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

:

When you take an advanced driving school by the Saab club (or other car clubs like Trackmasters or the BMW clubs in Canada or the US), you may be surprised to learn that there are "rules" or requirements or modes in which we operate that are very different or unusual.

We briefly describe a number of these rules and recommendations. They will be emphasized and repeated and explained by both the classroom and in-car instructors.

Follow Orders

Not that we like to boss people around... But there is much information to be provided during a driving school. There are various rules and restrictions that you need to observe. Comply with the registration staff. Listen carefully to the classroom instructor and your in-car instructor and the skid pad instructors and follow their instructions. Follow the directions of the pit staff. Watch the corner workers and flaggers careful and follow their visual or verbal instructions. And certainly follow the guidance, advice, and directives of the school organizers and chief instructor.

Dress Properly

There are some simple rules with respect to clothing permitted while driving on track. Long pants are required. Full shoes (i.e. not sandals) are required. Socks are required. You may wear short sleeve shirts. Driving or racing suits are generally not permitted.

Wear Your Wristband

All day you must wear the wristband you received at registration.

Technical Inspections Required

We require that your vehicle be "road worthy." Parts must not be falling off. It must not be dropping fluids, particularly oil or coolant. The tires must be in good shape. We require that your brake fluid be fresh and if not then it must be changed or bled. While we do not require supporting documentation from mechanic or dealer, you may have your car inspected careful or put through a safety check. Regardless, we do an on-site technical inspection the morning of each school.

That said, you're still responsible for you vehicle. Check it through the day, after or before each on-track session. As you drive it, listen and feel for unusual things.

Clean Your Windows

Okay. We shouldn't have to make this a rule. But given how important vision is while driven, we would hope you would agree that your front windows and mirrors should be as clean as possible.

Empty Your Car

Your vehicle must be completely emptied of all loose articles. Everything out! If your floor mats are not fully secured, they must come out too. Heavy objects such as the spare wheel or jack must be completed secured with no chance of coming loose.

Drive Slowly Near People

When in the pit lanes and paddocks or parking lots and traversing access roads around the track facility, do so at a slow speed. Given the number of people milling about and the movement of cars to and from the track and skid pads, we recommend driving at walking speed.

Classroom is Mandatory

We mandate classroom sessions and safety meetings. This is how we communicate to you. This is where we discuss safety issues, flag colors and their meaning, etc. In our classroom sessions, car control is emphasized in all levels. In some cases, classroom attendance is tracked.

You Need Exercise

Our schools consist of exercises and skid pad sessions in addition to classroom and on-track sessions. Often exercises on a wet skid pad demonstrate emergency braking, emergency braking and turning, collision avoidance, emergency lane changes. Drivers will learn to feel, understand, and control the dynamic weight transfer of a vehicle at speed, manage the tire contact patches, respond to and manage understeer and oversteer, etc. Exercises, autocrosses, and skid pad, we believe, actually probably do more to make a person a safer driver, then anything else we do...

Set Windows and Sunroof Properly

At SOCCI driving schools during on-track sessions, regardless of weather conditions, the driver's window height must be set properly to permit free arm movement outside the vehicle. When a lead driver signals a pass signal, it is done with the driver's left hand, through the windows, issuing a point-by signal. In general, this means the window is half-way down. The windows must not be all the way down. The passenger window may be all the way up. The sunroof must be closed for on-track sessions.

You Must Have an In-car Instructor

When drivers go on track, in-car instruction is provided. Instructors work with all levels of drivers. Sign-offs may occur with intermediate and advanced drivers, with the in-car and chief instructor's approval, weather and track conditions permitting. This allows an experienced driver to work in solitude to improve their technique. The assigned instructor is still responsible however for the signed-off driver and can "check-in" with them at any point and is "on-call" should the driver request them. Signed-off drivers are identified so pit staff are aware that they may drive without an instructor. Drivers not identified and without an instructor are not permitted onto the track.

No Passengers

A student cannot take a passenger on track. Only instructors can take students or guests or helpers on track.

