MNSOC Winter Car Control Instructional Driving Event!

REGISTER HERE:
http://mnsubaru.com/forums/showthread.php?p=555866

update on post #43

[FONT=&quot]We currently don’t really have an organized club driving event… don’t you think it’s about time we did? [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The MNSOC officer’s group has been working on hosting our first ever instructional driving event this winter. THIS IS NOT A RACE! THIS EVENT IS FOCUSED ON CAR CONTROL AND SAFETY! This will be an opportunity for drivers to hone their skills with close instruction from a pool of very talented and accomplished drivers.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]So here’s your chance to offer up some feedback. Is this something you’re interested in? What specifically would you like to learn about or see happen at an event like this? Are you a handraiser?[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I’ll be updating this thread periodically as updates arise. This is a gaging interest/announcement thread. The official sign up thread will be posted as we draw closer to the (TBD) event date.

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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]MNSOC Winter car control event

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]What?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Full day of winter car control/accident avoidance driving instruction at DCTC.
Focus will be on car control/accident avoidance, but advanced instruction will be given to advanced students based on instructor discretion.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A short morning session will be held indoors. Drivers will receive classroom instruction on basic and intermediate car control theory.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The majority of the day will be dedicated to closely instructed driving sessions as well as solo driving.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We plan to have 1 instructor for every 2-3 students!

[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Instructors (subject to change):[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Mark U (Mayhem83), Chong (Musashi), Mike Wagner (Mike Wagner), Derek Wagner (SimRacer), Matt (Bikerboy), Mark H. (Vector), Brent Carlson (Stick).[/FONT]
​

[FONT=&quot]Where[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]DCTC[/FONT] driving course (including skid pad for all the autoxers)

[FONT=&quot]When[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]
TBD, but we are looking at late-January/February to ensure there will be snow/ice on the ground.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Pay structure[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]
minimum non-refundable $50 deposit required on registration (full payment also accepted). Remaining ~$100 due 1 week prior to event. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]$150 member cost for a full day of instruction, lunch, and plenty of seat time. Given our current course design and schedule, I would estimate 50-100+ miles of seat time… Joel might be able to double that [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Cost will be higher for non-members at $175... you might as well get a $10 membership to get the instant discount![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
There will be a cap set to ~20 drivers.[/FONT]

Event schedule and Course layout are already prepared, but subject to change.

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I will add all additional info to this post as it becomes available, so subscribe and stay tuned!

 

You've got plenty of notice... start saving those pennies! Or charging for those cupcakes :yumyum:... wait... no, don't do that!

 

Great point. Volunteers will be needed and appreciated. You'll get a free classroom session and lunch, but dress warm... it'll be a long afternoon!

Slalom and braking exercises?
Like this?



Section 1: Skid pad (hopefully ice) - steady state slalom. Need starter here.

Section 2: Concrete pad - Lane change exercise and braking exercise. Need starter/marshal here.

Section 3 and 4: Off-camber downhill chicane (right to left followed by left to right). Need photographer and spotter here. Need Marshal on 4 as it will be a hairy turn if you come in too hot.

Section 5: downhill steady state slalom. Need 1 marshal and 2 cone pickers.

Section 6: uphill steady state slalom into offset slalom. Need 2 cone pickers.



Video would be great, but unless you bring your own in car set-up, I don't see it happening... maybe in a couple years the club will be able to afford some nice gear. I do plan to have someone there to photograph tho.

 

Out of car footage is usually pretty hard to analyze. Especially at a venue this big. Good call on of having an out of car camera at the end of a slalom though. Makes for pretty cool footage and can be really helpful in figuring out what you're doing right/wrong:

 

No, I'm Asian, jerk ... I did get a bit behind on the 4th cone there... anyway, back on topic.

 

Considering the amount of seat time, I think it's a killer deal... not to mention the instruction and food.

1 autox/rallyx event will cost you $30-50 for ~6 runs (3-12 miles depending on the venue).

 

thanks, we'll be in touch

fair enough

 

More than you can afford, pal. DCTC

 

Yes, 5 is srt-4 corner. Snow or no snow, there will be strategically placed cones and gates to reduce speeds in the hairy sections. There are site rules and limits that we need to be very mindful and respectful of.

 

This is a cool idea. I was planning on making "certificates" of completion for all participants... including name and a picture of the driver's car. Something similar to the trophies given out by the Corvettes of Minnesota club at their autox events... but a merit based system would be cheaper and less work for me:biggrin: JK, assuming I get enough photographs, I'll still plan to make certificates for all the drivers.

 

My mug shots are always funny looking... whether I try to be or not :ugh:


Update: We are currently rounding the instructors up to iron out the details for this event.

 

!!!UPDATE!!!

