2012 SASC Winter / Ice Driver Training (Support by: Spec R Tire Service)

[Spec R]

2012 SASC Winter / Ice Driver Training

 

(Southern Alberta Solo Club)

What is Winter Driver Training?  
You often hear different groups promoting winter driver training in the media.  Some  examples are the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy, BMW Winter Driver Training, and Bridgestone Winter Driving School.   All these groups promote safe driving on the street by using a controlled environment to allow clients to develop new skills to tackle winter driving on the street.  Usually these programs are either not available in Alberta and or are very costly even when they are available.
SASC is now offering  you a very valuable yet inexpensive opportunity  to enroll in one such driver training seminar.   Since this program is being put on by SASC, which is a registered, non profit society in Alberta, and a group of dedicated volunteers, the cost to attend is less than the cost for going out for a nice dinner.  Our goal is to share some of the driving skills we have learned on the race track with the general public thus making our everyday driving experience safer for all of us. Of course, we also want to have a bit of fun!

Where can I attend it?  
Unlike many of the other programs offered by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, or Bridgestone, you donâ??t have to go to the US or fly to out east to attend our winter driver training.  We are, once again, doing our driver training on Ghost Lake this year.  This time of the year, Ghost Lake is a giant sheet of ice like a large hockey rink that is free of dangerous things you find on the street like curbs and poles.   This makes it a perfect venue for learning how to drive your own vehicle in winter conditions.  Best of all, it is only 30 minutes away from Calgary.  On the way back to the city, you can even stop by to enjoy some ice cream in Cochrane.  

When?
School Dates in 2012:
Jan 29 Sunday --   Feb 4 Saturday -- Feb 12 Sunday  --  Feb 25 Saturday
March 4 Sunday (Add)

Who are the instructors:
Our team of instructors comprises National Autocross champion, Formula & high performance driving instructor, Time attack competitor, and Rally drivers.  They all have the same passion in driving and in different disciplines of motorsport.  These volunteers would love to pass their experience and skills to you

What will I learn?
-The basics like driving position, habits, attitude
- How far to look ahead (2, 3, 4, 5 second ahead?)
-Vehicle dynamic control (why is the car sliding?)
-Braking with ABS or without ABS (how long does it take to stop the car?)
- Accident avoidance (if the car canâ??t stop in time then what do you do?)
-Skid control (what to do when  your car understeers and oversteers)
-After losing control, what do you do?  
-Drift the car like Ken Block (donâ??t know who he is?  Search for him onYouTube)

Ready to  take the course?
Register online at: https://www.karelo.com/restdetail.php?&BT=10&BID=334

Should I take the school ? What past students have said:
â??My son and I had lots of fun last Saturday. I found your school very useful. Would you mind to add my e-mail to your mailing list? I would like to be informed when you have next driving class.
Igor�

â?? I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful day, I feel so much more confident in my winter driving skills. I also want to send a big thank you out to the driving instructors, they are amazing.
Kate â??

â??I never got a chance to thank you today but I wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed myself, and I believe I learned a few things about vehicle control - or more importantly, what not to do! It was a great opportunity to experiment with the limits of a vehicle in a safe environment. Like I said earlier today, I plan on doing it all again next Saturday!
Thanks again!
Barb â??

Question ?
Rase_usa(AT)yahoo.com  

Unfortunately we donâ??t have large car  or tire manufacturers sponsoring the event, but we do have Spec R Tires Service, a local tire shop, sponsoring the event with a lot of chocolate bars, juice and healthy snacks.  Come join us for some fun at the school!

[ambystom01]

I'll try to make it out to the Feb.25th event. Was a lot of fun last year and, as an extra bonus, I learned a few things too.

[Spence]

Let me know what I can do to help out! I think this is a great idea, and that every driver should go through this course to help avoid collisions in the future

[Reijo]

If you know anyone who might be interested, there appears to be plenty of room in the school this weekend, so please pass the information on!   

R

[Zero10]

My wife has been asking for an educational safety-oriented driving course as she hasn't really driven in a while and wants to be able to feel confident taking the kids out in her car during the winter. 

Would this course be appropriate for a mom who is a timid driver with an automatic focus wagon?  Or is it more performance oriented than that?
Also, how long is the course (time-wise), we live in Royal Oak so we aren't that far away, but I'd plan on coming with her so we need to arrange somebody to watch the kids while we're gone.

[Murray Peterson]

Would this course be appropriate for a mom who is a timid driver with an automatic focus wagon?  Or is it more performance oriented than that?

It is primarily designed for people like your wife.  The instruction is tailored to the individual student, not "canned", so any level of driver can come out and have fun and learn.

Also, how long is the course (time-wise), we live in Royal Oak so we aren't that far away, but I'd plan on coming with her so we need to arrange somebody to watch the kids while we're gone.

Start time is around 9:30 A.M.  Finish is usually around 4:30 P.M.  You guys can leave earlier -- it's not like a formal classroom session where you have to stay until the last second.

[Reijo]

START TIME REVISED (FEB. 11/2012)  Slight correction on time:  The actual start time is at 8:30 (9) am at the Tim Horton's in Cochrane......we have waiver signing, etc. 8:30-9:00 9-9:30 am and a brief  meeting at 9:00 9:30 am and then drive out to the Lake together (about 18 km. west of Cochrane).  We will be driving by 9:15 am on the lake AND HAVE A BRIEF MEETING AT THE NORTH LANDING.

There is a lunch somewhere around noonish - usually go into Cochrane to a restaurant ... have a round-table discussion, lunch etc. and head back for afternoon sessions.

Final meeting is at 4 pm ... some stay for some fun runs after that ... but we start to pack up about then.

For more detail etc., look at Kyle's post.

But, yes, your wife would stand to gain the most from this!  Absolutely!

R

[Spec R]

Feb 12 Sunday

School is 100% Full and won't take any onsite registration.

Kyle

[Reijo]

Also, please note that the start time has been moved forward by 1/2 hour - Tim's in Cochrane at 8:30-9 am.  Following a meeting at the north landing at about 9:15 am, we will be driving at 9:30 am on the respective stations (there are 3 stations with 2 areas per stations consisting of a total of 6 course/instruction layouts etc.).

(changed in the note above too...)

Reijo

[Zero10]

Crap, I forgot all about this... We just sold my wife's Focus and bought her a minivan.  I think that means we're out

[Murray Peterson]

Why?  Bring the minivan out and learn how to drive it on the ice...

[Reijo]

Right-O Murray!  We've had some minivans out this year; they are just fine for schools ... also reflects what you are driving on the street so what better vehicle to take to the school?   

R

[PBodyGuy]

We've had some minivans out this year; they are just fine for schools ...

https://picasaweb.google.com/109353951334244648587/20110220GhostLake#5576690299954716946

Need I say more?

Chris

[Reijo]

Beauty!

R

[Zero10]

Cool! She was pretty excited about the school and was kind of bummed out when she thought she couldn't go any more...  I'll talk to her about it and see if I can get her excited to go again

I wasn't planning on taking the course but instead on coming along for moral support, would I be allowed to come along and ride in the back seat?  I promise not to say mean things.