ARCHIVE ALERT! This is a page for our old Enhanced Driving School. It is no
longer being maintained and remains accessible for archival purposes only.

Our driving school is now called Enhanced Driving Synergy and current info
can be found on it's new website drivingsynergy.com

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This is detailed information for students registered for The Saab Owners' Club of Canada Inc. Enhanced Driving School. Use this to properly prepare for the school. Some of the suggestions or instructions require your attention perhaps months before the school date...

To Arrange Now

Here are things to do well in advance of the school. Some things can be left as late as about a week before the school. Your car must have the brake fluid changed before our schools. If you will attend only one school, change it as soon as possible. If you will attend several driving schools, we encourage you to change it a couple of times over the season. For example, if you plan to attend our first and last schools, change the brake fluid in January or February, and then again in July or August. Bear in mind that professional race teams may flush their brake fluid before every race. If you have already had it changed, then make a photocopy of the work order and bring it with you. If you haven't, then make arrangements to have it changed and bring a photocopy with you. If you have had the brake fluid changed and do not have paperwork, or you did the brake work yourself, we will make you sign a document before the school. You will sign that your brakes are in perfect working order. Your car must be fit to go on the track. Take it to a mechanic, tell the mechanic what you're going to do and ask the mechanic to check the suspension, brakes and tires to make sure they will hold up. You don't want a nasty surprise at the track. We do not have a checklist for completion by your mechanic - the onus is on you! Review our cancellation policy. Be aware of your (limited) options should something prevent you from being able to attend...

Helmet

We require that you bring a helmet for your on-track sessions. The helmet should be in good condition. It does not have to be a full-face helmet. A motorcycle helmet (M), as opposed to a racing helmet (SA - Special Applications), is fine. If you do not own a helmet you might consider borrowing one from a friend, perhaps a fellow driving enthusiast or a motorcycle rider. If you anticipate taking several schools, buy a new helmet to sweat in. If buying a helmet, check out links page for Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa vendors that sell automotive, karting, and motorcycle helmets. We sometimes have a very limited number of smelly helmets at the school which are loaned out on a first-come, first-served basis. You should not count on this. We do not reserve them. It is your responsibility. Still can't source a helmet? See our FAQ for more ideas...

One Or Two Days Before The School

When you arrive at the school you will have to empty your car of loose items (yes, this includes the trunk, the glove box and all those little map pockets) so think ahead. Everything must be removed! If you are a serious pack rat, empty some out at home before you leave. And for goodness sake, get all the pennies out from under the seats... Generally, our schools open at 8:00am with the first meeting at 9:00 so plan to arrive at the track in sufficient time to do the rest of the unpacking. Bring a waterproof container to put the items into (e.g. Rubbermaid tote). Alternatively, a good sized tarp. There are very few covered areas at Canadian tracks (go figure), so your car items, extra clothes, paperwork may have to sit outside. For your convenience, we've created a handy packing list. It recommends items very useful or required at a school. And we always arrange for rain during our schools! ;-) Complete the driver's waiver ahead of time, if possible (see below).

Where

We regularly run schools at the Shannonville Motorsport Park (SMP) facility (10 km east of Belleville). A few years ago we started using the Mosport Driver Development Centre (DDC) track (north of Bowmanville, east of Oshawa). Please see our track pages for more information about the track, including directions to, detailed track maps, and "hot lap" descriptions, etc.

When

We try to open the gates at 7:00am. Registration starts at 8:00 am, coffee will be made available. Classes/track time start at 9:00. The school generally ends at 5:00. It's a tradition for the instructors and helpers to have a meal together afterwards - all the students are invited and many come because it's harder for us to say bad things about your track performance to your face :-)

