Airmen test their limits at autocross

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ryan Whitney
  • Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFPN) --  Airmen were able to put the pedal to the metal and the rubber to the road at the third annual Nellis Airmen Autocross event held Sept. 29 to 30 on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

More than 1,300 Airmen from Nellis and Creech Air Force bases attended the two-day autocross, which offered three main events, a fighter vs car race, a mile shoot out and a car show.

"We were aiming to double our numbers from the previous autocross event, but the numbers we reached completely blew that goal out of the water," said Lt. Col. Ronald Hanselman, the 549th Combat Training Squadron director of operations and event organizer.

This is the second time an F-16 Fighting Falcon has raced a high-end sports vehicle at the event.

The F-16, the most powerful single engine aircraft in the Air Force arsenal, extended its victory record to 2-0.

Col. Thomas Webster, the 57th Operations Group commander, secured the Air Force's dominance on land by defeating Paul Hesselgesser, the treasurer of the Ferrari Club of Las Vegas, and his Jaguar XJR-15, valued at more $1 million, in a mile-long shootout.

Colonel Webster wasn't the only person who got to test his limits over the weekend.

Airmen were able to enjoy the speed offered by the classic mile shoot out, the precision handling required by the autocross, or the thrill of power sliding their cars sideways around corners.

"The reason we are holding this event is so Nellis and Creech AFB Airmen can push their vehicles and themselves to their limit in a safe, controlled, legal environment," said Cate Berry, the 99th Services Squadron director of marketing and event organizer.

This was a great event that showed Nellis AFB officials really understand the interests of the Airmen here and are willing to shut down the flightline for the sake of boosting our morale, said Airman Lewis Wolter II, a 99th Communications Squadron video maintainer.

"I really enjoyed the chance to hangout with people as enthusiastic about cars as I am and am looking forward to the next time the base holds an event like this," Airman Wolter said.

Airmen and their families also enjoyed the cars on display. From a Nevada police cruiser to a one-of-a-kind 1957 Ferrari 410 Super America, the more than 100 cars were provided by the Lamborghini and Ferrari Car Club's of Las Vegas.

Even the Nevada police cruiser tested its mettle on the autocross track, agreeing to "pursue" a volunteer through the course. Although the police officer showed some promise the first time through the course, the "criminal", driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, managed to escape the officer and crossed the finish line 15 seconds faster than the officer, an eternity in the world of racing.

For those who were unable to attend this year, planners are already working on next year's event scheduled for April 2008.

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