AAST: Teens take it to the track in Colorado

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Teens take it to the track in Colorado

Megan Rhodes, 16, challenges teens to take their speed to the track at the kickoff event, with Col. James Wolfinbarger, right, looking on. Colorado State Representative Su Ryden, standing behind Rhodes, joined numerous other law enforcement officers at the cermony.

In this case, troopers encourage young drivers to speed. Colorado teens have an opportunity to take their fast cars to the track again this year during the Colorado State Patrol program aimed at providing an alternative to illegal street racing.

This year marks the sixth consecutive year that the Take It to the Track program will be offered 23 times at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo., between April and October.

"Speed is a contributing factor in most teenage auto crashes," said Col. James. Wolfinbarger of the CSP. "The program provides teens with a safe and legal atmosphere in which to satisfy their need for speed."

A CSP Dodge Charger pace car takes to track.

This year's program was kicked off April 21 with a ceremony at the Capitol in Denver, where 16-year-old Megan Rhodes, a Chatfield, Colo., High School sophomore and honor roll student, challenged Colorado teen drivers with a need for speed to "Take It To The Track."

Approximately 6,000 students are expected to accept the challenge this year. More than 300 teens came out to race the first night of the program.

The program was created by the CSP in 2003 and has since been joined by numerous other local law enforcement agencies. Working with Bandimere Speedway, together they provided an alternative to Colorado teens for illegal street racing with a controlled, safe, and fun drag racing program.

The CSP is the first state law enforcement agency to create a drag racing series for teens. During the past five years, more than 25,000 participants have raced safely more than 150,000 times. Participation is open to any type of vehicle and to all licensed drivers, and all vehicles are safety checked before they can race.

The Take It to the Track program actively promotes the Alive at 25 defensive driving program taught by CSP troopers, designed to be an early intervention program to prevent traffic violations, collisions, and fatalities.

Representatives of the CSP and other law enforcement agencies are present at the 23 events to talk with teens and answer questions they may have about cars, the law, and making safe driving choices.

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