Car Preparation

You should arrive with your car gasoline tank full. Your tire pressure should be increased approximately 5 psi per tire above the normal car manufacturer rating. I.e. if your car's tire pressure guide says your front tires should be 29 psi and the rears 28, then pump your fronts to 34 and the rears to 33. See our driver FAQ for more info. For gas and air service at or near to the track, see our track pages. The wheel nuts or bolts for each wheel need to be properly torqued. Particularly at an enhanced driving school where you work your car a little bit harder, especially in corners. If these are too loose, a wheel can fall off; if too tight, a wheel can break. We usually recommend 85 foot/pounds. A special "torque" wrench and some experience is required to do this. Again, ask your mechanic; failing that, we can check in the morning before the school. Ask us to teach you how to do this simple process yourself. If your car has hub caps, you may need to remove them to access the wheel nuts or bolts. Some nuts or bolts have small plastic covers. Devil in the details... You should also clean your windows and mirrors, inside and out. So pack some window cleaner and paper towel.

Your Preparation

Take some time to read about "the rules" while at a driving school. Remember your helmet. Bring your paperwork. Drivers licence (yikes), insurance papers, and - if possible - a completed driver's waiver (see below). Be rested. Consider staying near the track the night before rather than leaving home at 4:30am and speeding all the way. Yes, previous students have not only been late but had tickets to show for it. We list some hotels near the tracks we use. Near Shannonville, the Sunoco station at Marysville serves a tasty breakfast. The Fifth Wheel offers a discount on food before 6:00am! Remember your helmet. We provide lunch and drinks throughout the day but if you want something else then bring it. Did we remind you to bring your helmet? For your convenience, we've created a handy packing list. It recommends items very useful or required at a school.

What To Wear

Long pants are required during your track sessions; shorts, skirts, and dresses are not permitted. Full shoes (i.e. not sandals) are required. Stilettos are not ideal. Socks are required. You may wear short sleeve shirts... Dress for the weather for the track location - not where you live. Remember, we always order rain during our schools... The school proceeds regardless of the weather, even if it snows. During our April and October schools, may we suggest you pack long underwear and extra layers of clothes...

Legal Stuff

In order to participate as either a driver (or a spectator), everyone must sign track waiver(s), club waivers, and any other relevant documents as required by the morning check-in staff. These documents say basically the same thing - you agree not to sue anyone involved in the school for any injury you or your car suffer, for any reason whatsoever. We all acknowledge that motorsports can dangerous. There now, we've explained them in plain English so you can't say later that they were too long to read or too difficult or whatever. Everyone signs so everyone is in the same position. Download the Drivers' Waiver for each of the schools you will be attending, print it, complete it, and bring it with you. This will speed up the morning paperwork and allow you to get settled sooner!

ASN Waiver for Drivers, Instructors, Helpers and Guests

Club Waiver for Drivers, Instructors, Helpers and Guests - Shannonville School October 10 2008

Both the ASN and Club waivers are needed. Drivers who are under the age of 19 will also need to sign the Waiver for Minors and have both of their parents sign the Waiver for Parents also.

We have saved our waivers in a secure PDF document. This is Adobe's Portable Document Format, a platform-independent file that prints well on various printers. To view and print a PDF file, you need Acrobat or Acrobat Reader software. The Reader is available for free download. N.B. The personal information about yourself and your emergency contact, telephone numbers, automobile insurance information is gathered and used by the Club only, for the purposes of running driving schools.

Guests

Your guests, be they friends, kids, family members, co-workers, people you're trying to impress are welcome to come and be spectators but they have to sign the waivers too.

Starting in 2008 we have special requirements for minors (anyone under the age of 19). BOTH parents have to sign a parental consent form, and the minor also has to sign a separate form. Furthermore, one of the parents has to be present at the track.

ASN Waiver for Minors (all guests under the age of 19)

ASN Waiver for Parents (must be signed by BOTH parents and brought to the track)

Guests are welcome to join us for lunch but we are required to charge a nominal fee. If your guests would like to help, please let Scott Hutchings know ASAP (president [at] saabclub [dot] ca). Scott is in charge of helpers and will gladly put them to work on the day! If your guest helps during the school then we'll give them a free lunch.

Contact Numbers

If you feel the need to leave a telephone number where you can be contacted in case of an emergency, you might note the number of the track facility.