TireRack Street Survival course

I just registered my son for the 8/30 class in Columbus, OH. Anyone from the area instruct these? This one is administered by BMWCCA. My son is firmly in the phase of 'my dad is a moron, and has nothing to teach me anymore' , so hopefully he'll pick up a good foundation in car control from the class. He seems pretty excited about the class from a few videos I found.

I got to instruct at one last year. It was a good time for both the students and the instructors. I had one kid that sounds like your son. He had the whole attitude that he didn't need a "stupid" driving school. By the end of the day he was smiling from ear to ear, having a blast, and looked a bit heartbroken when the day was over. I think he will enjoy it more than he thinks he will.

I took my daughter when she was 16 and we thought the class was great.

I have taught both in car and as the classroom instructor multiple times for the past several years and co-organized a TRSS course last year. Spoolpigeon's description of students' responses is typical. The kids generally have way more fun than what they thought they were going to experience. It's an excellent program which is lots of fun and I'm convinced that it saves lives.

I think he's excited, but trying to downplay it. He'll do better with somebody else doing the instructing.

One thing I find interesting in a pathetic way - none of his friends or their parents were interested, nor is anybody I work with who have teenagers (apart from one of the surgeons who is a PCA driving instructor). For some reason, the standard $350 'driver ed' course is fine, but $75 for something that teaches actual car control and vehicle dynamics is 'too much' or 'not necessary'.
These same co-workers are unable to get to work without crashing in the winter despite 'needing' an AWD vehicle, but can't make the connection.

I have taught at schools down here in Florida, and I think it's an excellent program.

I've instructed at the local TRSS for the first time earlier this year and I think both students enjoyed it (although one left early so I didn't get feedback).

Heck, one of the parents went "I wanna do this" so we told her about our local autocross school a few weeks later. And yes, she did attend .

Update. Success! No one died, I think at least half the kids there were of the 'I don't need to be here, this is stupid' mentality at 9am, mine included. Lots of 'spirited discussion' on the way down. There was a transition point around 10:00 though (Note small amount of opposite lock, and smile on driver's face) <img src="" />

Similar changes were seen among many others. Also, all of them were noticably more confident as the day went on. Very cool.

Other highlights: <img src="" /> Fire truck was there to demo blind spots around large things, and talk about how to avoid being a shiny happy person around them. M6 was beautiful.

They also blew off an airbag with a cone on top of it. The cone ended up about 50 yards away.

Ironically, we drove ~120 miles to the class, and his in-car instructor lives about two miles from us.

My Son is only 9 and we (wife and I) are already planning for him to take these type of courses. I did most of this "skill development" on my own using incomplete subdivisions in the 80s. Can't really do that anymore as they are harder to find.

Glad he had a good time. Hopefully he had (and will admit) he enjoyed it and learned something.

Thanks for reminding me, I need to contact the local CCA and SCCA about getting an exception to run in one if offered in mid-late October or November as there's a chance that I'll be able to take the keys by then. Having not driven since June I want a refresher as I'll be well out of practice and likely done to the awareness and skill level of "average commuter", which is not a good place to be.

I just ran an article about it on one of the blogs that I run:

http://knowhow.napaonline.com/street-survival-teen-driver-education-on-the-edge/

I try to promote stuff like this when I can. We did an article on Track Night too: http://knowhow.napaonline.com/drive-your-car-on-a-racetrack-track-night-in-america/

I instructed one in SD last year and am signed up to do it again this year.

Both of my students had a great time. Pretty sure the parents had just as big of a smile on there face too.

After that day I felt really good about the fact that 75 more teenagers now had a good head on their shoulders when behind the wheel.

The biggest precursor to being an instructor wasn't driving skill/knowledge, it was handling teens that were either timid or knew everything already.

So excited that my daughter is doing the course this October in St. Augustine. She's not thrilled, but the course was not presented as optional.

Good stuff. I've instructed a few of these with the hoosier BMWCCA and they've always been good events. I was actually a student at one of the first ones around here.

I was thinking about having my wife do one...what do you think? I did one 10 years ago....maybe I'll do it again for fun.

I've put both Duke Daughters and DD#2's boyfriend through the program, and I heartily approve of the format. DD#1 was eager and thoroughly enjoyed it. DD#2 was not eager (though not really resistant) and also thoroughly enjoyed it. Both learned a ton about car control.

My local club is looking to get involved and help host one here in Delaware. I've also coached a couple of times at Tire Rack / BMWCCA / Philly Region SCCA schools, which was very rewarding as well.

I've wanted to instruct these for a while but they don't come around often enough and when they do my schedule conflicts. Someday.

Enyar wrote: I was thinking about having my wife do one...what do you think? I did one 10 years ago....maybe I'll do it again for fun.

It's for ages 15-21. Does your wife fall in that age bracket?

Otherwise an AutoX practice day or Novice school would be an alternate idea.

I've been an in car instructor at 2 Street Survival courses and plan to be at another one in October. Have found the same response as mentioned from students.

Our local club starts the season with a school open to all ages. Have instructed basic at that for a few years now. I found it good for the instructors too, forces you to do things correctly to teach students the proper method. Helps get away from the bad habits from off season.

The Hoff wrote:

Enyar wrote: I was thinking about having my wife do one...what do you think? I did one 10 years ago....maybe I'll do it again for fun.

It's for ages 15-21. Does your wife fall in that age bracket? Otherwise an AutoX practice day or Novice school would be an alternate idea.

Whoops!

AutoX was next on the list. We're trying to burn up the tires on her little Corolla so we can swap them with a set of Prius wheels I bought off craigslist.

Yeah, I wish there was a reasonably-priced and reasonably-local adult version of Street Survival. I would get my wife to take it, and probably go with her. She's a fine driver, but I would like to have her get more understanding of near- and past-limits behaviour. I can't talk her into trying autocross, but I could get her to do this.

Wish they had one in the DC area as I want my niece to attend one. Closest is either Allentown or Salem, VA.

Duke wrote: Yeah, I wish there was a reasonably-priced and reasonably-local adult version of Street Survival. I would get my wife to take it, and probably go with her. She's a fine driver, but I would like to have her get more understanding of near- and past-limits behaviour. I can't talk her into trying autocross, but I could get her to do this.

Found an autocross event just down the street from where we live on Oct 10th. I'm going to sign up my wife and we're both going to drive the Corolla....should be interesting!

I've helped at two in the Dayton area, and would love to again but the person that really spearheaded the program has been MIA the last year or so with school and other life stuff. And trying to get others to put one together is way worse than any cat herding would ever be.

First thing in the am is get the kids behind the wheel either doing emergency braking or something else to squeel tires. That gets them in the "hey this might be kinda cool" mood. We used a fire truck to show the lack of view they have and even I was quite shocked to know 5 cars were parked around the truck and I couldn't see E36 M3.