Performance Driving Event for teenagers?

[winddysvt]

Please state below the REASONS why you
VOTED as you did......


We are working with several others on having a performance driving school (1-2 day) for teenagers.

Not sure where yet ...
Not sure when...

it may not be until the spring of 2003...

however -

we would like your opinion...

We would need "volunteers", as well as some paid instructors. We would also need help with the "insurance" aspect of it... where to go, who to talk to, etc.

It will have rules to help keep it safe-
if the rules are disobeyed, time out.
If they are disobeyed again - off ... out...
No goofing around.

Also, the option of using their own car or renting one from the track and/or paying for an certified instructor from the track.

We would also like to include a couple of "classes" for the parents and the instructors.... um, like you and me...

Please vote whether you'd be interested in participating in this type of event .. if we had enough interest from SCMC we could look into the possibility of being the "host".....

[Dean95CobraR]

Where would this be done - track, parking lot or ....?

[tdalsanto]

Originally posted by Dean95CobraR
Where would this be done - track, parking lot or ....?

==============


more information on that will be coming later Dean --

I am working with several others on this and we need to get a vote first...

Some possibilities are: Putnam Park/
Gingerman/
Mid-America (in Iowa)
Road America......

any more?

[tdalsanto]

We will need ideas, suggestions -
etc. etc.
It's going to happen - its just a matter
of who, when, how, $$ (ofcourse)
and where.


OK -

now,

explain


WHY you have voted the way you did.

Especially if you do not agree with this idea.

Give reasons

[kevin]

bonny,

i actually think this is a very good idea. assuming it's a course that doesn't just focus on how to drive around a race track fast. i.e. driving technique, road courtesy (obviously on the track), car handling, emergency techniques. etc.

i don't mean to make it a drivers ed course either. i know some parents out this way that used to use nasa as a way for their teenager to learn how a car handles and to teach the danger/risks involved.

part of the focus was to say that you can have more fun and in a safer environmnet on the track rather than on the streets. better to give a kid a track than to be stupid on the street. some kida out here acually brag they can go play on a track and have nothing to prove on the streets. this is dependant on the kids attitude to begin with.

i voted interested, but unsure because the choices don't quite fit me. it depends on the track, the date, insurance and things like that for me to instruct/help.

i think it's a great idea to promote car safety

[Blown96Snake]

I think an autocross situation would be a great learning experience for young drivers. It could become popular because it is relatively safe and inexpensive...it is also a blast. I feel more confident driving in all kinds of conditions as a direct result of autocrossing.

It might not be a bad idea to have a short autocross course set up to show the new students car control before they get up to speed.

I agree with Kevin, it would promote car safety for themselves and eveyone on the road!

Great idea. Good luck

Dave

[winddysvt]

excellant info!!

Yes - definitely, this course will be based on education -
whether they like it or not.

Knowing my son - he'd like it!!

Learning how to drive smoothly, learning the apex, turn in points, learning how to react without causing an unnecessary disaster. Hey - learning to become a

SAFE driver!!

The bottom line will be that this event is NOT based on speed... it will be based on learning performance correctly - control, turning, proper "etiquette" between drivers,
braking proper shifting, etc. etc. etc.



they are going to go out on the streets and learn it there --

so,
why not put them in a weekend school ?

When I was a teenager, I would've loved it. It would've kept me out of trouble...

not that I was in trouble or anything...



Kevin -


do you recommend a site for this event?

Some suggested Road America, but I don't know if I was too thrilled with that one ...

but then again, if they are riding with an instructor they will be immediately booted off the track if they "speed", or show any signs of becoming "dangerous"....

yes - perhaps a parking lot with a course set up before they are allowed to go out on the track is a good idea....

[Dean95CobraR]

Originally posted by winddysvt
Kevin -


do you recommend a site for this event?

Some suggested Road America, but I don't know if I was too thrilled with that one ...

but then again, if they are riding with an instructor they will be immediately booted off the track if they "speed", or show any signs of becoming "dangerous"....

yes - perhaps a parking lot with a course set up before they are allowed to go out on the track is a good idea....

