Advanced Hiway Driving Course, Monday August 17th

[Pink Lady]

Hey Smart Owners of Smart Cars - this is quite an opportunity to extend you SMART-I-NESS ....... presenting an OUTSTANDING Driving Course for all Smarts!

Event Summary ====================

2009 Pacific Northwest Smart Event,
Smart advanced highway driving course and track session
Monday August 17, 2009 at Mission Race track in Mission, BC (Near
Vancouver)
Event details are available - 21 entrants already !!!! :
2009 Pacific Northwest smart Event - Club smart Car


In conjunction with the School there will also be a barbeque and a show
and shine event.
================================================== =========
Last year we had a driving School and we learned how to handle city
situations in our Smarts.

This time we learn how to handle higher speed highway and freeway
situations in our Smarts.

Entrants will come away from the school a smoother and more consistent
driver who is better able to read road and traffic conditions.

The school and track time is all applicable to daily driving and
learning to drive safer and more efficiently which you learn best by
slightly pushing your limits on the track. To keep the safety we make it
all about precision thus leaving a big margin for safety.

NOBODY WILL BE EXPECTED TO DRIVE OUTSIDE THEIR ABILITIES.
You pass other cars courteously like you would on the street.
Some drivers going faster some going slower and all learning how to read
the road situation and act accordingly.

This is rather like starting your driving license test then finding your
mother is in the hospital and you need to get there now.
You drive quickly and properly but your pushing it as much as you feel
comfortable doing so.

===================================
40 participants, at ~$162.50 each* (or 20 at about $300.00 each)

* 830 start (registration/coffee/doughnuts)
* classroom for about 30 minutes, and
* then we go to the track and do some warm-up exercises (slalom,
braking, cornering), and
* then we do some orientation lapping to get the participants
familiar with the track, and
* then we split the group in 2, 1 group to advanced classroom
(cornering techniques, trail braking etc) while the other group is on
the track. If 20 cars are on the track, there would be 4 instructors
with 5 cars each. Instructor as passenger in the lead car of the 5 and
coaching that driver, the other 4 follow the line. The other 3
instructors would do the same with their 5 people. Then after a few
laps, instructor moves into another car etc.
* About 25 minutes or so, the 2 groups switch, and so on. The people
get lots of seat time!



They do track days with all sorts of different clubs (BMW, Mustang,
Audi, Subaru), so their guys have lots of experience. They also run the
Mercedes Benz Driving Academy, which includes lots of track days across
Canada http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?id=625
*The track hasn't finalized the price yet, so it might change a little.
===================================
Starts with about one hour of basic and advanced driving techniques and
1:5 instructor:student for practical on-course instruction. We will each
get some time with an instructor on board for personal direction and
input as well.

Structure is basically an 830 start (registration/coffee/doughnuts)
followed by classroom of about 30 minutes. Then we go to the track and
do some warm-up exercises (slalom, braking, cornering) and then we do
some orientation lapping to get the participants familiar with the
track. Then we split the group in 2, 1 group to advanced classroom
(cornering techniques, trail braking etc) while the other group is on
the track. If 20 cars are on the track, there would be 4 instructors
with 5 cars each. Instructor as passenger in the lead car of the 5 and
coaching that driver, the other 4 follow the line. The other 3
instructors would do the same with their 5 people. Then after a few
laps, instructor moves into another car etc.

About 25 minutes or so, the 2 groups switch, and so on. The people
get lots of seat time!

=====Local information===============
Best Western Mission City Lodge
32281 Lougheed Highway,
Mission, British Columbia, V2V 1A3, CA
Phone: 604/820-5500
Fax: 604/820-5510

1 mile away from Mission Raceway.
CAD $107 to $125 per night. LINKAGE

Restaurants:
Rockwell's Bar & Grill, on premises & Licensed, serving breakfast,
lunch, & dinner
6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday
6:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Friday & Saturday.

1. OR...0.1 kilometer(s) from ABC Family Restaurant
2. 0.3 kilometer(s) from The Pantry
3. 0.4 kilometer(s) from Mission Springs
4. 0.4 kilometer(s) from McDonald's

For more information, PM SmartiesUSA or email to bobf@oodg.net

[Dave777]

I believe those prices are in Canadian, so one should use something like www.xe.com for US $$.

[jimvw57]

Sounds like a good time!! wish there was something similar around here.

[Pink Lady]

I believe those prices are in Canadian, so one should use something like XE - The World's Favorite Currency and Foreign Exchange Site for US $$.

Appreciate the input !

Sue

[bigcritter]

We REALLY need to get more people on the list for this, since it will bring the price down for everyone, and it'll become a VERY good deal for all! The prices quoted are based on last year's track cost of $6500, and they were purportedly going to raise their price this year, and no one on the "Club smart car" forum has listed a definitive price for this year yet. SmartieUSA was going to find out what the exact cost will be for this year! So..... based on the "21" folks now signed up on the other forum, it would be $309.52 right now. It would be really nice if we could get another 10 or more folks signed up! More people = more fun = lower cost for everyone!! The lower the cost for the track day......the lower the overall cost per person for track, lodging, and food!!

[jetfuel]

Originally Posted by Pink Lady

we learned how to handle city
situations in our Smarts.

...does this include speed loading and accurate target shooting?

jetfuel...with my head on a swivel....

[SmartieUSA]

Originally Posted by jimvw57

Sounds like a good time!! wish there was something similar around here.

I am the organizer for this event and I tried to set it up origionally in the USA.
The reason we went with Canada is that the price per person in Seattle or Portlan would have been $545.00 US per car.

We can do this in Mission, BC, right outside Vancouver for less than that including hotels.
Also in the USA the SCCA made an arbitrary ruling that makes it difficult to run the Smart Cars.

So for this year we are able to do this event with
20 cars for about US $280 each driver (We have 21 cars today)
40 cars for about US $149 each driver (we should get his number by track day)

I will also be setting other events for next year and am working on private track rental for next year. But you will greatly benefit from this event if you want to join us for the local events next year. Otherwise you may need a driving school of some sort before I can get the insurance coverage to make it happen.

This should be a great event and is a follow on for those that took our course last year.

Please PM me if you have any questions.

I need commitments this week to guarantee your slot as I expect the class to fill quickly.

[bigcritter]

In my earlier post above, I didn't convert from Canadian dollars to U.S. dollars! Sorry! So 285 U.S. $ isn't bad at all!! However.......the more people that sign up, the better that price is going to get!! Hint....hint...hint.....

[smart fortimo]

And the latest word is..... Aug 17 Mission BC track event was cancelled

Keep your calendar and eyes open for the Aug 15-16 weekend for a meet/drive/lunch type event based either somewhere in the Seattle area or possibly still in the Mission BC area


Timo