up and into adulthood I REALLY wanted to drive a race car and feel that rush. I’m thrilled beyond words for you Ted that you’ve gotten to have that experience!!! How AMAZING!!!!!! :) <3

    • Reply Ted ~ twoOregonians May 16, 2012 at 12:35 am

      Thank you Cindy! You have been so supportive of us along every step of our trip. Thank you for sharing in our adventure!

  • Reply [Pict of the week] The Lamborghini experience begins! - BlogVille Emilia Romagna May 13, 2012 at 5:51 am

    […] -@tedrydmark: “I’ve Always Dreamed of Driving a Race Car” […]

  • Reply Teija May 13, 2012 at 7:09 am

    200 on the first lap! It didn’t take you long to trust! What is next for you two? This trip just keeps giving us surprises!

  • Reply Emily May 13, 2012 at 12:36 pm

    So. FUN! What an awesome experience. I had to laugh, imagining you swearing and praying at the same time on that first lap.

    • Reply Ted ~ twoOregonians May 16, 2012 at 12:36 am

      I think the video they made had to be bleeped out a time or two :/

      • Reply twoOregonians May 16, 2012 at 10:20 am

        I think he said something about the “covers”?? ;) Kidding! Miss you, friend!!

  • Reply analizacogonon May 15, 2012 at 12:05 am

    my dream car

  • Reply The fast and the curious: Participants at Lamborghini Academy 2012 - Time Travel Turtle May 15, 2012 at 12:38 am

    […] There were only five drivers at the Lamborghini Academy other than myself and fellow blogger Ted Rydmark – and with those five people, four different continents were […]

  • Reply youssef May 16, 2012 at 7:15 am

    i like it

  • Reply George Alloussi May 16, 2012 at 7:31 am

    I dreamed of the same thing, and I drove an Aventador, but then … I woke up :/
    it was literally a dream :P
    but i still dream about it because it is my dream car…
    i loved this so much, and i wish someday i will be able to see my dreams come true, the ones i know already and that i don’t .

  • Reply Raymond May 16, 2012 at 7:44 am

    Very nice post. I envy you. As one of the commenters mentioned, I also like the “Sometimes, we don’t know our dreams until they come true.” I also like the “I learned to trust it later, and how I finally surrendered to instinct and drove.” This is the physical connection you make with the car and everything just seemed under your complete control. I envy you~

  • Reply kaustubh shety May 16, 2012 at 8:05 am

    dude,i actually felt a lump in my throat!!!!!……respect man…..you have my respect…

  • Reply chandrashekar May 16, 2012 at 8:37 am

    My aim is to drive a sports car of 1000 horse power turbo charged engine Before I die, this dream may not come true, thanks for this opportunity……

  • Reply Katryn May 17, 2012 at 7:53 am

    I was smiling the WHOLE time I read this post. It’s so great to know that you are getting to have such an amazing time in your travels. I can totally imagine what the look on your face was when you were driving. And Bethany, bless you for being willing to be in the passenger seat for this. Love you both!

  • Reply An Italian Fairytale: Three Days with Lamborghini - twoOregonians May 17, 2012 at 2:20 pm

    […] Post navigation ← Previous […]

  • Reply lim eu gene May 17, 2012 at 5:18 pm

    like

  • Reply juan connor morgan ochoa May 24, 2012 at 5:04 pm

    pues que puedo decir algun dia quisiera poder conducir uno soy fanatico de la velocidad y del confort si dios me da licencia es un de mis sueños

  • Reply Kurt Dehut: Travelbrag with a Heart - twoOregonians December 9, 2013 at 7:27 pm

    […] the humblebrag. Ex: I’m terrible at driving my Lamborghini.  [Guilty as charged, […]

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