driver-training

Driveteq announces 2017 event schedule at CTMP

January 14, 2017 by Gary Grant 1 Comment

As a motorsport journalist, one of the most common questions I am asked by newcomers is, “how can I get to drive on the track?”

Even fifteen years ago, the answer was not so easy. It was difficult to get a car that wasn’t a full blown race car onto a track. Today however, it seems as if there is a lapping day going on pretty much every day somewhere in Ontario. Even in the Winter, weather permitting. The challenge is finding one that offers an affordable price, driver training options and a laid back,yet safe and inviting environment.

Some track days are run like an old boys club, where newcomers are sort of welcome, but rules are loose and many of the cars are really fast. Experience levels vary. Other events are run by other newbies, who may not quite have a handle on the safety and instruction elements needed to run a track day.

Over the past couple of years however, our friends Gerry Low and Rick Morelli at Driveteq have grown their business from a handful of friends spending the day at the track to a full blown track day experience, with literally dozens of events every season. Driveteq’s days have an open and inviting vibe that comes as a result of the duo’s passion for the sport and its people. Their people include a roster of talented and experienced instructors and support staff who love to see their guests improve. This vibe means that experienced drivers with fast cars also join in the fun too.

Newcomers will receive instruction from some of the country’s top high performance driving personalities.

For 2017, Driveteq has listed thirteen events at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Le Circuit Mont Tremblant. Once you become part of their circle though, you quickly learn that Driveteq seems to hold almost constant events throughout the year, as they snap up any date that becomes available, sometimes even within days.

Driveteq 2017 schedule

CTMP Driver Development Centre
1. Sunday, April 23
2. Friday June 16
3. Sunday, August 20

CTMP Grand Prix track
1. Tuesday, May 16
2. Tuesday, May 30
3. Friday, June 30
4. Monday, July 10
5. Wednesday, August 2
6. Monday, August 28
7. Monday, September 18
8. Thursday, October 5

Mont Tremblant
1. Wednesday, May 31
2. Thursday, June 1

To learn more, visit Driveteq online here

Mazda2 fills the need from road to track

July 19, 2011 by Gary Grant 1 Comment

With a young lady of driving age in The Garage, we’ve been fortunate to have been spending a lot of time with Anna He and the rest of the gang at Sweetie Girl Racing lately. The idea is that young Miss Shelby should spend as much time on as many different tracks as possible, so that she becomes absolutely the best driver possible. It helps that an advanced driving school type of event is more fun than pretty much any roller coaster.

Team SGR builds fun in to the teaching program to ensure that students of all ages and driving experience are enjoying their day while learning the finer points of advanced driving. This is not a racing school, although several instructors are fully qualified racing instructors as well, so the program is able to fulfill the needs of students as they advance. Team SGR is also not a girls only club. Their events are more about making everyone feel comfortable. There are no egos here!
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Sweetie Girl Racing goes Karting with The Discovery Channel

June 24, 2011 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago we were privileged to spend a day at the track with the fine folks at Sweetie Girl Racing. We’ve still got stories to come from that event, but you can check out our fun video from the day here. Today, we’re at GrandPrix Kartways at Toronto’s Downsview Park for one of Team SGR’s First Gear Intro to Advanced Driving events, presented by Sailun Tires.

Today’s event has been less about learning and more about fun and a bit of friendly competition with Alan Nursall from The Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet show.

All of the young ladies taking part today have some previous track experience, so there wasn’t much in the way of a classroom session like there normally would be. Instead, the day started with a track walk, as Team SGR founder, Anna He, described the preferred line around the indoor kart track. Along with the proper line, Anna explained the braking points needed to turn in a fast lap.

After that, the ladies went out on track and taught Nursall a lesson!
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The Garage Blog Winter Driving Academy proves value of tires and training

December 28, 2010 by Gary Grant 2 Comments

Juliana Chiovitti shows proper hand placement

Now that the turkey coma has subsided and the Boxing Day madness has passed by, I can tell you all about our first ever Winter Driving Academy!

Just a few days before Christmas, we gathered at Mosport with a flock of young drivers (and one not so young driver) who were enjoying their holiday break from school. They were about to add a twist that they will never forget to the break.

With the legendary Grand Prix track buried in new snow, the day began with breakfast and a classroom session where chief instructors Gerry Lowe and John Mahler taught students the basics of car control and a bit of the physics behind the techniques they would learn.

