DRAG CAR
THE STORY OF ‘COP THIS’
The last half of 2021 saw the rebirth of Blue Light’s iconic 1994 VR Calais 350 SB Chevy DRAG car that had lain dormant for over 10 years. This is her story:
In 1993 the Qld Police Service re-opened the old Surfers Paradise Raceway for an initiative called Operation DRAG. ‘Drag Right And Gain (a life)’ encouraged young people to take racing off the streets and to compete in a safe environment. The opportunity to drag against the Police was irresistible allowing Police to engage with youth in a positive way. This saw the program evolve to encompass youth crime prevention and traffic strategies.
The redevelopment of the Surfers Paradise Raceway in 2002 saw the DRAG vehicles relocated to the Warwick TAFE. There they were used as a training tool for budding mechanics, teaching them the skills associated with event and track management while allowing them to work on an actual drag car. The TAFE program was abandoned in 2011 and COP THIS was put into storage.
Ten years later in 2021 the vehicle was brought back to Brisbane for a makeover. This included some repairs, a full re-badging and some cosmetic work on the engine. COP THIS was now ready for the next stage of her story.
Qld Blue Light now uses the car as a display vehicle to draw the attention of young enthusiasts, allowing Police to engage with a broader audience to deliver road safety and other lawful motoring messages. Arriving at events in her custom built trailer she certainly is a show stopper!
COP THIS may no longer be racing, but she’ll continue to help police deliver road safety education for many years to come.
COP THIS is proudly sponsored by
