Decided to go the the VORE facility after being approached at the South Point Casino. This is your chance to drive a real Baja Pro style off road vehicle, without a doubt one of the most fun things you can do when in the Las Vegas area. I decided for my very first experience in such a truck that i'd just do the short track for ten laps ($495) in one of their trucks. They also picked me up at the hotel for the twenty minute ride down to Boulder City where they're located.
Upon arrival you're given a short video of procedures for buckling into and starting the vehicle you're going to be driving. They provide you with a helmet sock to wear under their helmet, which has an audio hook up and fresh air intake tube. You get all buckled in, they show you again how to start the truck, and give you some instructions for when you go over jumps on the short track.
Basically, what you need to do is let off the gas when the truck goes airborne, otherwise you'll over rev the engine. It's quite the opposite technique of driving a road going race car, since the proper line doesn't include hitting all the apexes on the corners. The wider track is better, which is explained to you when you start out by the instructor in the vehicle in front of you, leading you through one lap before you're let loose on your own. You are in the truck alone, it has three forward speeds and you need to get into third and leave it there the whole time.
Once the instructor pulled of the track, you go for it to the best of your abilities and bravery. When the truck goes airborne, you can't see anything but sky until it lands. Make sure the truck is going straight when you leave the jumps, and the landings are soft and predictable. After a couple of laps getting the lines down, and a feel for the mushy floating suspension, I floored the gas at every straight opportunity and was rewarded with some very big air time over the major jump, and there are four other smaller jumps as well. Frankly, I never really got used to the suspension before the laps ended, and I was pretty slow going around the tighter corners. But it's an experience you'll never forget, and it's worth every penny of the money for such a memorable event. Next time I will go out into the desert before I take the short track laps, that should be fun!