Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss Chase Vehicle

Yesterday Gail and I were headed to Sioux Falls for our bi-monthly provisioning trip when I saw a Highway Patrol car coming up from behind us at a high rate of speed. My first thought was, "I am only going 82 in a 75", but then the Hemi-Charger blew by us.

The patrolman was chasing down a pickup pulling a trailer with a back hoe on it that missed the weigh station. I imagine that pickup was moving down the interstate at about 70 mph maximum. The pursuer at 150 mph made short work of the apprehension.

I wonder if there is a part time opening for a weigh station pursuit driver. I like to drive hot cars really fast, too.

Been seeing a number of Mustangs wearing the Michigan State Police colors cruising around these past few weeks. Also saw some sort of SUV (MSP) the other day. It was Huge! Not anything you could get at the car dealer.

Inquire about a part time gig Dwight!

Yes, I could use my life long speeding ticket record as a reference.

That would work

I am pretty sure that I have lost my License 5 times in the past due to hot rods and a scooter.

72'Cuda would twist and pull the front up pretty good. 74' Cuda with the small block was not "street-able", Hence, Busting stuff!

Tranny builder screwed up and it cost a pile of cash for everything that got trashed in a heartbeat. Broken Motor, Big Time!

My first car in high school was a Plymouth Fury III, Police Interceptor, from the stables of the GRPD. Two years old with around 30K for mileage. Cost 900.00 and repainted it white. 400 Interceptor, and it clicked along pretty good. Dana 60 posi. I had the longest sustained burnout in High School (both rears) without power braking or crash boxing the tranny, and no fluids!

It was fun back then!

Mach1 Mustang guy never paid me when he got his butt whooped, and really bad!

Never had a race after that in HS.

Street racing in the mid 60s through the mid 70s was a hoot. A person could cruise Lake Street in Minneapolis or the "loop" in Sioux Falls and have a light to light street race pretty much at will. If you wanted to get serious away from traffic there was always an impromptu drag strip close by.

My hottest vehicle was a 1969 390 4spd "Gopac" AMX with the Super Stock Cam, 850 Holley, 3.90 posi. This was our family car so It had to be streetable . I got a reliable 7 mpg going down the Interstate, 7o mph @ 4000 rpm. I forgot to mention the PIPES. With the F70 street tires maximum launch rpm was 2500 rpm and you had some work to do to keep them from going up in smoke.

I was beaten with that car once by a Hemi GTX on an impromptu drag strip (I29) in Sioux Falls. I had him through mid-third gear when that big motor started doing it's thing. Around 105mph he was ahead by two car lengths and we shut down......

I disavow any actual experience at doing any of the above.

The highway patrol has chargers here. I have heard they will run upto 220 mph.

My father's brothers grew up in the street racing days of the 70's and 80's. One of my dad's brothers had an LS 2, I do believe, and some guy in a SS Camaro wanted to race 10 miles. My uncle just toyed with him up to 140 mph and then he pulled away like it was nothing.

From having driven a Charger, top speed is 155. Crown Vics are 132. My department drives almost solely Crown Vics but with them being sent to car heaven, we're looking at a replacement. Looks like we are leaning towards the Ford replacement which is based off the Taurus and will be AWD instead of RWD like the old Crown Vics. All the major manufacturers have been letting us test drive their cars at our driver's training track. It's been fun getting to test the different cars out. The AWD is amazing! Most of the officers I know on other departments hate their Chargers because they have awful blind spots and piles of electrical/mechanical problems. They're always in a loaner car because their assigned Charger is in the shop. On our straight away at the track, you can get a Crown Vic up to 103 if you know how to take the turns just right. The Charger 114, the new Chevy Caprice 117 and the new Ford Pursuit(Taurus) 111 or with twin turbochargers 118.

Driving fast with lights and siren gets the heart rate up, but lots of police officers die each year doing just that.

A car dealer friend of ours said Chrsyler has always had electircal problems and my mother's new Jeep has had a few electronic issues in the first few months.

The Chargers and Magnums make pretty decent police cars. Engines are up to the task. Handling is not the best but definitely not the worst. They just need to upgrade their brakes.