One can only learn so much about driving in a classroom, so after the lessons, the group moved over to the west end of the property, where a water truck was busy turning that fresh snow into an icy surface on the skidpad. The fun was about to begin!

Gerry and John were joined by Canadian racers Kyle Marcelli and Juliana Chiovitti as they put the drivers through a series of exercises designed to allow them to feel how a car reacts in extreme conditions and then progressively learn how to control the situation.
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The Garage Blog announces our first Winter Driving Academy for teens

December 9, 2010 by Gary Grant 3 Comments

Here at The Garage Blog, it sorta goes without saying that we all love driving. All of us on the team have been driving for years and most of us have honed our skills at a driving school or 5 over the years. The confidence that comes from knowing how to control a vehicle in adverse conditions makes driving that much more enjoyable. More importantly, those skills could save your life and maybe even those of your loved ones.

Just like many of our readers, I have a teenage driver in the family. Given that the forecasters are calling for the worst Winter in years, it makes sense that we should host our first Winter Driving Academy for younger drivers. While it may be short notice for some, the WDA is happening on December 21, which makes good use of the Christmas break for students. The school will be held on the skid pad at the historic Mosport facility.
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Newbie fail at the drag strip

August 5, 2010 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

Before I say anything, watch the video.

Once we all quit giggling at this doofus’ blunder, let’s think about what just happened. A first time drag racer lined up at the start of his first race in his new supercar. When his more experienced competitor began heating the tires of his heavily modified sub-compact, our newbie misunderstood and launched the car down the track.

In road racing, it is pretty much universal that no driver goes on the track without some sort of schooling. I’m assuming the oval track folks have a similar procedure, though maybe not as the speeds on most short tracks is negligible in most cars. The reason for this training is to ensure that there is as little potential for injury as possible. Not only is the safety of the driver being protected, but so is that of the course workers.

From what I understand, most drag strips allow people to show up and run down the strip. That’s obviously the case with this schmo, as he had no clue what would happen when he got to the line.

He’s driving a vehicle capable of reaching 60 mph from a standing start in 3.4 seconds, does the 1/4 in the mid 11’s and 120 mph*. Most strips require a helmet and harnesses for cars capable of sub 12 second runs, and yet someone let this guy out on the strip when he didn’t know what to expect! Was he wearing a helmet? Who knows, the tint was too dark to tell.

I hope there were no track workers sweeping somewhere on the track, as they would have had the stuffing scared out of them at least.

The point I’m making here is that it doesn’t matter what the venue is, drivers should not be allowed into a competitive environment unless they have been taught at least the very basics of the sport. I’ve never even been to a real drag race, yet I have a pretty good idea of the starting process thanks to a modern invention called television. If this dude had kicked the bucket, or worse killed a worker, the track owners would be in deep, deep doo!

*note: I mention these numbers as this is what the car is reportedly capable of. No, I don’t think our subject would likely attain those numbers, but that is beside the point.

PSA: make all the drivers in your family watch this

December 11, 2009 by Gary Grant 2 Comments

Normally we post the fun side of cars here in The Garage but as has been said, with the light comes the dark. The Premier of Victoria in Australia has released the following video compilation as a reminder for people to drive safe during the holidays. It is not a pleasant video and they are airing in just once. Fortunately, they have shared it with the world via Youtube so we can scare some sense into as many drivers as possible around the world. I urge you to share this with as many folks as you can.

Stay in School You Punks!

December 13, 2006 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

Here go those lawyers again, thinking like adults when they’re trying to fix teenage problems. Problem: Kids dropping out of school. Solution:Ummmm, I know, let’s take away their driver’s license!

This is what the lawmakers here in Ontario have done. The politicians have decided that any Ontario teen under the age of 18 who drops out of high school will have their driver’s license revoked.
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Canada’s Worst Driver 2

November 15, 2006 by Gary Grant 4 Comments

The Discovery Channel is following up the successful Canada’s Worst Driver show with a second season. We watched Monday’s episode and it was pretty funny. But what struck me most is the choice of expert judges.

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Hooked on Driving Sample Video #3

November 10, 2006 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

Things are incredibly busy here in The Garage today, so it’s a good time for a video. Oh and what a video. Shell’s upcoming Hooked on Driving DVD is looking like it may be one of the best driver training aids ever produced. Sample clip #3 covers one of the questions most often asked by aspiring drivers, How do I heel & toe and why?

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