Technology

‘Drive a Tank’ Lets Thrill Seekers Crunch Cars With Ex-Military Armored Vehicles

Some people enjoy swimming with dolphins or snorkeling on their vacations. Others go skiing or strap into amusement park rides. Some, though, may consider these activities too tame, ordinary. These are the types of people who might instead be interesting in, say, driving a tank over old sedans, for example.

Want to Do Something Different This Summer? Check Out Drive a Tank

(Photo: Drive a Tank)

“Drive a Tank,” a company in Kasota, Minn., lets these types of thrill seekers try their hand at the military version of monster-truck driving.

With only a quick briefing on tank controls and operations — no previous tank driving experience necessary — newbie tank drivers can take the treads for a spin. According to the company’s website, the tanks are unarmed — so no target practice. (Note: If you are interested in target practice, they have a historic machine gun that, depending on the package you sign up for.)

Want to Do Something Different This Summer? Check Out Drive a Tank

(Photo: Drive a Tank)

Watch this AP report with footage and tank-driver commentary of the experience:

“To have that much weight on just two brake handles, it’s awesome,” said Jacob Ostling, 19, after the tank rolled over a car and rained glass around his head. The car “was like a tin can,” he said.

You may also notice that the tanks are from Europe. The company states that unlike America, which didn’t release its “armor” to the public, some European countries have done so and “Drive a Tank” is putting them to good use.

“Wars and skirmishes took place in Europe, and out of need for farm equipment and transport vehicles [...] Due to availability, the fact that England has been an ally through the years, and price of their vehicles; our armor is British,” the company website states.

Want to Do Something Different This Summer? Check Out Drive a Tank

(Photo: Drive a Tank)

Owner Tony Borglum, a construction and heavy equipment contractor, opened the tank park three years ago after seeing similar attractions during a visit to England. He said he knew it would fit nicely into American culture – a more visceral version of what millions of guys are doing in video games anyway.

He began buying up old Cold War-era surplus and now has 11 armored vehicles available for use on a 20-acre site near this town 50 miles southwest of Minneapolis. Customers spend hours churning up and down a hilly, wooded course, getting a firsthand sense of what armored warfare might be like.

“It’s not as glorious as it looks like on TV,” said Borglum, a short-haired 25-year-old who wore camouflage pants, a tan polo shirt and boots at the session.

But it satisfies the curiosity of those who have watched tanks in war movies.

“It was very realistic,” agreed Brad Walker, of Amboy, Ind., who brought his 21-year-old son, Nick, for an outing before the young man got married. “It kind of gives you an idea exactly how hard that job is.” Nick Walker, who squeezed his 5-foot-11, 230-pound frame into the cramped compartment, added, “It‘s not a big person’s job.”

Want to Do Something Different This Summer? Check Out Drive a Tank

(Photo: Drive a Tank)

There are various packages at differing price points, but to give you an idea, crunching cars could cost you up to $750 whereas a more simple drive through a wooded area will cost about $400. If you’re really a high roller, $3,500 will let you drive a tank through a trailer home. Even if you’re not interested in driving though, of if you’re bringing your friends along, you can also just take a ride in the tank for $45.

Borglum said his tank park wasn’t the first in the United States but he knows of no others still operating. Event coordinator Kessa Baedke said more than 600 packages have been sold this year.

Check out the Drive a Tank website here. See more tanking experience photos here.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Comments (34)

  • LUBRIDERMONMYSCHNITZEL
    Posted on July 3, 2012 at 11:47am

    i am luftwaffe

    Report Post »  
  • sparky239
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 10:09am

    Hey Kinnisen take a hike moron…Maybe that’s why no one ever wants you at their party cause your such a loser …trying to prove your smart >>your not just plain ignorant…that piece about driving a tank is for individuals who want to have fun…that is all its about,take your bad attitude and craw back under your rock…

    Report Post » sparky239  
  • Kinnison
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 7:54pm

    After more than 10 years of war you people STILL haven’t got a clue about anything military. The vehicles you have shown in the accompanying pictures, despite having “Drive a Tank” stenciled on them, are not tanks. The first is a 155mm mechanized howitzer and the second is a armored personnel carrier. Catch a clue. Or hire a vet… There are lots of former military people around and unemployed.

    Report Post »  
    • Matt
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 9:10pm

      In the video they drive real tanks.

      Report Post »  
    • sparky239
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:59am

      hey lighten up moron…who cares what you know…that piece is showing how to have fun …morons like you don’t need to apply…

      Report Post » sparky239  
  • blair152
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 3:25pm

    I don’t have $400 dollars.

