Ten reasons why Las Vegas is the perfect petrolhead destination

What better way to flee the UK winter than flying west to see the greatest show on earth? A bold claim given the wild entertainment Las Vegas is traditionally famed for, but Formula 1’s shiny new calendar date genuinely delivered on its blockbuster billing in 2023. This 17-turn street circuit takes in iconic hotels and venues like Caesars Palace, Bellagio and freshly opened Sphere as the biggest names in motorsport battle it out over 50 laps. Last year saw last-lap lunges and plenty of jaw-dropping action – expect its November 2024 follow-up to dial up the glitz even more.

SEMA is unlike any motor show on earth. Over 2,000 exhibitors fill two million square feet of exhibit space every November as the world of aftermarket
modification gets its moment under the dazzling
spotlight only Vegas can provide. This is aftermarket done properly, with even ginormous global carmakers using it as an opportunity to rattle their skunkworks departments into action and prove there’s a sense of humour and true passion buried beneath their
corporate messages. And don’t forget to make time for SEMA Fest, two days of music and motorsport thrills including action from Nitro Circus, Formula Drift and Hoonigan.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway is but a short drive from the Strip and the perfect place to sample some
national sporting treasures. NASCAR visits in both spring and autumn for huge weekends of action while the wonderful world of drag racing headlines the NHRA Nevada Nationals. You can even lap the Speedway yourself via supercar with Dream Racing or their NASCAR Racing Experience. Yes, you really can drive a NASCAR around Las Vegas Motor Speedway, both against the clock and with instruction from a
personal spotter over two-way radio comms. Shake and bake!

Is hiring a Mustang convertible a cliché? Is pointing a Camaro at a canyon a bit obvious? Who cares either way – these are ‘must do’ activities for any car-loving US visitor for a good reason. An abundance of hire companies will lend you something with eight
cylinders and an appetite for long, open roads; just up to you to choose the destination. The glorious scenery of Red Rock or the Extraterrestrial Highway are merely two of the thrilling possibilities.

Speed doesn’t have to mean four wheels. For those willing to hand control to someone else for their adrenaline, there’s the Strip’s world-famous
rollercoasters. The Big Apple Coaster at
New York-New York hits almost 70mph, while Big Shot at The STRAT gives you a taste of America’s iconic rocket launches as it fires you skyward with a force of 4g. Want to incorporate some sightseeing? SlotZilla Zoomline gives you a uniquely exhilarating view of Downtown Las Vegas as you zip through, eyes on stalks…

The big hitter. If you’ve an adventurous spirit then a trip out of Vegas to take in the Grand Canyon isn’t just advised, it’s borderline essential. Maverick Helicopters will fly you out of the Strip for a mind-scrambling look into the wondrous cavern of the Grand Canyon and its 1.2 million acres – or simply hop back in that V8 and drive there for an unforgettable hike and a night spent gazing at a vast blanket of stars.

Exhausted after all the above? There are plenty of calmer attractions for days when sore heads or aching muscles need soothing. The Neon Museum spans nearly three acres with its iconic Neon Boneyard,  bringing together stunning neon signs alongside the unique story of their role in the Entertainment Capital of the World narrative. No need to ponder the origin of Vegas’ nickname after a visit here. Meanwhile the Shelby Heritage Center brings together over 25
vehicles to tell the legendary tale of Carrol Shelby and the boisterous muscle cars his company spawned.

Closer to home (well, your hotel) is Hoover Dam, among the greatest construction achievements of the last century and the highest concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere. Sitting on the Nevada and Arizona border, it ought to floor the jaw of any car geek – we all love vast engineering ambition, after all. Completed in the mid-1930s, this concrete
arch-gravity dam is an astonishing 221m high – Big Ben and the London Eye stacked on top of one
another, basically – and utilises 3.3 million cubic
metres of concrete. Yowzers.

So, plenty to choose from and dozens of hotels and hundreds of bars and restaurants to keep you well
fuelled and rested for all the action Las Vegas has to
offer. We’ll see you there…

For everything you need to know about your next trip to Vegas, head this way!