Adrenaline addict Brian Doleshal: Satisfying need for speed at Richard Petty Driving Experience
Las Vegas has many attractions for locals and visitors. The choices are mind-blowing, but for guys there has to be an added element of adventure with a solid mix of thrills, chills and spills thrown in for good measure.
Speed is of the essence when it comes to adrenaline junkies, and nobody knows that better than Brian Doleshal, operations manager at Richard Petty Driving Experience at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He’s a self-confessed adrenaline addict:
I’ve always been addicted to adrenaline, from jumping out of a plane to shooting fully automatic weapons all the way back to high-speed laps on the world-famous Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I can always find a way to get my fix there.
Whether someone wants to be behind the wheel or tag along as a passenger, they’re going to love the programs we offer at LVMS. We have everything from NASCAR racing and riding to an Indy Car experience and off-road Road Runner adventure.
We also launched our American Muscle Car Challenge where you can drive in the most iconic muscle cars at up to 140 mph on LVMS. We have three exclusive models for drivers: a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Shelby Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger Hellcat.
Our muscle cars are top of the line and designed for sports racing. The 580-hp Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 can take drivers from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. Our Shelby Ford Mustang has a supercharged V-8 engine, giving it a little over 660 hp.
Last, but definitely not least, is our Dodge Challenger Hellcat. Of the three, this one has the most powerful engine with over 700 hp. In just 3.5 seconds, drivers will already have hit 60 mph.
If you’re a car enthusiast like me, I recommend driving all three models and comparing how they handle LVMS. Each experience allows you to drive one of our muscle cars around the track for five laps, that way you receive 15 total laps of exhilarating racing.
Considering that LVMS is 1.5 miles long, our drivers get some quality time with these muscle cars. However, you can just drive one of our muscle cars and have a blast doing only that.
All of our racing cars are fitted with the necessary safety equipment to ensure that everyone is protected during the experience. We also have all of our drivers go through a driving instruction lesson, as well as a mechanical and safety course.
They’ll learn about acceleration/deceleration points, shifting patterns and safety devices in the vehicle. Drivers also follow directly behind an experienced instructor in a point car in a lead/follow format during the AMCC.
When they complete their session, we give drivers a detailed lap-time sheet. This allows them to compare their driving statistics for each model they drove. Then, when they return (because they always do), they can try to get closer to meeting the top goal speed.
For those driving all three models, our instructors will give them feedback after every session so that they can use those tips to increase their speed in the next muscle car.
After completing the challenge, our drivers can take home a souvenir. We have a lot of options, but most of our guests like to get a photo plaque or the in-car video that shows their driving experience.
If you haven’t ever experienced driving on a racetrack, I advise you to check out the AMCC. It will be one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life! Without a doubt, you’ll quickly become an adrenaline junkie just like me.
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Check out our Red Carpet Report today brimful of gold medal stories and film news of a heroic boxing champion. Be sure to also read our other guest columnist today, actress Natalie Gallo of JERSEY BOYS at Paris Las Vegas, as the show nears the end of its eight-year run Sept. 18.
On Thursday, we’ll meet up with rising hometown country singer Sierra Black and producer Seth Yudof, who has provocative thoughts about the once-upon-a-time hotbed of new music in Las Vegas and if it can ever launch new artists again.
