Glitz, Glamour and Speed!

Las Vegas is known for many things: wonderful casinos, glimmering neon lights, beautiful showgirls, fabulous restaurants, amazing shopping, and fast cars. “Fast cars?” you might ask. Of course! Las Vegas’ reputation as a growing motor sports destination is becoming well known.

Recently, for the fifth straight year, Las Vegas was the site for the NASCAR Champion’s Week celebration. The top drivers from the premier series came to Las Vegas to receive trophies and accolades for their accomplishments from the racing season, as well as take part in many fan related events throughout the city. The pinnacle was the “NASCAR Victory Lap,” a rousing, rumbling parade of the best cars down the Strip.

Las Vegas is also home to a series race, held in early March. The entire weekend is filled with exciting stock car racing, culminating with a 400 mile race for the Sprint Cup Series.

Not only is Las Vegas home for that race, but the city also hosts Indy Car, NHRA Drag Racing, SCORE Desert Racing, motocross, and many short track racing series. Of course, there is also the Mint 400 desert race, made famous (or infamous) by Hunter S. Thompson in his novel, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.”

Many of these events are held in the world-class race facility located just north of downtown, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Built in the 1970s, it was upgraded to the current facility in 1995. Not only is there the 1.5 mile super speedway, the complex also consists of a ¼ mile drag strip, a 3/8 mile asphalt oval, a ½ mile clay oval and a 2.5 mile road course. Amenities abound at the LVMS, making it one of the motor sports fans’ favorites.

The fun isn’t restricted to professional drivers, either. Speed freaks from all over the world can take part in various ways.

Incentives By Design has hosted several programs for clients that have taken advantage of the opportunities that guests can take to show their inner Mario Andretti!

Incentives By DesignOne of the current favorites is Dream Racing. Located inside the super speedway at LVMS, Dream Racing puts clients behind the wheel of an authentic race car – a Ferrari F430 GT. Following an introductory talk from one of the partners in Dream Racing, the clients are given step by step instruction on driving the Ferraris from qualified racers, using state of the art simulators. In the simulators, which are like your home video games times 100, the guests are instructed in the nuances of the cars and the track. Subjects such as steering, braking and accelerations are covered, all under the guidance of individual instructors. The guests run several simulated laps and are given immediate feedback.IBYD MS 003

From there, the new racers are outfitted in fire suits and helmets, then sent off, along with another instructor, to run laps on the special 1.1 mile, 9 turn track in the infield of the LVMS. Speed abounds and guests can go as fast as their ability (and nerves) let them!

Finally, after the racing is done, the guests can relax, unwind and revel in their experience at Dream Racing’s comfortable lounge.

IBYD MS 006Incentives By Design has also hosted clients for a similar experience, located just outside the super speedway, at Exotics Racing. At this state of the art complex, guests are given the opportunity to drive one of several modified sports cars around the Exotics Racing track. After a thorough technical briefing, the new racers are driven around the 1.2 mile, 7 turn road course in an SUV, by an experienced race car driver. The driver will instruct the guests on the nuances of the track, giving them tips on how to steer the car, where to accelerate and brake and how to make the most of their driving experience. Following the drive around, the students are paired with an individual instructor and put behind the wheel of a high-powered sports car for several laps around the track. Car choices include Corvette Stingrays, Porsche Caymans, Ferrari 430 Scuderas, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins (to bring out their 007 side!) and many more!

Following their adventure, the guests are debriefed by their instructors, who give them constructive feedback on their performance. Most often, IBYD’s clients are given in a second opportunity, in a different car, to make the most of their experience.

Guests can also have the thrill of drift racing by participating in a white-knuckle drift ride around the track. The driver is an experienced competitive drift racer.

