83-Year-Old Woman Gets Her Lifetime Wish To Drive A Race Car
An 83-year-old woman in Colorado finally got to fulfill her lifelong dream of driving a race car. AARP’s “Wish of a Lifetime” charity made it happen for her at Pikes Peak International Raceway last month. Bobbi Oxford has wanted to do this for 66 years, ever since watching her 17-year-old brother race cars! She was going to do a women-only race called a “Powerpuff Derby”, but rain canceled it and then life, having a family and all the things got in the way.
She thought she’d never get the chance to do it until she heard about the “Wish of a Lifetime”, which is like what Make-A-Wish is for kids. And her buddies from her retirement community were there to cheer her on!
Was it everything she ever hoped for? Yep. “I started slowly to get the feel of the car and ran three laps and pulled over. Then I was ready for more speed. I put the pedal to the metal to see how fast I could go, and I was actually shaking. I think I got it up to about 90. I felt comfortable. I didn’t feel any fear. I wanted this wish, and I felt confident with it. I was nervous but not afraid.
“It was incredible, just wonderful. Nothing will ever top it for me except the births of my sons. I wouldn’t do it again because nothing will top that day—the excitement and the adrenaline.”