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 The instructor was 36-year-old Gary Terry, a senior operations
manager at Exotic Driving Experience, the highway patrol said.
Terry, who lived in Davenport a few miles south-west of Orlando,
died at the scene on Sunday.
The driver, Tavon Watson, 24, of Kissimmee, who was taking the ride
as a 24th birthday treat, suffered only minor injuries.
The estimated speed of the crash was 100 mph (160 kph), according to
the highway patrol.
The Exotic Driving Experience attraction is offered by North
Carolina-based Petty Holdings, which markets products licensed under
the name of retired NASCAR stock car racer Richard Petty.
No racing experience is required to drive one of the exotic cars,
which also include Ferraris, Audis, Nissans and Porsches, according
to the attraction's website. Maximum speeds vary depending on the
driver's experience, location and other factors.
A professional driving instructor provides coaching and feedback
from the passenger seat, according to the website.
“There are no pedals or steering wheel (on the instructor’s side of
the car),” said spokeswoman Lauren Swoboda. “There’s a throttle
control.”
The FHP reported both men were wearing lap and seat belts, as well
as helmets, in the Super Leggera Lamborghini.
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"Yesterday we lost a long-time, valued team member of the Exotic
Driving Experience family," the company said in a statement on
Monday.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Gary’s family and friends. He
will be sorely missed," it added.
The company also announced the attraction would remain closed Monday
and Tuesday.
Unrelated to the fatal accident, the Driving Experience, which
opened in January 2012 at the Walt Disney World Speedway, is
scheduled to close on Aug. 9.
(Editing by David Adams, Lisa Lambert and Eric Walsh)
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