[/B]

I'm not sure that an actual track is where you want to be. Sure it's fun to learn apexes, turn in points and etc but it's not what the average teenagers need to be a good driver on the street. Yes, they would learn car control but if you put them out on the track, will there mind need to be where it should be? Also, it is very expensive to rent a track as we all know.

I would think a large parking lot would be more benificial although maybe a little harder to set up. There would be a lot of run off room and you could set up several different "events" at the same time. You could have a wet skid pad, accident avoidance, braking exercises, braking and turning (ABS) stuff, etc etc.....

This could all be done in a parking lot.


Just a thought.

[STU]

I think something like this is a good idea. I would focus the school on car control though. Hard braking, defensive driving type of stuff. Sprinklers could wet down a parking lot so they could see how the car handles at a slower speeds. Then move to a small AX course maybe. Not sure teaching Teenagers only how to take a corner fast would be a good idea.

[winddysvt]

Originally posted by STU
I think something like this is a good idea. I would focus the school on car control though. Hard braking, defensive driving type of stuff. Sprinklers could wet down a parking lot so they could see how the car handles at a slower speeds. Then move to a small AX course maybe. Not sure teaching Teenagers only how to take a corner fast would be a good idea.

---------------

my post above states that this event will be a defense course - an educational course. No racing, no high speeds.

I think I'm starting to like the idea of the parking lot -- that may be a good idea...

but, where?

We are hoping to have it somewhere that isn't too far east or west, somewhere in between to encourage drivers from all over....

[winddysvt]

Originally posted by Dean95CobraR
I'm not sure that an actual track is where you want to be. Sure it's fun to learn apexes, turn in points and etc but it's not what the average teenagers need to be a good driver on the street. Yes, they would learn car control but if you put them out on the track, will there mind need to be where it should be? Also, it is very expensive to rent a track as we all know.

I would think a large parking lot would be more benificial although maybe a little harder to set up. There would be a lot of run off room and you could set up several different "events" at the same time. You could have a wet skid pad, accident avoidance, braking exercises, braking and turning (ABS) stuff, etc etc.....

This could all be done in a parking lot.


Just a thought.

===============
Dean -
I like this idea..

my problem is that I have never been to an event set up in a parking lot... I wouldn't have any idea where to start.

We have been conversing with Jeff - and I was actually hoping for Mid-America,
but maybe your right, we may not be able to afford that. Especially considering it is for teenagers and young adults....

We could call it...
DRIVING EXPERIENCE FOR TEENAGERS and YOUNG ADULTS??


or something... that way it doesn't have the word
"School" in it...

even though it will be!

[97whitevert]

i think the idea of doing this in a parking lot, is the best idea! I am sure that there are a few people that know about setting this up out there. Good luck!

[winddysvt]

Originally posted by 97whitevert
i think the idea of doing this in a parking lot, is the best idea! I am sure that there are a few people that know about setting this up out there. Good luck!

============



parking lot idea is excellant.

However, there are a few places that do have a defensive driving course for teenagers - and it is held on a track.

----

maybe the real trick is to ask the 17-25 year olds which event they would be more likely to sign up for!!

[kevin]

i agree with dean and the others that a prking lot set of excercises would be the best way to start. a track like road america is far to long for beginners because it has so much going on. i think it would take away from the idea of a car handling kind of thing.

if you could find a track that is smaller and quickly learned and has an area large enough for skid control types of experiences that might be the best of both worlds. force the students to lear technique the first day or two and then put some of it to practice on the track for a day or so. they need to learn there's more to safe driving than starting out on a track.

unfortuantly outside of motorsport ranch in texas i don't know who has both

[STU]

Originally posted by kevin
unfortuantly outside of motorsport ranch in texas i don't know who has both

Summit Point has an excellent facility. Skid pad and small oval with sprinklers. Also the small Jefferson Circuit Track.

BSR located there has an excellent highway safety course.
http://www.bsr-inc.com/index.html