Driving School: Student FAQ
During the school, can I take my friend/partner/parent/child for a ride?
Submitted by saabclub on 5. January 2007 - 18:57
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
:
No. Not unless you are a driving school instructor...
We can give them a ride with any available instructor while the instructor drives on track in an instructor session. But while you're driving, you'll be busy working with your instructor.
Even if you're an advanced driver, you cannot take someone other than an instructor in your passenger seat.
Your guests are more than welcome to visit. And we always try to arrange for rides for them.
Now that I'm signed up, what do I need to do in preparation for the school?
Submitted by saabclub on 5. January 2007 - 18:56
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
:
For detailed information on all the things to do to prepare for the driving school, please see our checklist document.
Also, read or print a driving school packing list.
What should I set my tire pressures to?
Submitted by saabclub on 5. January 2007 - 18:54
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
:
We normally recommend, for novice and intermediate drivers, overinflating street-use tires for driving school use.
This is because when driving on a track at high speeds through corners with normally-inflated (or, if you haven't checked lately, likely underinflated) tires, the rubber may "roll over" or deflect from the wheel rim to such a degree that it may release from the rim and suddenly deflate. As well, the high loads on the tires will cause them to heat up. If they're underinflated, they will heat to much higher temperatures, possibly leading to a catastrophic blow-out.
Higher pressures can help the tires better protect the rims from damage by decreasing roll-over. Raising the tire pressure can improve feel and response (the tires don't feel squishy). Advanced drivers may seek a crisper turn-in and less body pitch and roll.
In wet or cold conditions, conversely, we usually want more heat in the tires.
In the dry, raise the pressure by +5 psi. In the wet, keep it at the normal level (or lower it by -5 psi if you're an advanced driver).
If using R-compound or racing tires, consult with an instructor or experienced racer.
It looks like it might be raining, snowing, hailing... Which tires should I use?
Submitted by saabclub on 5. January 2007 - 18:52
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
:
If you're not trailering your car to and from the track, then you should perhaps be driving on the tires that best suit your general driving conditions. If it is snowing the day of the school, your snow tires will help you get safely to and from the track. However, your snow tires will get "eaten up" at the track if you are driving hard and the track surface is not snow-covered.
If you want to drive to the track on one set of tires and then drive on track on a different set, then of course you'll need your other set of tires already mounted, balanced, and properly inflated, tire bags or old blankets, you'll need to pack them in your back seat, passenger seat, truck, roof, mini-trailer, you'll need to bring your car jack, a jack stand or two, breaker bar, torque wrench, and various other items, such as pressure gauge, lock-nut adapter, lock-nut key, air pump, and so on...
We run our schools no matter the weather.
The only thing that stops a driving school is fog.
Check the weather, according to Environment Canada.
- Belleville or Trenton when we're going to Shannonville
- Oshawa or Peterborough when we're visiting Mosport
- Simcoe/Cayuga if we return to Toronto Motorsport Park
Can I somehow pay cash at the track?
Submitted by saabclub on 5. January 2007 - 18:47
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
:
No. Payment is required in advance. For questions contact the Registrar (see contact info on Application Form).
Can I fax in my school application now, without payment, and pay you the morning of, at the track?
Submitted by saabclub on 5. January 2007 - 18:45
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
:
No.
Please consider these facts:
We, the club, have to pay 50% of the track deposit up front. That could be (if we were renting the full track, skid pad, and classroom at Shannonville) about $3000.
The morning of a school, we have to pay the balance of the track rental fees. That would be $3000 (if the deposit was $3000).
Then, during the day, we have to pay the caterer. That could be, say, $1000.
The Saab Club of Canada is a non-profit organization.
And we're not made of money...
So... the upshot of all this is: we need your payment in advance of the school. We deposit cheques and process Visa and MasterCard applications upon receipt. This briefly fills our bank account and allows the club to pay for many of the up-front expenses associated with renting a track, its facilities, paying for incidentals in advance, such as beverages and photocopying, and so on.
See the registration page for more information.
Finally, a submitted payment also signals to us your total commitment to participate in the school. Which touches upon, once again, the matters of cancellation and holding spots.
I've signed up for the school. Now I have another commitment. Can I cancel and get a refund?
Submitted by saabclub on 5. January 2007 - 18:42
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
:
The Saab Owners' Club of Canada has a cancellation policy. You acknowledged it when you submitted your school application form. If you do not recall it or need to review the particulars, we encourage you to do so now.
I cannot successfully download the school application form. What's wrong?
Submitted by saabclub on 5. January 2007 - 18:42
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
:
There are a number of technological matters that may prevent this. The most common situation we've experienced is that people are using an older version of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print our application. Check the version you have. If necessary, download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
If you are still having problems, then there are clearly other issues. We can fax you the document if downloading doesn't work; we can mail it to you a paper copy if all else fails.
I don't have a Saab club membership. Can I still sign up for a school?
Submitted by saabclub on 5. January 2007 - 18:40
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
:
Yes. You do not need to be a member to sign up for a school. That said, we'd be thrilled if you became a member of the club.
Can I bring my SUV, pick-up truck, or mini-van?
Submitted by saabclub on 5. January 2007 - 18:40
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
:
Yes.
The Saab Club of Canada is somewhat unique in that we do not have as many restrictions on the type of vehicle that you can bring. In general, we permit - we want - people to bring their "daily drivers," their most-used vehicle. We believe that it is important to know how your most-used vehicle will handle in emergency situations.
However, we do not permit convertibles unless they have roll over protection.