    Report Post »  
  • mouseco
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 1:41pm

    would love to drive a tank but Im too broke but heres where a guy did drive one in San Diego Ca

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDYU-uKo1N8

    Report Post »  
    • panzermk2
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 3:24pm

      Does not matter if your broke. I know where you can drive them AND get paid for it.

      Report Post »  
  • brknhrt
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 11:50am

    My son received this as a gift and he enjoyed it. It is pretty pricey, but it is an all-day thing for training, driving the tank, shooting machine guns, and two meals.

    Report Post » brknhrt  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:54pm

    I’d rather fly a TF-51D…. than drive a tank.

    http://www.warbirddepot.com/aircraft_fighters_tf51-bond.asp

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • lukerw
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:30pm

    The most Dangerous Man is: One with a Knife… who plans to upgrade his arms by taking them from the Enemy (Rambo)!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • Buckwylds
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:11pm

    They have done this in the UK years. For a few quid, my military buddies and I went and drove a couple of tanks. Surprises me this is news here now.

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:27pm

      We think of ourselves as CowBoys… so, alike when Patton was given Tanks (Tin Coffins) with PeaShooters, we CowBoy Up, and Charge: Damn the Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead; Get Er Done!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • Dagnabbit5
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 7:47am

      Actually, this place and a couple others like it have been around here in America for a decade or so.
      Why it‘s news now I don’t know. Seems like news agencies are just grasping for anything that they
      can report as news anymore.

      Report Post »  
  • RinkyDink34
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:12am

    I did operator training for M113 Armored Personnel Carriers for the US Army; was great fun.

    Report Post » RinkyDink34  
  • NothingToLose
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:53am

    I’ll wait until they have a real US tank, … M41, M551, M48, M60, M1

    Report Post »  
    • lel2007
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:42am

      I wish for an M4 Sherman tank.

      Report Post » lel2007  
    • Eddie
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 10:10am

      You are SO right! REAL tanks! You must have been an Armor crewman too! I was a crewman on M48A3‘s and M60’s back in the early 70′s myself! Close the hatches and roll 50 tons loaded toward something and that would be fun!

      Report Post »  
  • Beckett
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:08am

    Join the Military, losers.

    Report Post »  
  • JACKTHETOAD
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:50am

    What fun it’d be in a traffic jam. Be prepared to see your insurance rates go up after you get out of jail.

    Report Post » JACKTHETOAD  
  • The Bushmaster
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:29am

    HELLO?? That is a Howitzer. Not a tank!

    Report Post »  
  • georgepatton
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 4:23am

    I need one of those!

    Report Post »  
  • NeoMouser
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 3:20am

    id love to drive one

    last person i heard of who stole a tank didn’t do so well though
    military take it very seriously
    some guy in Boise stole one it didn’t end well for him

    Report Post »  
  • Conservative-Atheist
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 2:02am

    Very cool! I love tanks, this would be awesome.

    Report Post » Conservative-Atheist  
  • tbl10
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:35am

    Great I know where I am going when the SHTF and Martial Law is enacted. First one there gets the one with the biggest cannon.

    Report Post »  
  • AUsername
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:11am

    to Washington! lol

    Report Post » AUsername  
  • ICEDRAGON
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:03pm

    I think its neat.

    Report Post » ICEDRAGON  
  • CatB
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:56pm

    I can think of some things I would LOVE to drive a tank over … cars aren’t on the list. ;-)

    Report Post »  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:55pm

      Gays, mexicans, Sesame Street characters, Blacks, unemployed people, school teachers, auto workers, Democrats in general, Movie makers and their stars, Judges who don’t follow the script, the I.R.S. the Fed banking system, the guy in the van outside your house who you’re sure voted for Obama, and the kids who won’t get off your lawn.

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 12:04am

      I’ll ride along as long as I get to fire the big gun on that bugger! Noise, fireworks and the end of many a frustrating target on the receiving end! There is a sports car down the street that would be a fitting target…

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Lord_Frostwind
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 4:28am

      First some twit named “exrepublisheep” for using every Clinton to Obama era liberal cliche.

      After that I think I would like to obliterate a few home projects that didn’t go well. Particularly, a mower that seems to have found every conceivable way to break down, and a computer that has mastered a similar skill but with programming.

      Failing that, I think a nice relaxing assault through the forest would be fun.

      Report Post » Lord_Frostwind  
    • stumpy68
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:48am

      @Exrepublisheep

      Better a Republican sheep than a democrat arshole
      that crap coming out of your mouth doesn’t stink any less the thousandth
      time its regurgitated.

      Report Post » stumpy68  
    • lukerw
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 12:18am

      Some… M79s… would be better!

      Report Post » lukerw  

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