GM "Autotainment" Park

by Erik Olsen on

The good folks over at Autoblog (who must have their hands full today on
the New York auto show) sent me a link to a new park concept coming out of Las Vegas. General Motors (who has been
struggling lately) is opening
a new outdoor "autotainment" park called "The Drive," in sunny, slimy Las Vegas. The driving
experience is opened at the Sahara Hotel & Casino on April 10, and promises the opportunity to drive two separate
driving courses on the 11-acre site. Speedsters can take on the high-performance loop, and the more adventuresome who
like a good bump in the road can try the off-road adventure.

Autoblog quotes Steve Tihanyi, GM’s director of
marketing and entertainment alliances, as saying that "‘The Drive’ represents a significant marketing
opportunity for General Motors, allowing us to showcase our products in a unique fashion that will provide a fun-filled
time for the millions of people who live in or visit Las Vegas." Yes, I can see this having very wide appeal. But I
would hope that they offer a breathalyzer test before you drive…free drinks, Vegas and vigorous driving don’t really
mix well. Oh, and if you’re curious about which cars you get to drive, autoblog lists them:  Chevy Corvette coupe
and convertible, Pontiac GTO, Cadillac CTS-V, Pontiac Solstice roadster, Cadillac STS-V, Saab 9-3 convertible, and
Chevy SSR on the performance track, or the HUMMER H2, HUMMER H2 SUT, mid-size HUMMER H3, 2007 Cadillac Escalade, 2006
Chevy Silverado Diesel and the 2007 Chevy Tahoe on one of the two dirt tracks.

I confess, I’d do this.

Making It in Vegas

by Erik Olsen on

We all have our opinions of Las Vegas. For some it
is the promised land, a place to escape to and experience exhilarating freedoms from sometimes stifling the puritan
culture in much of the rest of the country. People these days go to watch shows, to amble he illuminated streets, to
meet friends, and to do other, shall we say less savory things. Oh, and did I mention gambling? Yeah, they do that too.
Personally…and this is just my opining on the matter…I think Vegas is a sh*thole. I loathe the place with every
fiber of my being. I was there recently for the Consumer Electronics Show and nothing I saw or experienced much changed
my opinion. But again, that’s just me. I’m no puritan, but I just get my kicks from piles of snow rather than piles of
chips…especially since my chip piles always seem to get smaller rather than larger in Vegas.

Well, let me
offer you another opinion on Vegas. travel writer and friend of gadling Jen Leo
lived there for a spell, and was bitten by the gambling bug. In this very enjoyable piece over at Tim Leffel’s
Perceptive Travel magazine, Leo rhapsodizes about the gabling life, and sheds some light on a game called Pai Gow that
I confess I’ve never played. But the story is about more than just gambling, and makes for a very enjoyable read. So
give it a looksee and tell me if my thought on Vegas are out of bounds.