"So, do you wanna be the bad guy or the good guy?" instructor Greg Ladner asked me as we walked towards an assortment of high-powered vehicles. My eyes centered on a shiny Las Vegas Police Department cruiser. "A good guy, of course," I responded.
Who wouldn't want to rip down the asphalt in an authentic black–and–white, sirens blaring and adrenaline pumping? Add in the fact that I'd be chasing a highly-skilled "bad guy" trying to make his getaway in a pumped-up red sports car, and you've got the makings of the most high-octane attraction since SPEED: The Ride at Sahara's NASCAR Cafe.
Police Chase LV is a brand new experience at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It's the only attraction of its kind in the United States, making it a uniquely Las Vegas experience. Genuine retired police vehicles, prison transport buses and jacked-up getaway cars immerse you in your favorite action movie. This is no sanitized, kid-friendly ride with speed limits and actors. The cops are real and so are the getaway drivers.
The action at Police Chase LV is intense...cop chatter on the radio and blaring sirens remind you that this is no ordinary thrill. You'll be encouraged to punch the pedal to the floor and take those curves as fast as you can! If you visit on the right days, TV's own CHiPs star Erik Estrada will be there to greet you and get you started on becoming a make-believe cop or robber.
If you're worried about safety – and you have every reason to be – rest assured that protecting their participants is the number one priority at Police Chase LV (having a blast is a close second). You'll be required to attend a thorough seminar presented by highly trained instructors like Norman "Doc" Halliday. Then Estrada returns via video to provide additional information on the can's and cant's, what to expect on the course and how to maximize both safety and thrills.
Drivers must be at least eighteen years of age with a valid license. You will be required to sign a waiver before participating, and cannot be under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. You'll be under the constant supervision of your professional companion and must abide by their instructions.
There are several different ways to experience Police Chase LV. This writer played the pursuit driver in a police chase, the passenger in an expertly-driven getaway car, then moved onto the ultimate option: Pursuit Intervention Techniques (PIT). In PIT maneuvers, police cruisers skillfully collide with a fleeing car, forcing it to spin, lose control and stop. Is your heart pumping yet?
If you'd like, you can rent out the entire track for an hour. That means unlimited thrills, chases and combinations of set-ups for you and your friends. Want to see what happens when you're "caught"? Hop aboard the Prison Transport buses and hope that your judge shows mercy at sentencing time. Other services include defensive driving, protective services training and Reality Based Training (RBT).
The team at Police Chase LV are the very best available. Driving Officers are currently active or retired from the actual police force. Gentlemen like Mike Willis, Gregory Ladner, Bruce Parkin and hotshot driver Tony Acevedo know how to give their vehicles a real workout. Fortunately, Director of Safety Carl Sheppard is their Chief Mechanic, too. His job is as massive as the fleet he maintains.
So when you think you've seen and done everything that Sin City has to offer, head out to Police Chase LV and put yourself in the driver's seat. Nothing else can compare.
Police Chase Las Vegas is located at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, twelve miles north of Downtown Las Vegas. The attraction operates daily, weather permitting. Visit www.PoliceChaseLV.com for more information or to schedule your experience.
|