By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The difference between a car enthusiast and an aircraft enthusiast is about half a chromosome. So says Eric Nelson, founder and president of Precision Exotics. A former Marine, Nelson spent time as an overseas contractor before bringing that operational experience to the exotic car world. Then a lightbulb came on: why not combine fast cars and fast airplanes? Precision Exotics will offer a "ride of a lifetime" experience at Great Bend Airfest from Sept. 20-22.
"I thought, you know, the air show industry has exactly what we need to do this," Nelson said. "It has the people, the space, and the safe operations area. Let's go see if this works. And, oh man, did it work."
When Nelson came home from long overseas trips, he treated his wife to the finer things, including nice hotels and exotic cars. The traditional exotic car experience was driving the premium cars around a small course. At Great Bend Airfest, Precision Exotics will allow drivers to take a Ferrari 458 Italia - yes, it's red - or a Lamborghini Huracan Evo down the runway at speeds exceeding 160 miles per hour.
"It's very simple," said Nelson. "Eighteen or older, valid driver's license, sign a waiver, $199 card or cash, you pick which car you want. You wait in line, you hop in the seat, we have an instructor in the right seat. You rip it down the runway as fast as you can go."
Because both sports cars have just two seats that will be occupied by the driver and instructor, no passengers are allowed in those vehicles. Nelson said the company's crew vehicle, a Jeep Trackhawk, has 1,000 horsepower and can easily reach 140 miles per hour.
"If you choose the Trackhawk, you can then take passengers," he said. "We can put three passengers in the back and that's an additional $50 per passenger after the original $199."
Nelson said staff is regularly asked if the cars are governed to limit how fast they can go. The only after-market product in the cars, he said, is a superior brake fluid for durability and performance. The instructor sitting in the passenger seat is more a translator of air-traffic controllers than the driver's ed type.
"We are doing this on a runway for about 20 different reasons," Nelson said. "The obvious, No. 1, is safety. A runway is built for those speeds. It's a lot wider. All of us that drive every day, we get in our daily driver, whatever that may be, we go down a 10-12-foot laned road. We'll be on a runway that's 150-feet wide.
"You've got more room than you can imagine. Plus, there are no other vehicles out there. It's just you and the tarmac. You're going to roll into the throttle, punch it, put it to the floor and let her eat - see what she's got."
Precision Exotics will be at Great Bend Airfest all three days. Their tent will be located to the far left or right of the crowd line. Along with the Precision Extreme Drive experience for patrons, one of the cars will also race an airplane as part of the airshow.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Precision Exotics.