Gallery: 85-Year-Old Grandma Takes a Spin Round the Racetrack

While most seniors might choose a quiet birthday spent with friends and family, Lillian Hoipkemeier wanted something a bit more adventurous.

To celebrate her 85th birthday, the Rohnert Park resident and great-grandmother asked to head-to-head against family in drag race around the track at .

Luckily several members of Hoipkemeir's family—including her sons-in-law Dog and Gary Love and three grandsons—are racing regulars, several participating at Infineon's popular , which offer the opportunity for amateurs to test-out their speed-driving skills.

Surrounded by friends and family, with son Gary at her side, Lillian sped round the track in her 2003 Ford Focus station wagon, reaching speeds of 77 mph.

Too much danger for the grandmother of five? Not so.

“It was awesome,” she told the Press Democrat. 

Thanks to Jennifer Imbimbo at Infineon Raceway for sending in these shots.