This event will now be a 1.5-day event. Evening classroom instruction will be held Saturday, Feb. 7th and the all day driving instruction (with mini classroom sessions) will be held Sunday, February 8th.

Please be patient as we nail down the formalities... such as a registration form.

For now, here are the details for the event:

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MNSOC Winter car control event


What:
Half day of classroom driving instruction focusing on winter car preparation, equipment, safety, and driving instruction. Full day of winter car control/accident avoidance driving instruction at DCTC.

The half day (day 1) will focus on general concepts and tips regarding winter car control and accident avoidance. You will receive instruction on proper car set-up, safety, and equipment as it relates to weather conditions and vehicle dynamics.

The second day will be broken down into 2 main sessions: morning and afternoon. The morning session will be broken into 2 groups. Each group will alternate between instructed driving and classroom assistance. These classroom sessions will provide you with a follow up to the preceding day’s instruction and will serve as an opportunity to present and discuss more detailed and specific questions as they relate to your vehicle and driving style.

Focus will be on car control, accident avoidance, and safety, but advanced instruction will be given to advanced students based on instructor discretion.

This event will be directed by our talented and accomplished group of instructors. We will have 1 instructor per every 2 students available. Individual instruction will be another main focus of this event.

Required Equipment:
·Radios – you are required to have a working FRS radio with new batteries.
·Helmet – A DOT approved helmet is required. If you plan to do any motorsports events, it is highly recommended that you acquire a Snell2005 rated helmet. There will be loaner helmets available. You will be responsible for any damages done to your loaner helmet.
·Working vehicle that passes tech inspection. Tech sheet to come (it will be simple and will cover things like a secured battery and no broken suspension or gushing fluids).

Pay structure:
minimum non-refundable $50 deposit required on registration (full payment also accepted). Remaining ~$100 due 1 week prior to event.

Date:
February 7th (evening classroom instruction. venue tbd) and 8th (driving instruction at DCTC)

Instructors and Participant cap:
There will be 7 instructors total (1 classroom teaching classroom and 6 on course):
Brent Carlson
Mark Holden
Mark Utecht
Derek Wagner
Mike Warner
Chong (Musashi)
Matt (Bikerboy)

There will be a cap of 24 students to ensure that there is 1 instructor per every 2 students.

Event schedule:
Introduction - Introduce event organizers and instructors. Drivers introduce themselves. Talk about the day’s schedule. Talk about safety. Talk about flags and signals. Hand out schedules and course maps. Adjourn to classroom session.

Day 1 (classroom instruction) (2 hours) Curriculum to follow.

Car Preparation, tires 101, emergency equipment/gear, do’s and don’ts.

Prep – Block heater, oil weight, tire pressure, battery, brakes, visibility, exhaust leaks, towing coverage.

Equipment – sand, shovel, blanket, flashlight, flares, non-perishables, waterproof matches, coffee can, spare tire, jumper cables, tow straps.

Instruction on contact patch, traction circle, foresight, braking (modulation), how to recover from a skid.

More advanced – line, controlling a slide, linking slides, vehicle dynamics and weight transfer.

Day 2 (driving instruction)

Morning session: classroom (group A starts in classroom)(1 hour): Classroom instruction going into greater detail about topics covered the night before. Open discussion based on individual needs. Curriculum to follow.

Morning Session: driving (group B starts on course)(1 hour): Instructors ride and/or drive with students – Students drive with guidance from instructor. The course will be broken into 3 (possibly 4) distinct sections. Each of these sections will serve as practice stations where you will repeat certain maneuvers and encounter certain situations repeatedly.

The 3 sections will include:

Skid pad – traction circle and contact patch – learn to feel the limits of your vehicle as you hold the car at oversteer.
Concrete pad – braking and lane change – learn to modulate your brakes and how to react when you upset the car.
Downhill chicane to carousel – traction circle, accident avoidance, and slip angle – learn to control the car in an off-camber, traction limited environment. Learn to swerve towards the snow bank rather than the oncoming vehicle. Learn to feel the limits of traction while predictably and safely maneuvering your vehicle under these conditions.

Groups A and B switch mid-morning.

FREE Lunch (45 minutes) – mingle and chat. Re-energize and re-focus for the “application” part of the day.

Afternoon circuit session (remainder of afternoon):

Open circuit with optional instruction - No more modularized clinics. Continuous driving. This is your chance to "unpack your experiences" and apply the concepts and techniques you have learned and observed. Training for corner workers/flag workers will be provided during classroom session. Instructors can hide out and stay warm in the pit area while they wait for ride-alongs. Students encouraged, but not required to have instructors ride along. Students are expected to adhere to all safety standards and rules as presented both days.

Course layout:
Under construction

 

[place holder for tech inspection sheet]