For those of you who have never heard of the Red Bull Air Race, it is essentially NASCAR on steroids. Single propeller planes fly up to 230 mph 60 feet off the ground through a course made of giant inflated towers. They have to go vertical in between some towers, horizontal through others, and if their plane touches the towers in the slightest they pop like a balloon and the pilots are docked for time.

Needless to say, it is pretty exciting to watch.

We were lucky enough not only to see the race in San Diego, but also interview the pilots and go up in a plane, resulting in a near blackout and lost lunch.



Watch the video, after the jump.