elizabethanytv: the scariest moment of my life with vw's rallycross team

Volkswagen and me: We go together pretty well. I grew up on them, I raced them, and then I bought my dream one a year ago. My friend Patrick knew this about me, and since he works at VW, he gave me some pretty awesome opportunities.

Some of them were with the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross racers champs, Tanner Foust and Scott Speed. It's actually a pretty big deal [which I found out once I started telling some friends and they were unexpectedly excited for me]. I was just excited to play some Minute to Win It games and talk ish to some racers.

A dozen oranges, a box of cookies, a cheating attempt, and a very messy face later- we got the ultimate loser.


Yeah I got real comfortable with the guys real quick, which made it fun. Plus- they're both hella fun which made it easy.

...but I'm embarrassed that I can't even try and cheat [during the cups game] and win. Idiot Elizabethany.

The day after filming this, they invited me to do a HOT lap with Tanner Foust, which promptly made my dad and a lot of my Snapchatters very jealous. I was pumped to go around the track twice in this car that drifts and goes over jumps. Fear wasn't really a factor; I knew I'd be safe. I mean, they strapped and buckled my helmet to the back of the seat and everything.

Then, we took off. We hit 130 mph as we went straight for a sharp turn.

I. WAS. F#@%ING TERRIFIED. I tried to open my eyes. I tried to laugh off the terror. I tried to hold on, but there was nothing to grab. I accepted the fact that at least if we flip and crash, I'll be totally safe in here.

Luckily, they caught it on video. Be sure to catch the moments of my eyes being ALL THE WAY OPEN.



Seriously, it was the scariest and coolest thing I think I've ever done... and I'd like to think I try a lot.

When I went to the race, I took my very excited dad. I don't think I've ever seen him walk with such a pep in his step, and he's definitely never brought up getting a picture with someone like he did Tanner and Scott.

We were able to watch some of the other rounds with the guys, which was super neat to see the comments they had to say to each other, and celebrated as Scott took 1st and Tanner slid in front to get 3rd in the finals! WOO! Papa Plog did point out that I appeared to have PTSD, though. As the cars raced around, I was feeling some intense emotions and flashbacks to the ride!

Now I will watch who I throw out my "former racer" credentials to, though.....

love,

elizabethany

PS here's a good look at the whole race event at RFK! 

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photo diary: race day at bug out 75

For me, Memorial and Labor Day are not complete until I've spent a day at the racetrack. Unfortunately I haven't been able to make it to the Bug Out in a year or so, but I was finally able to make it out to the new track/location over the weekend! 

The Bug Out is one of the biggest Volkswagen events on the East Coast. It's full of pretty cars and trashy people coming together in a beautiful way. My bro got to have the car for the drag races, so I played photographer for a while.

That's my pops in his homemade car. 

Here's Mikey winning! [He made it to the semifinals!]

Then here he is losing by red lighting. [Haha, sucka... I've won and you haven't! #givemethecar]

But most important thing I realized while playing photog- he never, ever looks at the road in front of him. Luckily it's a straight track, I guess... but his competitors should probably start worrying a little more. 

BTW [classy, nice, fun, and worthy] ladies, he's multitalented. 

The race used to go down in Manassas. I went to probably 40 races there... so now that it's in bum-eff southern Virginia, it was hard to get used to... but even a hard-headed girl has to admit when the track is beautiful. I might have to take out my brothers legs come September so I can race. Don't tell him that, though.

I did get to hop in for the slalom, though! It's a little different than it used to be. They set up the most confusing set of cones to weave in and out of throughout a parking lot. I'm gonna let you know right now- I sucked. That heavy ass car with no floor doesn't turn easily. Also, my driver's side door flew open in the middle of it. That was exciting. Racing while reaching out to shut a door.

Just so you know what I mean about the whole "no floor" thing. It's really safe. 

The Ploger racing team normally dominates these races... but we ended up with two engines blown, and three people out of the drags thanks to red lighting. [That means they started to early, for you racing newbs.] It wasn't our best showing for such a milestone race- #75!! We looked cool in the chrome wheel, though.

And if you never saw the video I made last time I got to race, click here duh!

Until next time!

love,
elizabethany

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watch etv: jump behind the wheel with me during my bug out races!

Considering it's been three years since I raced, and I started this blog *almost* four years ago, many people may not know that I used to race a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. FYI- I did it for six years, won a few times, appeared in a couple magazines, and never bragged once..........

Maybe the bragging part is a lie... obviously.

When I moved to Texas, I handed the car over to my brother and he's been the racer ever since. He didn't come home to do it this past weekend because of the weather, so I got another chance! It was Bug Out 72 [the Bug Out is a huge Volkswagen event that I've been going to since I was a toddler], and you better believe I walked into the Speedway like I owned the place, intense soundtrack music playing in my head and everything.

I've never been able to really show people what it's like when I race, but with the help of my cousin's phone dock this past weekend, I can take you in the car with me so you get the full experience!


I'm SO upset the drags were canceled, but at least I still got to be behind the wheel one more time before the floor falls out Mikey takes it over again. It's such a fun and exhilarating thing, and that's not something I get to feel/experience every day. If only I had the money to afford a VW, I'd race every time..

Sugar Daddy......?

love,
elizabethany

PS: Some more info on the "Ploger Racing Team-" We're really well known at the track because not only has my dad been racing for over 25 years, he wins 80% of the time. My uncle also races and does pretty well. All the cars are my dad's, who has rebuilt them many times. His car was built from the ground up, welding the rails together, shaping the sheet metal and everything. My car sat in the woods for at least a decade before he brought it back up, put in a new "floor," engine, and painted it himself. I'm pretty proud to be part of such a cool thing.

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