Revheads to ‘race’ highway cops at Beat the Blue event
Car enthusiasts and highway cops are taking their rivalry to a racetrack to prove once and for all who has the maddest skills behind the wheel.
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Who doesn’t want to race the cops?
Sydenham-based enthusiast Brad Heasman will be part of about 90 car enthusiasts to test his skills against the best drivers in the NSW police force at Sydney Motorsport Park at Beat the Blue tomorrow.
Mr Heasman will be there with his Nissan GT-R to take on highway patrol officers.
“There’s such animosity between car guys and highway patrol, so I think it’s good for the guys to come and out see people,” he said.
The charity event will see police drivers share a wet skidpan circuit with public drivers keen to prove their driving prowess.
Enthusiasts will bring a range of cars to the event, while police will perform demonstration runs in the new BMW 530d and Chrysler 300 SRT patrol cars, as well as the Australian-made Holden Commodore SS and Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said the event “has created a lot of interest”.
“This is not a race, this is a skills test,” he said.
“We think our highway patrol drivers are some of the best in the world, so we can impart some knowledge to people and it also gives them a chance to see how their skills compare to the highway patrol drivers.”
Assistant Commissioner Corboy said the free event was a way for police to meet the community and discuss high-performance driving.
“We give out 800,000 (infringement) tickets a year (but) we like to show the other side of us,” he said.
“We are willing to help you drive better and to see the side of us that’s encouraging people to drive safely.”
Participants start on opposite sides of a soaked circuit similar to team pursuit cycling race.
Beat the Blue organiser and highway patrol officer Senior Constable Steven Planinic said a wet skidpan will “replicate the worst case scenario for drivers”.
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“It’s not about how fast you can go, it’s about knowing your limits and controlling the car,” he said.
“We spend so much time and thousands of km a day on the road. Why not pass on a bit of knowledge?”
James Stewart, director of event host Driving Solutions, said track-based events give enthusiasts a safe place to experience what their car can do.
“We’ve got to do things like this to get people off the street,” he said.
“It’s about safety, and about bringing police and car enthusiasts together.”
While spectating at the event is free, hundreds of enthusiasts have paid to enter a car show or share the circuit with highway patrol officers, raising $25,000 for Police Legacy.
NSW Police Legacy Chair Gary Merryweather said the money will help care for the families of officers killed in the line of duty.
“It’s good to have these sort of things where people can speak to the coppers and realise they are human,” he said.
“It’s a great community event not only for road safety but highlighting the work police legacy does.”