Be Clear

Advanced driving has its own nomenclature, not unlike boating or sailing. Make sure that you clearly understand your in-car instructor. They will often need to issue commands quickly and briefly. But they may use unusual terms (e.g. "unwind") or terms in usual ways (e.g. "apex") or terms that can mean many things (e.g. "breathe"). If you don't know what the instructor means, ask them! They're there to help.

Make sure you can hear your instructor. A soft-spoken instructor's voice may be hard to hear over the noise of the motor and the wind. Don't be afraid to ask them to speak up.

And, finally, when an instructor asks you do to something or conveys something, they often look for some sort of acknowledgment from the driver. A mumbled "uh huh" or "okay" sometimes doesn't instill them with confidence. Use a clear gesture or wording, such as "I understand" or "Yes, I'll try that." And be sure to speak loudly yourself.

Helmets Required On-track

When a driver and instructor take to the track, helmets are required. They must be secured with the neck strap.

You May Only Go On the Track at Designated Times

On-track sessions are scheduled at specific times. Sessions are generally brief (20 to 25 minutes). On-track (and for that matter skid pad and classroom) sessions are specific to experience level, e.g. novice only, intermediate only, advanced only.

Learn the Flags

The only way that we can communicate to a driver of a vehicle when they're on track, aside from a big pixel board, is to use flags. We encourage our drivers to learn and memorize the meaning of the flag colors and correctly interpret how the flags are used. And be sensitive to any other visual cues provided by flaggers and corner workers. See our flags document for more information.

Be very clear about the "emergency" flags, such as yellow and red!

If you see a black flag or a "meatball" flag directed at you, go to the pits for more information. Sometimes when there is a gaggle of cars close together and a black flag is shown, it may hard to know if it is for you. We recommend in this instance that you err on the side of caution...

Warm Up

When you begin an on-track session, you should build up slowly. Get your tires, brakes, and motor up to temperature. You need to get yourself, your brain, up to speed too! Take a lap or two. "Let the track come to you."

One-way

All traffic on the track moves in the same direction. You will not see on-coming vehicles.

Passing is Restricted

Passing is controlled and and limited.

Passing may only occur in designated areas (generally the long straights).

Passing is normally done on a consistent side of the vehicle (e.g. typically the right side).

Passing is only permitted when the lead car initiates the process with a signal ("point-by" with the driver's left hand).

Passing is then only executed when the following car's driver and instructor are clear about the signal and can complete the pass before the upcoming turn.

During the passing manoeuvre, the lead car is expected to lift off or back out of the throttle to make the pass happen quickly and safely and to ensure there is no "racing" into the corner. The lead car stays "on line." The passing car goes "off line."

The following driver and instructor may wave off the pass is they're uncomfortable or do not think they can complete it safely.

Don't Flash

If you're following a car and anticipating a pass signal but do not receive it, be patient. Give them another opportunity--they may be busy or distracted.

Do not flash your high beams! This is bad form. And it could erode safety by distracting them further.

If you're really held up, simply "duck" into the pits, let them get well ahead of you, then re-enter the track when the pit-out person gives the all-clear.

Watch Your Mirrors

If you notice a car behind you that wasn't there a moment ago, they didn't get there by dropping out of the sky...

You'll need to let them by, in the next passing zone. Signal them to pass you by pointing to the side of the car you want them to go.

Glance in your mirror to see that they "got the message."

When they are not directly you, lift off your throttle, to help them pass you quickly. Do not brake hard! Stay "on line."

If you don't properly recognize that other cars are waiting to pass you, you may notice a corner worker waving or pointing a blue flag at you. This is a warning.

If you ignore blue flags, you will receive a black flag. This is a penalty.

Use the Whole Road

Because there are no other vehicles going the opposite direction and because no one may pass in a corner, a driver may use the entire road surface, from left to right edge. This is important to stabilize a vehicle.

This is rather different than the public roadways. But then again, we all do it when we pull into our driveway...

You're now in "track" mode.

