Taught at Street Survival today

Usually twice a year our local SCCA hosts a Street Survival program, and today was the day. My student was 15. Gotta say, those years of motocross paid off. He knew how to look ahead, made smooth inputs, and was mature about the whole thing.

You could tell that he didn't have a ton of experience, though. For example, at first he was a bit too aggressive on the wet skidpad and plowed all over the place. After a quick explanation, he nailed it--even with the traction control off.

If there's a downside to the program, it's only a drop in bucket. Figure we run about 65 kids per year through it. I figure that's more than that living her in Central Florida.

Very cool. I promised my 15 year old niece I'd send her to the next one around here.since I might have to share the road with her. Not sure she'll hold up as well as a student as yours.

I taught at one of these earlier this year. You're right, very rewarding. My student was a 15 1/2 y/o girl that had already been in one accident. Was rewarding to see her gain confidence at the same time gaining knowledge. Looking forward to when we hold the next one here to do it again.

I've actually started asking my students if they have dirt bike or quad experience, as many do. Those are the students that generally breeze through the skid recovery portion, as they've learned to feel through their posterior what the vehicle is doing and react quickly.

We do the BRAKES program and can do about 70 students per day. 2 day event, held twice a year...still a drop in the bucket, but as I said in another thread, I only need to save ONE starfish for it to be worthwhile. Most rewarding thing I've ever done. My 'fear' of dealing with teenagers rapidly erased, and I now have a lot of fun with them. Most respond well to my sarcasm.

I want to teach one of these, it sounds like immense fun. How does one get involved?

Good question on how to get involved. Here in Central Florida, the Street Survival program is run by the same gentleman who heads our PDX program. He's also our SCCA Safety Steward, I believe. Know what? He must be a good leader because yesterday he had a bunch of hands helping. He contacts us when it's time to schedule a school

I'd say contact the program itself, and Bill Wade is probably the place to start: http://streetsurvival.org/contact/

David S. Wallens wrote: Good question on how to get involved. Here in Central Florida, the Street Survival program is run by the same gentleman who heads our PDX program. He's also our SCCA Safety Steward, I believe. Know what? He must be a good leader because yesterday he had a bunch of hands helping. He contacts us when it's time to schedule a school I'd say contact the program itself, and Bill Wade is probably the place to start: http://streetsurvival.org/contact/

Thanks for the heads up. I know the local chapter of the BMW CCA does a winter driving thing as well (you know, MN and all) and I'd LOVE to get some kids some confidence behind the wheel. This seems like another good way to do it.

It's neat seeing kids make real progress in just one day. As their confidence comes up, their driving smoothens out.

I almost instructed at our first Street Survival. My assigned student was a no show, so I got to wear the instructor shirt at least. Was fun watching the kids progress during the exercises. My niece was one of the students, and she has already avoided accidents due to the skills she learned. Wish schools taught these skills instead of the mundane crap they teach in drivers ed.

I've been sending all of my neices and nephews as soon as they are licensed. They have all enjoyed the program and say that they came away with some additional skills, knowledge and confidence that they are better equipped to handle the situation if something happens. I have a neice in the Sarasota area who will be due soon; you might be instructing her next time David!

Send her on down. This school took place in Geneva, which is kind of east or Orlando. The instructor pool mostly comes from the local autocross community--nice group of people.

It's an awesome experience. Back in Nov 2011, with the help of the local SCCA (GCR), I brought this course to the flightline of Keesler AFB, MS. It was nice having the ramp and having fun. I my Son did the course with his E30 and gained a lot of experience.

I instructed in about 5 classes and to date, they've had about 9 to date and now it's a staple for the military community.

As an added BONUS, we ran our points Autocross the following day. Why not, we have the flightline, with that nice concrete already..

I've assisted the Pensacola region with their lot acquisition and not it's a done deal at Manheim.

If you have a chance, volunteer!

The thing that I don't like about Street Survival is that they use the SCCA waiver, which for minors requires both parents to sign. We're a second marriage where the father is highly uncooperative and won't sign. It keeps us out of SCCA autocrosses and street survival. WKA, NASCAR and others are fine with one guardian signature.

Doesn't this form work with just the sole guardian? (I admit I might be missing something--been a day.)

http://streetsurvival.org/waiver-up.pdf

Unfortunately no. See the box between parent 1 and parent 2? That is to initial if you have sole custody. If both parents have custody rights then both must sign. Most other sanctioning bodies only have one line so we can work with those. Stinks for us.

In reply to glueguy:

I was filling those out by myself when I was 16.....

My nephew went to something similar after wrecking a few cars. Didn't do any good. Turns out he was a pot head. So, he went to a slightly different course after that-- one with 12 steps. So it could be worse...

yamaha wrote: In reply to glueguy: I was filling those out by myself when I was 16.....

I know, me too. The problem with being a grown-up and dealing with perhaps the shiniest happy person in the universe is gawd-forbid something does happen. With the behavior he's shown so far, it is beyond our risk tolerance to sign this surreptitiously and have to legally fight accusations of endangerment and willful misconduct, which is the way it will look when the form clearly requires both parents to sign. It's just not worth the fight, especially when there are so many other avenues that only require one parent's consent. It's what has always bugged me about the SCCA and this waiver once I became aware of it.

I've worked two so far. Always a great time watching the kids actually learn useful skills by the end of the day.

I taught at my first Street Survival this past June. It was one of the most rewarding things I have done. I truly felt that I made a difference in the ability of two young girls to drive safer, one 15 and one 16.

You never know, maybe what I did will save a life some day.

When GRM moved, they shipped out random boxes of random stuff to "lucky" winners. I was one - and in my box was a Street Survival instructor guide.

Glueguy, if I can find it, you're welcome to it so you can run your own personal SS course for your kid. Let me know.

Thanks Keith, you have pm

I also taught one, and I'm pretty sure the instructors manual says to leave the driver nannies on.

I took my 16 year old daughter to Street Survival in Portland this year and it was wonderful! And she got to drive her Mk2 MR2 hard. Great fun for me!

I have only worked one Street Survival event and think for most kids they are wonderful. I have a one particular concern about teen driver courses though.

I know the material and instructors stress that it is not, but some some teens will see it as just a way to go faster/take more risks, rather than how to handle emergency situations. Have any of you experienced instructors come across a teen like that? If so, do you handle them any different? Is there such a thing as "expelling" a student who is obviously treating the course that way and won't change their attitude?

I would hope the parents know the teen well enough to NOT sign up one that will do that. That may be naive of me though.