The Garage Blog

The Garage: Your daily dose of automotive news, reviews and motorsports coverage

Driveteq announces 2017 event schedule at CTMP

by 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

Related posts:

Catch the fever, go racing in Ontario Default ThumbnailDrift Mania comes to Mosport Default ThumbnailThe Garage Blog Winter Driving Academy proves value of tires and training Gallery: Thursday in the paddock at Grand Prix of Mosport Video: This is Testfest

Catch the fever, go racing in Ontario

by 3 Comments

Racing, you watch it on TV. You accelerate through the on-ramp thinking about the F1 race you just watched. When you have been pulled over and the red lights are flashing in your rear veiw mirror, you just sigh and think that only if you were on the autobahn this would not have happened. Or if you had purchased that 3 cylinder slowpoke instead of the V8 or turbo-charged adreneline inducing machine that you are currently driving – or rather, sitting in patiently while receiving a ticket.

It is time for a lifestyle change. For less than the cost of one speeding ticket (not counting insurance hikes) you can sign up for a day at the race track with Ontario Time Attack, a division of CASC-OR. Yes, this is the same CASC-OR that hosts many of the races that occur on Canadian soil at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (formerly known as Mosport) and even in downtown Toronto at the Indy. 
[Read more…]

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailBeing out front… Consistency is the key to success Default ThumbnailFat guys CAN drive formula cars! Default ThumbnailScion makes economy fun Mazda2 fills the need from road to track Introducing Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, formerly known as Mosport

Mazda2 fills the need from road to track

by 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!
[Read more…]

Related posts:

Its just a matter of time! Sweetie Girl Racing goes Karting with The Discovery Channel Default ThumbnailScion makes economy fun

Memories of Summer at the Mosport DDT

by Leave a Comment

While Mosport looks lovely under a blanket of snow and driving events on ice are fine and dandy, most of us here in The Garage are already yearning for higher levels of grip and the heat of the summer sun.

We may have to wait a few months for some heat at our fave track, but our good friend Duncan Johnson has just sent out this video which is sure to warm the soul on a cold Winter evening. Shot at Mosport’s Driver Development Track by Eshel Zweig, Johnson and friends have some fun flogging an M3, a Porsche and a rather evil sounding Vette.
[Read more…]

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailOn Track Today: 6th Gear Default ThumbnailWhat does blue mean to you? Default ThumbnailPorsche desktop background

What instructors really want to say to the Nightmare Track Day Student. NSFW

by Leave a Comment

A few months ago, we introduced you to that fellow we all know: the Nightmare track day student. That wonderful little creation detailed how the conversation often goes when instructors encounter an overly difficult student.

We all know the instructor in that case was on his best behavior. Now, thanks to the creative mind of youtube user blahblahblah55209 we can hear what he really thought!

Video after the break is very NSFW, nor should the kiddies be anywhere within earshot.
[Read more…]

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailThe Nightmare Trackday Student

On Track Today: 6th Gear

by Leave a Comment

Welcome to our second edition of On Track Today. This was my first visit to a lapping day organized by the folks at 6th Gear. A lapping day is just a lapping day until someone takes the human element into account. If you’ve ever been to a true Italian restaurant, where the owner is on the floor mingling with guests, ensuring that everything is just right, then you’ll have an idea how participants feel at a 6th Gear day.

The day begins with a continental breakfast, complete with fresh espresso in the most amazing kitchen that I didn’t even know existed in what used to be Mosport’s Formula 1 garages. The lapping is casual and newcomers have access to experienced instructors like our old friend Vito Scavone who has been racing in Canada for many years. The afternoon begins with a sumptuous lunch of assorted grilled meats, salads, pastas and even grilled eggplant that Nona would approve of. Participants both new and returning are welcomed the same as if they are arriving at a family BBQ.
[Read more…]

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailComstock and the Shelby connection Default ThumbnailPorsche desktop background

Something new in The Garage: Bike lapping

by 3 Comments

Having grown up around race cars, I’ve never really gotten in to the whole motorcycle thing. I’ve ridden a couple of times, but beyond that…nothing. That all changed today, as I spent the day at the track shooting bikes instead of cars. No, I’m not likely to be lubed into leathers any time soon, but I had a great time shooting two wheelers on the track. In fact, the best part of the day was the people. Here in The Garage, we’re always talking about how friendly club racers are and I’ve gotta say that the riders (and their friends & family) were even more approachable than most car racers. It was interesting to find a bunch of folks that I have worked with in the car industry. That rarely happens around the cars. Weird.

