Television personality and AZfoothills.com columnist Nadine Toren is scouring the area, finding savvy Valley features, bringing readers “on the scene.” Every day she’ll introduce you to celebrities, athletes, and give you an inside look into local events and hot spots. She'll touch on topical issues, and keep AZ fans posted on all the big talkers around town.
Just last week, my life was in “McGov’s” hands.
That’s right; the racing instructor took me for a spin on the Bondurant course, giving me a ride I’ll never forget.
My dress and heels didn’t quite go with my racing helmet, arriving at the track straight from reporting the traffic for the CBS-5 Morning News--go figure, a traffic reporter with a need for speed. Nevertheless, my mismatched outfit was no excuse for the man many refer to as McGov.
A fabulous family of Corvettes sparkled in the Chandler sun, as McGov led me to his car of choice: a bright yellow ZO6 Corvette, which he later mentioned, was one of the fastest cards he’s ever driven.
I was kindly told to get in, strap on my seatbelt, and hold on—so I did.
We started out swerving around on the practice course, in and out of orange cones, slamming on the breaks—wheels screeching as we made sharp turns. After our little warm-up, we hit the track—and boy, was that a rush. Good thing I played passenger, because I could savor the speed exceeding 110 miles an hour. Lucky for me, I felt safe and sound with my new friend McGov, racecar driver extraordinaire.
“Once it’s in your blood, it’s there forever,” said Mike (“McGov”) McGovern, Bondurant’s Chief Instructor.
Speed races through Mike McGovern’s blood every day he goes to work at Bondurant. (www.bondurant.com)
Just off I-10, you’ll find the school of high performance driving—basically a place where thrill seekers can experience what it’s like to be Jimmie Johnson, or for daring darlings, Danica Patrick.
You’ll pick up savvy skills from McGovern, the Chief Instructor who joined the Bondurant team more than 25 years ago.
“It’s the environment, it’s the cars, it’s the excitement about the whole thing,” said McGovern.
