If excitement, competition and camaraderie were expected, then the 2010 Beat the Heat World Finals hosted by the Oklahoma State Patrol, held in Tulsa, Oklahoma failed to disappoint. Sixty three drivers, representing their respective police and fire departments, some from as far as California, descended on Tulsa Raceway Park’s quarter mile drag strip in Tulsa, Oklahoma for the annual event featuring bracket competition in Modified Cop and Pro Cop, and a run-off for the winner take all Top Cop honors.

Lt. Rey Alonso from Palm Beach County Beat the Heat, representing the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and Sgt. Jose Ayala, representing the  Medley, Fla. P.D., were the victors in Mod Cop and Pro Cop, bringing the titles back to Florida, the home of Beat the Heat.

Three time Mod Cop champ and 2008 Top Cop world champion Lt. Rey Alonso parlayed a string of good reaction times and solid, consistent performance from the Rick’s Rod’s and Custom Fabrications / Bob Larkin Performance Racing Engines Chevy S-10 to cement his victory in Mod Cop.  Posting reaction times in the .030-.074 range, and repeatable 11-teen elapsed times @ 120 MPH were enough for Alonso to own the finish line, and take the victory.

Sgt. Jose Ayala from Medley P.D. fought electrical issues, and posted consistent elapsed times in the 10.80’s from his small block powered Chevy Camaro to get the win in the faster Pro Cop class.  Sgt. Ayala and Lt. Alonso had to put it on the line again in the winner take all Top Cop challenge for the coveted title and trophy for Top Cop World Champion. If Sgt. Ayala was nervous, it didn’t show as his Camaro leaped off the line to run down Alonso, illuminating the win light in Ayala’s lane, taking the Top Cop victory.

Last and certainly not the least, one of the most rewarding experiences of the Finals was the first day doing the car show and safety demonstrations at the Bixby High School.  The true spirit of the Beat the Heat program was evidenced as up to 800 students came out to look over the race cars and mingle with the teams. Safety lectures were given in 16 different classrooms by the teams, with topics featuring distracted driving, texting and cell phone dangers while driving, and the dangers of street racing with riveting videos and lecture.  We left there with a feeling of having accomplished something, if one youngster gets the message, perhaps many will be saved. Some of these same students met the teams on the track after the race on Saturday, to challenge the Beat the Heat drivers in spirited acceleration contests down Tulsa’s quarter mile. It was a fun time for all.

Next year’s World Finals will be held in Chattanooga, Tennessee at Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip. A special World Finals celebrating the 20^th year of Beat the Heat is coming home to Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Fla. for 2012.  See you there! In the mean time, take it off the street, and to the track!