Every so often we are blessed with an invitation from the Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area to attend a local event where they are providing Make-A-Wish Families the opportunity of a lifetime . . . .yet again. This year we were invited to the Sonoma County Raceway for a day of fun and special treatment at the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals.
We had no idea what to expect upon arrival even though the race way is 20 minutes from our house. My husband and I had never been to a drag race before, so we were absolutely astonished to turn the corner of sonoma raceway and see the flood of cars, mobile homes, and buses that were there for the race. This apparently was a HUGE event for Sonoma County and we all were suddenly feeling more anticipation as we winded our way to the parking lot.
We quickly made our way into the raceway and to the Make-A-Wish hospitality pavilion in the NHRA pro pit. This is where we were treated like royalty with a full course meal, all you can drink sodas and water and a personal meet and greet with the driver of Make-A-Wish' funny car, Tommy Johnson Jr. He patiently chatted with us, showered the kids with gifts and talked to us about all the day had to offer. We were truly grateful for his kindness and making the kids feel so special. I've never experienced anything like it and don't think my children will ever forget it.
After lunch the kids each got to pick out out a race shirt provided by Make-A-Wish. They walked around the other car pits, collecting pictures and feeling like royalty. Soon it was time to head to our seats where we were given a 300mph experience like no other. We watched cars race by with over 10,000 horsepower and nitromethane start up. The noise was incredible and it shook your whole body. We actually ended up having to leave the grand stands because the noise was too loud for my 5 year old son who was wearing double ear protection (and it still hurt his ears).
There was still plenty to do as the kids meandered through the kids section of the Sonoma Raceway and collected more drivers pictures. It was a day that can't be relived and that we are truly grateful for experiencing. As always Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area provided us with an unforgettable experience. Feeling blessed for being part of the Make-A-Wish Family.
We had no idea what to expect upon arrival even though the race way is 20 minutes from our house. My husband and I had never been to a drag race before, so we were absolutely astonished to turn the corner of sonoma raceway and see the flood of cars, mobile homes, and buses that were there for the race. This apparently was a HUGE event for Sonoma County and we all were suddenly feeling more anticipation as we winded our way to the parking lot.
We quickly made our way into the raceway and to the Make-A-Wish hospitality pavilion in the NHRA pro pit. This is where we were treated like royalty with a full course meal, all you can drink sodas and water and a personal meet and greet with the driver of Make-A-Wish' funny car, Tommy Johnson Jr. He patiently chatted with us, showered the kids with gifts and talked to us about all the day had to offer. We were truly grateful for his kindness and making the kids feel so special. I've never experienced anything like it and don't think my children will ever forget it.
After lunch the kids each got to pick out out a race shirt provided by Make-A-Wish. They walked around the other car pits, collecting pictures and feeling like royalty. Soon it was time to head to our seats where we were given a 300mph experience like no other. We watched cars race by with over 10,000 horsepower and nitromethane start up. The noise was incredible and it shook your whole body. We actually ended up having to leave the grand stands because the noise was too loud for my 5 year old son who was wearing double ear protection (and it still hurt his ears).
There was still plenty to do as the kids meandered through the kids section of the Sonoma Raceway and collected more drivers pictures. It was a day that can't be relived and that we are truly grateful for experiencing. As always Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area provided us with an unforgettable experience. Feeling blessed for being part of the Make-A-Wish Family.
Written by,
Kari Peepe
©KariPeepe/atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com
http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com
pspdaware@gmail.com
Written by,
Kari Peepe
©KariPeepe/atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com
http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com
pspdaware@gmail.com
For more on our Make-A-Wish trip and lasting impression please check out:
- Make-A-Wish Part 1-Make-A-Wish is going to grant Scarlett 1 wish: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/01/scarlett-makes-wish-part-1.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 2-It's Official: WE are going to Florida: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/02/scarlett-makes-wish-part-2.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 3-Wish Reveal Party:http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/03/scarletts-make-wish-reveal-party.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 4- Dear MakeA-Wish and GKTW: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-most-amazing-thing-i-could-never.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 5-Give Kids the World, GO to your happy place: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/04/go-to-your-happy-place-give-kids-world.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 6- A lasting Impression: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-lasting-impression.html
- Scarlett's story on Make-A-Wish, SF Bay Area: http://sf.wish.org/wishes/wish-stories/copy-of-i-wish-to-go/scarlett-disney-world
- Here's the piece I wrote for Give Kids the World: http://www.gktw.org/blog/our-happy-place/
For more on our Make-A-Wish trip and lasting impression please check out:
- Make-A-Wish Part 1-Make-A-Wish is going to grant Scarlett 1 wish: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/01/scarlett-makes-wish-part-1.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 2-It's Official: WE are going to Florida: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/02/scarlett-makes-wish-part-2.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 3-Wish Reveal Party:http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/03/scarletts-make-wish-reveal-party.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 4- Dear MakeA-Wish and GKTW: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-most-amazing-thing-i-could-never.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 5-Give Kids the World, GO to your happy place: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/04/go-to-your-happy-place-give-kids-world.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 6- A lasting Impression: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-lasting-impression.html
- Scarlett's story on Make-A-Wish, SF Bay Area: http://sf.wish.org/wishes/wish-stories/copy-of-i-wish-to-go/scarlett-disney-world
- Here's the piece I wrote for Give Kids the World: http://www.gktw.org/blog/our-happy-place/
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