A place where hoons race the cops legally

Ever wondered if your Subaru WRX could outgun a Highway patrol car? Well now there is a way to find out without losing your licence.

The new Toyota Supra drifts through a tight corner, its Michelin tyres screeching and its inline six-cylinder howling. Then a uniformed NSW highway patrol officer steps out of his car and motions for me to stop. Busted.

But senior constable Jared Richardson isn’t here to rip up my licence or write tickets. Instead, he asks to climb aboard and go for a sideways ride around the Sydney Motorsport Park skidpan.

The NSW Police Force’s Honda Civic Type R made an appearance at Beat the Blue. Photo: Chequered Flag Photography

Obliging him presents odd circumstances for both of us but there are plenty of laughs as the turbocharged Toyota goes through a couple of months’ tyre life in as many minutes.

Hours later, we line up on opposite sides of Driving Solutions’ skidpan in front of thousands of spectators when enthusiasts are invited to “Beat the Blue” in a demonstration of driving skill.

Intended to foster better relationships between police and the public, Beat the Blue is the brainchild of fellow senior constable Steven Planinic. Both policemen are well into cars — Richardson had a Supra before buying Subaru WRXs, and Planinic recently traded his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo for a second-hand Porsche — and on this Saturday, dozens more officers volunteer their time.

Toyota Supra at Beat the Blue. Photo: Chequered Flag Photography

Car lovers turn up with an eclectic selection of European exotics, hard-tuned Japanese machines, Aussie classics and rare metal such as the latest Honda NSX.

Our track is a loop of traffic cones on an expanse of wet concrete normally used for driver training. In an event pitched as a rare chance for the public to match skills with the police, drivers complete two laps at the same time as the boys and girls in blue, with honours to the first to cross the finish line.

Beat the Blue gives the public a chance to race the police. Photo: Chequered Flag Photography

Highway patrol commander Michael Corboy says “we think our highway patrol drivers are some of the best in the world” and he is adamant “this is not a race, this is a skills test”.

Amateur racer Brad Heasman regards it differently. “There’s such animosity between car guys and highway patrol,” he says, but he sees the virtue in both groups meeting this way.

“Who doesn’t want to race cops?” he says.

Organisers estimate 5000 people watch the free spectacle. Those paying to enter the skidpan challenge and car show — it’s a sellout — raise $30,000 for the Police Legacy charity for families of officers killed on duty.

The Supra is the centre of attention as we line up for the challenge. — hundreds of cameras, a TV crew and powerful spotlights focus on the red coupe, the first of its kind in the state.

All-wheel drive weapons such as Audi’s RS4 prove fastest on the night but the Supra feels like a crowd favourite.

Hundreds of enthusiasts brought their cars to Beat the Blue

A promotional Honda Civic Type R performance car used for police “community engagement” is quickest of the patrol cars in pre-event tests, outgunning the dated Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo, plus the latest BMW 530d and Chrysler 300 SRT cruisers.

Richardson sticks with his daily drive for our demonstration run — the last of the Aussie V8 interceptors, Holden’s 6.2-litre Commodore SS.

Then it’s show time.

Scrambling for traction off the line, the Supra builds pace before dipping its nose for the tight right-left chicane leading into a sweeping right hand bend.

Balancing the desire to entertain spectators against the need to avoid a humiliating spin, I wrestle with the tail-happy coupe but cross in second place.

The Toyota Supra was no match for a V8 powered Holden Commodore at Beat the Blue. Photo: Chequered Flag Photography

Richardson is gracious in victory. “It’s great to see everyone having a cheer and a laugh,” he says. “I really hope that this event continues on for years to come and prevents people from doing silly things on the street.”

Police justify their participation by reinforcing road safety messages and many drivers learn an important lesson.

Officers make full use of their cars’ traction and stability control set-up — but many enthusiasts deactivate driver aids in a bid to go faster or show off. The highway patrol “wins” more than two thirds of the “races” as opponents skid and spin out.

I can’t claim bragging rights but being able to let off steam drifting in controlled conditions means I won’t be tempted to drive the Supra inappropriately on public roads.

Call it another win for the blues.