Powercruise at BIR -
I was just doing 100 mph in a car that was not mine. Twenty minutes earlier I was intentionally sideways at 60 mph, neither of which I was the driver. In a few hours, I will be blinded and consumed by 110° smoke as the Rev Limiter sends the tires in every direction with an epic explosion. The biggest question is why? Curiosity.
Going to Brainerd for the weekend can be a relaxing getaway from the daily grind. Sitting on a beach or in a boat; it’s the serenity and quiet, with the occasional shooing away a mosquito that calms. That was yesterday. Today it just became exhilarating, as that mosquito never saw us approaching at 100mph.
The Brainerd Lakes Area also known as the BLA is the land of lakes, biking trails, hiking trails, boating, and lake-side restaurants. I love my hometown of Brainerd and have experienced the fishing, hunting, restaurants, trails, and most things the area has to offer. However, not being a racer or having a race car and living in a town with an International Raceway—it seems outside of my wheelhouse. So what just happened and who did I just become? I’m hooked from the adrenaline. This will now be a mandatory family date once a year, as even my wife gets excited to plan her summer schedule to attend.
I paid five dollars. After the initial entry fee, I could buy a passenger wristband with that five-dollar bill and seal memories for a lifetime, with this event called Powercruise. I didn’t even know what it was until someone told me. My first time there made me wonder if this was even legal. It defied everything I had been taught about driving and yet I found myself consumed with exhilaration, with a heartbeat to match. The last time I felt this way, I was a fearless teenager in a different century. I’m just an ordinary guy, with a regular life and a regular vehicle. When I drive my vehicle, I’m that defensive driver watching his mirrors and scanning ahead.
To use the term exclusive is an understatement. Born out of Australia in 2003, it made its way to North America in 2011 where it is held (once a year in a single location)… Brainerd International Raceway, in Brainerd Minnesota. Its purpose? To scratch the itch of waiting for the stoplight to turn green and maybe see if your daily driver could pull ahead of the person right beside you. The curiosity of everything you wanted to do on the street but was illegal, you get to do here. You could register your own vehicle to drive or be a passenger with a stranger to test the waters and see if you want to register and drive.
You have a buffet of fun and will get your fill. Burnouts, Drag Racing, Cruising Sessions, Drifting, and more. Hard to believe that while this seems extreme, it is very safe, with all safety measures in place. Yes, there is a speed limit for many reasons and it is capped at 100mph(ish). Want to take a break? Go sit in the Grand Stands and watch others or shop the store for merchandise. Excitement burns calories, so you’ll need to fuel up at one of the numerous food vendors that have earned their status as some of the most delicious Concessions the track has experienced. Just listen to the announcements to see what the food of the day could be. This summer, bring the family out to Powercruise one time… then try not to come back. You’ll not only be back but maybe even with your own car.
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