Over the weekend, Honda Toronto Indy took over Exhibition Place—a whole three days dedicated to auto festivities and races aplenty! And somewhere in the mix of this professional driving extravaganza, I got to ride hot laps around the track in a full speed race car.

Allow me to elaborate. Wednesday afternoon, I get a forwarded email from Editor-In-Chief Jen McNeely. All she says is, “Any of you interested in sitting in a race car tomorrow afternoon and going high speed around the track??” Um. YES. Like lightning, I respond that I am in.

The next day, I get to the Direct Energy Centre. I’m greeted by a strapping fellow ginger and escorted to the racetrack. You can hear the engines roaring, even from inside an underground tunnel. I reach trackside and meet the Cadillac team. Everyone is just as pumped for my ride as I am, and I imagine the impending race weekend is also keeping everyone in good spirits. Next thing you know, I am wearing an extra-large fire suit, crotch literally reaching my knees. I am then handed a cloth, which I immediately believe should be used to delicately pat down my now-glistening face. Then I’m informed it’s just a white balaclava to be put on my head underneath the helmet. Oops.

A Cadillac race car comes zooming up the track and stops directly in front of the team. With my helmet, balaclava, and enormous fire suit I am guided up to the car where I literally climb through the window. Out of nowhere— hands! Everywhere, or so it seems. There are at least two pairs doing up my harnessing seatbelts. Then I see a clipboard and sign my life away out the window. I’m supposed to wave to the driver if I’m not okay at any point. We don’t exchange names but I feel an instant bond. I have to; my life is literally in his hands.

And we’re off! I hold on to the loops in front of me and we are flying! Exhibition Place was the perfect spot for such a track. Centrally located, the view of the CN Tower and Toronto skyline is unparalleled, especially from a race car. I was told that this type of track comes with twists and turns aplenty. Sometimes, we have to the come to almost a complete stop out of nowhere so as to avoid ricocheting off the track. The course is also narrower, making it harder to pass each other and multiplying the need to utilize the car’s weight to both slow down and propel forward. I remember thinking, “DON”T FORGET TO ASK HOW FAST WE ARE GOING!!!” And then I forgot because it was that overwhelming. I didn’t want to scream and risk distracting my driver, so I just sat there, wide-eyed with my mouth agape.

Two laps later, we slow down. The window opens back up and there are more hands to release me. Head out first, bum sits on the door, legs out last. I’m exhilarated. Everyone asks me how was it, and I just say that perhaps a career change is in order.