Friday, March 20, 2009

Tony Bootcamp

AP Photo Ed Reinke

Tony Stewart and NHRA's Tony Schumacher got a taste of Army training yesterday when they took a visit to the U.S. Army's Close Combat Tactical Trainer Facility in Ft. Knox, Ky.

The two Tony's did had a day filled of events and imagine this....Stewart took a liking to a Humvee simulator. He chased members of Schumacher's NHRA team across a simulated desert training center, a chase that included a game of chicken. "We didn't have a head-on collision, which I think was all driver skill there," Stewart said. "I think we got a little tired of stationary objects so we were going for the advanced training."

Schumacher, who was afraid of heights, challenged Stewart to join him at the top of the base's 50-foot rappelling tower. Both drivers had to get properly outfitted with helmets and rope harnesses...which proved to be a little snug. Stewart grimaced while cinching up the rope and couldn't help but laugh when someone suggest he "suck it in." His reply? "I try to do that every day when I get in the car,". I guess it doesn't help much having Burger King as a sponsor this year instead of Subway! Schumacher said the teamwork shown by the soldiers helped him overcome his fear of heights.

Check out the photo gallery here.

No comments: