County Law Enforcement to Race Cars on Friday

Santa Cruz County law enforcement officers will be leading a high speed chase on Friday—for fun.

It's the third annual "Police in Pursuit" race, which benefits the Special Olympics Northern California, and police officers have once again agreed to chase after each other in a 12-lap race at the dirt track at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville.

"I'm starting to get a little nervous," said Lt. John Hohmann of the Scotts Valley Police. 

In past years, John Prentice of Ocean Speedway was able to provide the 4-cylinder front wheel drive racing cars, but they have since been sold. So this year, the officers are on their own, racing their own personal vehicles.

They will be racing a 1975 Dodge Power Wagon, an Acura Integra, a Honda, a Crown Victoria, a Pontiac Boneville and Hohmann's son's Nissan 240 SX, which his son bought for $300.

"Now we have a pretty good mix of cars so it will be interesting," said the elder Hohmann, who has painted a "06" on the side of the car and whose son will race with him as a pit person.

In order to race, the officers all had to raise a $750 entry fee, which is their donation to the Special Olympics.

Proceeds from the Police in Pursuit event will be donated to Special Olympics California to provide year round free sports training and competition to children and adults with developmental disabilities.

In Northern California, about 14,000 Special Olympics Athletes participate in the training and games, gaining confidence and self esteem while doing it. 

The Police in Pursuit is from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 17th at the Ocean Speedway, 2601 East Lake Avenue in Watsonville.