You Need to Stay on the Track

You must maintain control of your vehicle at all times. That said, we all make mistakes. A driver might underestimate the amount of braking required for a corner when entering it at a higher speed. Or a driver may use the throttle too aggressively in the middle of a corner in slippery conditions. Then the driver may find they cannot keep their vehicle on the track surface.

If you drop off the track surface, continue to maintain control of your vehicle--don't give up! When you've slowed or stopped, wait for directives from your in-car instructor or the nearest flagger or corner worker. Re-enter the track in a safe area when the way is clear. Use your four-way flashers or hazard lights if your concerned others won't see you. Travel slowly back along the circuit, ideally "off-line", and exit the track proper, and stop in the pits or pit lanes.

We expect the driver (and instructor) to return to the pits when dropping two-wheels off or four-wheels off. A driver (or instructor) is expected to come into the pits of their own recognizance. If that doesn't happen, the car will be black-flagged.

When in the pits, inspect car for failure or damage and consider carefully what caused the driver's lack of control.

Again, mistakes happen. We are conducting a safety-oriented school in a very safe environment. We want people to learn their limits and the limits of their vehicle. That said, if a driver cannot keep a car on the track, if they are driving too hard or in a reckless or dangerous fashion, if multiple infractions occur, they may be restricted from further track sessions or sent home. A learning driver will gain knowledge from a mistake and prevent it in the future.

Three Strikes

Be tough on yourself, particularly if you're driving when signed off. Many drivers use a "three strikes" rule. If you make 3 unnerving or big mistakes in an on-track session, you should come into the pits and evaluate. You may be tired, dehydrated, overheated.

Racing is not Tolerated

SOCCI does not teach racing. We are not a a racing school.

We do not condone "racey" behavior.

Advanced driving schools with classroom sessions and in-car instruction are recognized by the automotive insurance industry and most insurance companies support drivers participating in these educational and safety-oriented events and in turn honor coverage. Some insurance companies offer discounts to drivers showing proof of participation.

Lap Timing is Not Permitted

Lap timing is not permitted. G-meters are not permitted.

Remove timing or G-load equipment from your vehicle when participating in SOCCI enhanced driving schools.

Cool Down

When you see the checked flag signaling the end of an on-track session, slow right down. Drive at a speed where you will not need to use the brakes going through any of the corners on the track. And that means you must not accelerate out of a corner.

This is very important to cool down the brake components of your vehicle. If you "charge" back into the pits and stop and shut off the car, you may find that the brake fluid boils over rendering your car undrivable.

Going slowly also gives you time to cool down the car's motor, cool down yourself, and review the session with your instructor.

Signal When Pitting

When you plan to enter the pit lane and leave the track proper, make a fist with you left hand and put your hand out the window of the car, straight up, as high as possible. This will tell the drivers behind your intentions.

Calm Down

After an on-track session, you may be very anxious and excited. And you may also be "velocitized."

Slow down. Enter the pit lanes very slowly. Check your speedometer.

Go back into "street" mode, i.e. drive like you're on public roadways, use your turn signals, observe speed limits, etc.

You Must be Safe, Courteous, and Predictable

Safe behavior and good practices (e.g. do not cross the blend line) are encouraged in our schools.

Drivers violating our track are black-flagged, brought into the pits, and must discuss infractions with pit staff and/or event organizer and/or chief instructor.

Repeat offenders are made to sit out sessions or worse.

Do not tailgate. You may not drive aggressively. You must not exhibit impatience with your peers on-track.

Be safe. At all times. In fact, this is the number one rule.

Learn

We offer advanced, high-performance, safety-oriented driving schools. We hope that our participants enroll to learn about themselves and their vehicles. We hope that drivers become safer after our events. Take everything that you can from our instructors. Let them coach you. People signing up to gain access to a track, to "tear around," who skip class, and seek unwarranted sign-offs, we are disheartened by. For we believe that we can all learn to be better and safer, even if we've already been doing this for years. Ask any of our instructors...