Stressed out? Drive a tank and crush a car for the ultimate venting experience

June 6, 2023

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is officially behind us, its battle scars remain in terms of lives lost, long-haul COVID suffering, and lingering stress levels—especially among employees returning to the office after an extended period working at home. According to the World Health Organization, there was a 25% increase in anxiety and depression worldwide as we entered the post-pandemic era, reports Forbes.

Everyone has their own set of coping mechanisms. Some turn to drinking and/or drugs, while others have sought refuge from the contents of their refrigerators. But what has to be one of the most innovative remedies to salve a still-COVID-clouded mind can be found up in Kasota, Minnesota (about 72 miles southwest of Minneapolis), where the solution is to drive a bona fide military tank and crush a car.

Now that’s stress reduction on steroids.

The appropriately named Drive A Tank offers a camp-like setting that affords the unique experience of engaging in heart-pounding quasi-military adventures, with a choice of eight size-XXXL mobile machines that can flatten virtually anything in their paths.

Attendees start out by attending a safety and familiarization class; as well as a tutorial on the various military vehicles offered and how and where they’re otherwise typically used. After a tour of the location’s motor pool, it’s off to the field command headquarters and a first drive in an Abbot tank through a heavily wooded course with an instructor along for the ride.

Then it’s a move up to a FV432 APC—only this time using just the tank’s vision periscope to navigate its way through a challenging course, combat-style.

After a trip back to the motor pool in a military transport vehicle, Drive A Tank attendees finally get the chance to mash a once-roadworthy car into smithereens, also with an instructor at hand for the annihilation. There’s even an opportunity to take photos with the tanks driven and cars crushed afterwards.

In addition, attendees get schooled about and get their hands on various historic military firearms; and test-fire them in an enclosed range under closely controlled conditions for an added dose of mental release.

Drive a Tank’s packages start at $374 for the Three-Star General experience, although it’s an extra $649 for a single car crush, and $849 for a double dose of destruction. Other, costlier packages include the ability to bring one or two passengers along for the ride, shoot military machine guns; and pilot multiple tanks, including a Sherman E8, with the top Ultimate Package packing the most activities and going for a whopping $5,499.

Not destructive enough? Those having especially deep pockets can drain their coffers to get behind the tillers of a four-ton weapon of war and completely obliterate a mobile home. Those choosing this package get ample opportunity to take out one’s frustration with the universe by first taking a bat to the structure to smash windows, doors and just about anything in sight before using the PV432 APC to demolish whatever remains standing.

Did we mention that this makes for a great Father’s Day gift for the dad who has everything, including destructive tendencies? Though we seriously can’t imagine why, children may attend as drivers or passengers, but only if they’re at least 11 years old, meet height requirements, and are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Click onto the Drive A Tank website to obtain more information and to book an experience. Corporate packages also are available.

Research contact: @Forbes