Another exciting opportunity Incentives By Design has offered clients is dune buggy driving. We have partnered with Sun Buggy to offer our guests with the ultimate off-IBYD MS 008road experience, driving dune buggies across the wild Nellis Dunes. Located just north of Nellis Air Force Base, Sun Buggy gives guests the chance to drive dune buggies across the rugged desert, making high-speed turns, quick jumps and making the sand fly! Our clients have participated in this fun experience in several ways. Generally, the drivers are first given a “follow the leader” trail ride, chasing an experienced driver across a rugged course. Additionally, Sun Buggy lays out a short track, with sharp turns, hill climbs, sand traps and other features, allowing the drivers to test their experience against their fellow guests. The drivers get very competitive, trying to beat the time of their friends and co-workers. Fun is had by all!

These are just a few of the motor sports thrills that Incentives By Design’s guests – both men and women – can experience here in Las Vegas, the new jewel of speed in the desert!

Let us book your next group at one of these locations. Contact us for preferred pricing and special treatment!

“Last Vegas” – Elaine Gibbs

“Last Vegas” – Elaine Gibbs

Check out the new video, “Last Vegas,” by Elaine Gibbs. She is an incredible talent with a phenomenal voice. Elaine is a great friend to Incentives By Design, providing fantastic entertainment for gala dinners and events for 20 years! Enjoy!

Gansevoort officially out of Las Vegas

An email received today:

Dear Fans,
We regret to inform you that we have ended our role in the renovations
of Bill’s Gambling Hall. We sincerely apologize for the build-up (pun-intended)
of anticipation around Gansevoort Las Vegas. However, the world is our
playground and we still plan on spreading the Gansevoort lifestyle, one city
at a time.

 

And now for something completely different…………

Next time you want something a little bit different for some of your group participants, try a session of Aerial Yoga.  The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has been offering this class for quite some time and its a hit. It is extremely fun and all that hanging upside down gives you a great lift for the day. But the best part?????  Being able to have your photo taken so you can show everyone!!!!  How cool is this??!!!!aerial Yoga 2 Aerial Yoga

Vegas and the Mob re-visited?

I’m still not very good about posting regularly. It will take some time to incorporate this into the weekly routine.

An interesting story developed today.

Caesar’s Entertainment group was behind the project of The Gansevoort hotel  (also in New York City and Turks and Caicos) due to open in April 2014 on one of the most famous corners of the Las Vegas Strip; Flamingo and Las Vegas Blvd. Home for years to the Barbary Coast and then a short life span as Bill’s Gambling Hall, the building has been virtually hollowed out and will be re-created into a high end luxury lifestyle hotel with French detailing. With only 188 rooms, each guest will be treated to true VIP treatment. The hotel will also be home to Drai’s Beach club and Nightclub (of the infamous Victor Drai whose after hours club was housed in the basement of the Barbary Coast for many years). and celebrity chef Giada Di Laurentiis will be introduced the strip with a 300 seat Italian restaurant.

But today, Caesar’s have withdrawn the Gansevoort  name after regulators raised concerns about the operator’s possible ties with the Russian Mob.  Only in Vegas!!!!!

Why the Elvis Photo

Elvis and me

I have noticed that I use this photo more than any others. It seems to have become the ‘mascot’  for Incentives by Design. But why?  Probably because it triggers a memory of relief and ecstasy; the last evening of a 4 night, high stress, high maintenance group that turned out to be a great success. A glass of wine, or two, possibly three…in celebration of a job well done eh voila! silly poses with Elvis ensue.

And this is how I’d like to introduce you to Incentives by Design’s new blog.  Each event we do has at least one treasured moment or incident that is oftentimes hilarious and memorable. Why not share it?   While I may at times keep you up to date on the latest and greatest here in Vegas and our other markets, I don’t want this to be a travelogue or an information page. I want this to be amusing and off the wall and unstructured and fun. We all work crazy hours to produce the best results. Now lets have some fun.

I would love to hear your feedback, your own stories and amusing episodes. I truly believe that we could all benefit from a little laughter and fun.

So without further ado…welcome to ibydvegas.net;  a destination management company’s blog about the fun side of running events.