99-Year-Old Nascar Fan Drives Pace Car At NH Speedway

April 26, 2011 2:06 PM

Rachel Gilbert (photo credit: Jonathan Stallsmith)

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BOSTON (CBS) – A die-hard Nascar fan got to live out her fantasy at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Tuesday.

Rachel Gilbert, who is approaching her 100th birthday, got to take a few laps around the track.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Lana Jones reports.

Gilbert, a Nascar fan since she and her husband went to The Daytona 500 50 years ago, sounded a little bit overwhelmed. She was aiming to hit 100 miles per hour.

“I wish I could have (reached 100 mph), you know, but I went up to 53 or 54,” said Gilbert.

Regardless, she got a crew jersey from her favorite driver, Carl Edwards, who she’ll meet in July when Edwards comes to the track in Loudon, New Hampshire.

“I’m anxious to be here in July now. This is gonna be a thrill for me,” said Gilbert.

Kristen Costa, who coordinated the event, said Gilbert had a lot of fun.

“She hasn’t actually driven in about four or five years” said Costa, who added that Gilbert didn’t even want to get out of the car after she was done.

99 Year Old Nascar Fan Drives Pace Car At NH Speedway

1stackmack

did she hit anything.and blame it on the wrone pedal…or did she get lost on that oval…

jim5454

wrone pedal ? huh

Marco

Not another spelling Nazi?! If you can’t figure out what stackmack is saying then maybe you should back away from the keyboard and spellcheck some 5th grade papers.

Dave

Take a hike dude!

Horsesrunwild

1staackmack…You are an ##@@!!! When you get old….you still think the same way as you did when you were 18…I take care of elderly. They are young people trapped in old people’s bodies…wait you will find out. Once again you are an ##@@!!!
U3

Really?! It’s easier to throw a silly insult on an old woman than to take some back for yourself huh?! Get a life and grow up.

1stackmack

wrong pedal. zat better..

jim5454

you will get old some day
gottowin

What an idiot!
Debbie Shumaker

There are Trolls everywhere!!!!

Beez

The blinker was on the entire time…

Mark Matis

Yeah, but she WAS turning left!

MWW

Good point as long as it wasn’t the right blinker on…

Tom

That was my laugh of the day. Thanks Beez.

Beez

(and any 99 year old capable of doing this would also laugh at that joke…)
MIke

Nice story! Hopefully we all get to live that long and do something cool like that.

dave

I think u must be the only person here with any decency or brains! The rest have to be total losers judging from their comments.
I really enjoyed this until I started reading the comment section. Total morons out today!

Lawton Taylor

I AGREE!

Briko

Did she drive around the track the WRONG way?? Did you hear the race car drivers had a tough time keeping up with her because her gas pedal got “stuck”.
I can’t stand old drivers.
Konehead

Looks like Dale Jr.
Regan

Suprised Kurt Busch didn’t wreck her…
ohiojo1953

Enough with the negativity. I think it’s great that she got to do this. She was in a controlled area with experts, so get over it. We should all be so lucky.
Tim Ward

Great story, we should all be so fortunate! Thanks for an inspiring read!
adm454

Good for her! Most of us will be long gone before we reach our 90′s or getting cleaned up every day in a nursing home.
Biff

Get a brain, morans!

freecheese

What do you expect from NASCAR morons ? Stupid comments. PS: editor. “Nascar” is an acronym, and should be printed as: “NASCAR.”
Clear proof that journalism school has lowered its standards.

Dog

Good for her!!!! Glad she got the opportunity (although I did hear that her turn signal was on the whole time! LOL)
IceHouse

Awesome story – too bad some butt wipes are here trying to make a mockery of it….
justshutupandobey

This story is so cute. Made me laugh. You go girl!
Mysterion

All that matters is that she had fun. At least she’s still young at heart. :D I think it’s pretty neat that a woman that age could do something that awesome!!!
bill mowry

Good for her, I took my 91 year old mother for a ride on my Harley and she loved it.
Panos E

Awesome! My personal goal is to get a speeding ticket when I am 95 doing 95 on I95 and telling the officer this is the speed limit son!

gottowin

thats awesome!

mongo

get r done
grayswindir

Panos E-
My goal is to hit 170 on a litre bike on the I5 when I’m 100. Hopefully it will be a litre bike that I’m using for track days and racing.

Bill Mowry, I’ll ride Harley’s when I get old and slow down- and I hope that day never comes. Ride safe.
IN MEMORY OF MARY JO
Brad

I guess the 90′s are today’s 80′s?
freecheese

“Nascar” is an acronym, so it should be printed ‘NASCAR” Journalist school idiots STILL don’t know anything.
Dale Amundsen

Hey, some of you geezer critics are just missing the point. The track officials obviously are honoring a long-time fan of NASCAR. God bless this old girl for (1) making it through 99 years, (2) still having a dream, (3) being a loyal fan of the sport for so long, and (4) being a good sport.

God bless the track officials for honoring one so loyal. Good move to let other fans know that their loyalty is appreciated.
Zcat

I love it…Good for her, and kudos to nascar!