The event itself was one of several each year that Riders Choice holds for their customers. It was run pretty much the same as most car lapping days except that the results of a brain fart or exceeding one’s limit are a bit more harsh. I watched one rider put it straight into the tires at the bottom of 2. It was not a pretty sight. Well, once the dust settled and I could actually see. Our friend Jay also took a spill in 2 in an afternoon session. I don’t know if the whole crashing a bike thing is exactly something I want to try!

To all the great folks I met today, the huge gallery after the break is just the beginning. Drop me an email to thegarageguy at rogers.com or leave a comment on this post. Let me know which bike is yours and I’ll get digging through the massive pool of images I shot today to find yours. I’ll be around the track again all day tomorrow if you have any special location shot requests.
[Read more…]

Related posts:

No related posts.

2010 VW GTI. The spirit of the original lives on

by 1 Comment

2010 golf family launch (11)

A track test can be a tough review to write when it comes to a new car. First off, most new cars aren’t really meant for the track. Secondly, many writers have little or no competitive experience to aid them in starting a valid discussion about the performance of a vehicle on track. Equally challenging is the reality that the writer may have never seen the track laid out before them.

As a driver, it has been many years since I’ve driven competitively. Fortunately I had spent a bit of time playing in the forest, boogieing a rally car along stage roads. In other words, I became fairly adaptable and able to handle just about anything that could be tossed in front of me. I was just never very precise about it. For the Canadian launch of the 2010 GTI, Volkswagen herded a bunch of journalists to the famous Le Circuit Mont Tremblant. I have never been to Tremblant, but to quote Tom Cruise, “I’ve seen it on TV”. Truly a historic place, one which I was hoping to enjoy.

Also fortunate is the fact that the new GTI is no ordinary car. It is a serious testament to the work designers have done that one can head out onto a track and after a couple of familiarization laps be perfectly comfortable that the car will do exactly as the driver pleases, without any silly surprises. Just like the original GTI loved to be flung about, so does the 2010 version.
[Read more…]

Related posts:

Default Thumbnail2010 VW Golf Family Launch Default ThumbnailThis week in The Garage: 2009 VW Tiguan Default Thumbnail2009 VW Tiguan: breaking stereotypes

Thunderhill Lapping Days

by Leave a Comment

thunderlogoshadow16

Thunderhill Is Excited To Announce New Track Events Called Thunderhill Lapping Days. These Events Are Designed For Street Cars And Participants With Prior Track Day Experience. Below Are Some Of The Highlights of These Events. The first on is set for March 31st. Registration Is Available Online At www.thunderhill.com
• Entry Fees Are $160 Per Car/Driver – Sorry No Refunds Will Be Given Unless Events Are Cancelled By Thunderhill Due To Low Turnout Or Re-Booking.
• $199 Per Car/Driver For Walk Up Entries (space subject to availability)
• Street Cars Only – Convertibles Allowed With “Factory Rollover Protection”
• No Passengers Allowed
• Must Be At Least 18 Years Of Age
• Helmets Required (SA-2005 rated helmets are available for rent at the track)
• 3 Run Groups: A-Novice / B-Intermediate / C-Advanced – Run Groups May Be Modified By Management At Any Time
• Maximum 20 Cars Per Run Group
• Corner Workers Onsite
• Event Insurance In Effect (damage to vehicles not covered)
• Tow and Fire Services Onsite
• Medical Response Onsite
• Fuel Service Onsite
• Concessions Onsite
• Gates Open At 7:30 a.m.
• Drivers Meeting 8:15 a.m.
• On-Track 9:00 a.m.
• These are self teched events
• A Minimum Of 5 Track Coaches Will Be Available Throughout The Day.

Related posts:

No related posts.