KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee offers a wide variety of vehicles up for sale, but there’s a family-friendly attraction that has visitors drifting to the event.
Dodge is offering free ‘Thrill Rides’ allowing visitors to experience the power of the Challenger SRT Hellcat and Charger SRT Hellcat on a drift course at Osceola Heritage Park.
The screeching of tires is a familiar sound for drivers like Rick Vaughn.
“To do this for eight straight hours we got to wear these earplugs, but for riders, it’s fine.”
It’s all part of the Thrill Rides offered by Dodge, free with auto show admission. Visitors of all ages line up to experience the power of the Hellcats.
“I drive the Charger Red-Eye Hellcat which has 797 horsepower... This is a muscle car,” said Vaughn.
Compare that to a standard car with the average 200 horsepower.
“Hellcat is the name of the motor so that is the supercharged hemi. Our hellcats have 717 horsepower to 797 horsepower, off the lot,” said Dodge Thrill Ride Driver, Michael Burris. “When that car first came out with that motor, the industry had never seen anything like that. That started the horsepower war and everyone started climbing, climbing adding more to their vehicles.”
Dodge stopped manufacturing the Hellcat engine in 2023, focusing on a battery-powered muscle car, Dodge Charger Daytona SRT. But you can still find Dodge Challenger and Charger Hellcats at dealerships for sale starting at about $82,670.
The Thrill Ride attraction serves as a marketing tool for potential customers or car enthusiasts like Paul, who spoke with News 6 while visiting Mecum Kissimmee.
“I’ve been here for the last five years and I come all the way from Palm Beach. I love the cars and I photograph them,” said Paul. “I love taking a ride on the Hellcats, burning rubber. They’re powerful cars, they’re a lot of fun.”
“It’s more than just driving a car around the block. They can see what the car can do. We know they’re bad fast but they’re unbelievably comfortable,” said Burris.
The drivers are all trained, many of them former racecar drivers with years of experience.
“A lot of the drivers used to race back in the day. We joke about this as a retirement series for ex-drivers,” said Vaughn.
Dodge has several Hellcats in its fleet for the ‘Thrill Rides,’ speeding up and drifting around a round course.
“The tires only last about two hours. Each car per day is going to go through three or four sets of tires,” said Vaughn.
The Thrill Rides are open to individual riders and families who want to take a ride on the wild side during Mecum Kissimmee, the world’s largest collector car auction with about 4,000 vehicles.
The rides are free with Mecum admission and you can register on site at one of the Dodge booths throughout the auto show.
DATES & TIMES
Tuesday, January 9-Saturday, January 13: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
All registered participants will have the chance to speak with educated Dodge brand product specialists, take home Dodge brand prizes while supplies last and will be entered into the 2024 Sweepstakes for a chance to win $100,000 towards an eligible vehicle from any one of the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, Ram Truck or FIAT brands. A winner will be drawn in early 2025.