Just took Bridgestone Winter Driving School

Tommy and I just went through the Bridgestone Winter Driving School in Steamboat Springs. Had a lot of fun, learned a bunch. I have always wanted to try ice racing, and it is just as hard and just as fun as I had imagined.

Also went snowmobiling yesterday. Turns out the guy who runs the snowmobiling company is a reader and runs a 914 with RMVR. Small world.

We are casually talking about putting a GRM winter driving day (or weekend) together here in Steamboat Springs next year. Any interest?

Oh, for those who want to learn more... www.winterdrive.com

Come on up to NY state . We held our first race last Sunday. We will be running a two day event at Tupper Lake on Jan 30-31. they even have heated restrooms. then another two day at Lake George on Feb.27-28. we even have a Bridgstone sponsored Street Legal class that runs on Blizzaks. For more info: www.icerace.com

outstanding training ground, those low-grip surfaces. my former employer used to have the Bridgestone guys come out to our winter test facility in upper MI each year to give the engineers some instruction. Tanner Foust was my instructor one year -- this was around 1998 or so.

Kinda makes Florida look more flat and boring than ever, eh Tim?

Dan

914Driver wrote: Kinda makes Florida look more flat and boring than ever, eh Tim? Dan

You should see the roads we're using for the Orange Blossom Tour. You'll never look at Florida the same way again.

Back on topic, I love the idea of a winter driving experience. Growing up in Rochester and living in Detroit have given me a love for driving in the white stuff. Also, Colorado is an awesome place to visit!

I've been thinking about paying that place a visit. So you can probably figure on a couple of people making the trek from Grand Junction to Steamboat if there's a GRM day and the price isn't too painful.

Growing up with a rwd car in a place where it snows a lot had a significant influence on my driving style

In reply to Keith:

+1

I learned to drive in the snow in a miata and a 7 series. The 7 could do long, smooth, opposite lock slides forever. I used to scare my mom to death in that thing.

I'd love to try ice racing but there really isn't anywhere that does that sort of thing in southern Ohio. We don't usually have any lasting snow and it isn't really cold enough to freeze the bigger lakes.

Keith wrote: Growing up with a rwd car in a place where it snows a lot had a significant influence on my driving style

+1, but with less snow, and more gravel. First car I ever drove alone was a '72 El Camino, with a modded 350. On gravel. I learned what opposite lock was very quickly! :D

Tim, Tommy. Which level of the school did you guys go for?

For years I've been participating in the Boston BMW CCA Ice Racing series. It's basically autocross on a frozen lake. Though the main course is timed, the emphasis is on learning and control. I say "main" course because in addition to the timed competition course there is usually a small untimed practice course as well. I sometimes have more fun on that than on the competition course. It's a great way to learn car control, and it applies to ice, snow, gravel, or pavement. Sometimes there's a fair amount of grip, but other times it's insanely slick, giving you lots of time to think about your control inputs and train yourself for higher speeds.

Here's a video I made at one of last year's events. (If you liked Wagon Attack, you'll like this one - it's my RT4WD Civic wagon on studded tires. )

iceracer wrote: Come on up to NY state . We held our first race last Sunday. We will be running a two day event at Tupper Lake on Jan 30-31. they even have heated restrooms. then another two day at Lake George on Feb.27-28. we even have a Bridgstone sponsored Street Legal class that runs on Blizzaks. For more info: www.icerace.com

I know what I'm doing next winter

+1 to the Winter driving school.

I used Ebay "profits" to pay my way thru the 1 day "Safety" driving class 2 years ago.

Lotsa seat time. Learned that much of the "OH BERKLEY" experience acquired in dah UP translated to better techniques on the ice in SS.

Did you know that you can make a Camry oversteer without the handbrake? Yeah, me neither.

Rog

I dirt bagged it in the Boat for a healthy five years and always salivated driving by their site(before they moved out to the lake) to and from work and skiing. I think seat time at the school would have been super beneficial, however looking back at it the 135' of snow in the five years I was there probably gave me comparable seat time to at least a few days of the school

I just found out about ice racing in our area recently and plan on giving it a go this weekend! I guess we'll see the how experience fairs.

I took the fifth gear course, which was pretty much everything and Tommy took the second gear course.

emodspitfire wrote: +1 to the Winter driving school. I used Ebay "profits" to pay my way thru the 1 day "Safety" driving class 2 years ago. Lotsa seat time. Learned that much of the "OH BERKLEY" experience acquired in dah UP translated to better techniques on the ice in SS. Did you know that you can make a Camry oversteer without the handbrake? Yeah, me neither. Rog

My Instructor said: I noticed you left foot braking in the Camry. Normally I'd say you weren't separating the controls, but you were having fun, and the scared look on your partner's face was priceless!

...

Defensive driving is really important in places like Florida. So I plan to have the defensive driving classes through which I can learn some tips to avoid the mishaps.