Driving School
Satisfaction: 10
Ease of Installation: 10 (put on a helmet and go)
Track Time = Better Driving
Anyone who enjoys driving cars should take advantage of the many driving school opportunities out there. This isn't High School Driver's Ed, or the Defensive Driving class you take to get out of a speeding ticket, but a true High Performance Driving event which gets you onto a racetrack to drive the car as it was meant to be driven. Instructors can ride with you to give you tips and advice -- you'd be surprised at how much there is to know! Honing your skills in this way makes you a better and safer driver in all situations. Plus, it's FUN!
My First Try on the Track
My wife and I drove up from Austin to the Motorsport Ranch, Southwest of Fort Worth, the last weekend of August 2000 to attend the SVT OnTrack event. This Ford-sponsored weekend gave SVT owners the chance to visit the facility and try their hand at the Ranch's 1.7-mile course after getting a short class from a Bondurant instructor. I was signed up for the Sunday morning session, along with a couple dozen other Cobra, Lightning, and Contour owners -- the summer heat wasn't too bad at 9 am! After a thrilling ride around the course in a van driven by one of the Bondurant guys, we all got to drive our cars, by ourselves, at whatever speed we wanted (as long as we didn't pass the guy ahead). Let me tell you, even though I got in only 7 total laps, I can't wait for the next time -- what a blast!
Overall, this was one of the most fun days I've had in quite a while. Not only the driving, but meeting and talking with fellow SVT owners is always a good thing. Coupled with the track experience, you get a better idea of how you can best upgrade your vechicle for your particular needs. There are similar driving schools and events located around the country, so if any of this interests you, by all means take advantage of them. Happy motoring!