Winter driving school

[Turbo_Bimmer]

There is a winter driving school on Feb 05, 2006 organised by the Ottawa club.
Read all the details here:
http://bmwccottawa.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=clubnews;action=display;num=1133754823

Only 20 participants accepted. I registered already. It looks like a fun event.

[Turbo_Bimmer]

The school is already filled to 50%.
If you want a spot, don't wait too much.

[Emre]

The school is already filled to 50%.
If you want a spot, don't wait too much.I've already signed up to instruct. I can't wait to throw the Evo around those corners! :D

Emre

[Lee]

Hey Emre. How was the drive to Boston? I believe Boston and Costal areas has a snow storm on Saturday.

[Emre]

Hey Emre. How was the drive to Boston? I believe Boston and Costal areas has a snow storm on Saturday.Actually, I got really lucky. The weather was gorgeous. Sunny and mild the whole way down.

Emre

[alex]

I registered as well - - can't wait!

[bmwqc]

I registered as well - - can't wait!

Is it cars only or doe they allow SUVs also?

[Turbo_Bimmer]

They don't say, but in the PDF form, they ask if it's RWD,FWD,AWD,4WD.

May be by 4WD they refer to SUVs?
You can send Klaus an email to be sure.


Is it cars only or doe they allow SUVs also?

[Lee]

BTW I just received an email from Alan Bellavance, who is president of the local Audi Club. They have an event at Mecaglisse on Feb. 19th (Sunday). It looks like they have not only the track we already know, but two other tracks in the wood, plus a frozen lake. Etc. I will investigate.

[Turbo_Bimmer]

Only 6 spots left.!

[Emre]

Is it cars only or doe they allow SUVs also?I'm 99.9% sure that they do accept SUV's and vans. One of the instructors had a monster Suburban last year.

Emre

[yield]

unfortunatly my car is sleeping for the winter season...:(

[Lee]

A certain member from our chapter regularly "cough" "cough" rents cars when he attends driver schools. That person pays around $48 with tax, for a day.

[bmwqc]

A certain member from our chapter regularly "cough" "cough" rents cars when he attends driver schools. That person pays around $48 with tax, for a day.

That certain member says he enjoys driving the rental no less than his own car.

[Lee]

Does that certain member know if rear whel drive cars are available? I may need to rent one to attend Mécaglisse in Feb with Audi. Or are 4 wheel drive cars available? BTW Emre is also invited to instruct.

[bmwqc]

Does that certain member know if rear whel drive cars are available? I may need to rent one to attend Mécaglisse in Feb with Audi. Or are 4 wheel drive cars available? BTW Emre is also invited to instruct.

There's not that many American RWD cars on the market. Besides the obvious performance cars (Corvette, Mustang., Viper etc), you may be able to find the Chrysler 300 (RWD with base 250hp V6). I think some places may also have the Mustang, but you would have to call to confirm this.

But why RWD? For the extra challenge? After all, on snow, (and with similar tires and no traction aids), a FWD will easily outperform a RWD car anytime. As for a 4WD, well........

[Silverblades181]

Est-ce qu'il reste des places?

[Turbo_Bimmer]

Est-ce qu'il reste des places?

Oui, click sur le lien en haut de la page pour les details.

[yield]

Ok wel... unfortunatly I am finally gooing on vacation in that time (Puerto Vallarta) so I will attend the sand driving school there.... With a Corona between my legs....

LOL... May be next time !

[Emre]

Does that certain member know if rear whel drive cars are available?
Hertz has a deal with Ford...as we discovered at Sebring! That means you should be able to get a 2005 Mustang V6. But with and automatic and no LSD I'm not sure how much fun it would be. I'd rather have a Mazda 3 or Ford Focus on the ice.


I may need to rent one to attend Mécaglisse in Feb with Audi...BTW Emre is also invited to instruct.That would be great! I've already committed to the Feb 5th school in Ottawa. I should be able to make it on the 15th as well. After all, Mecaglisse is a bit closer for me.

Emre

[Andrei]

Hertz has a deal with Ford...as we discovered at Sebring!

Hertz is Ford. http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=7670

[Emre]

Hertz is Ford.What are you doing on Ford websites anyway? Planning on buying a 'Stang?

Emre

[Andrei]

What are you doing on Ford websites anyway? Planning on buying a 'Stang?

Emre

That was the first thing that popped up on Google.

On the other hand this is not that bad
http://www.mustangheaven.com/stangspecs/2007cobra/images/ShelbyCobraGT500Show_30.jpg

Will need lots of money for rear tires (by-weekly expense, I would assume) but it would be tons of fun.

[Karin]

They don't say, but in the PDF form, they ask if it's RWD,FWD,AWD,4WD.

May be by 4WD they refer to SUVs?
You can send Klaus an email to be sure.



I contacted Klaus just to be sure that my Mazda will be OK and he replied that all cars, vans and SUVs are accepted and welcome.

[Karin]

BTW I just received an email from Alan Bellavance, who is president of the local Audi Club. They have an event at Mecaglisse on Feb. 19th (Sunday). It looks like they have not only the track we already know, but two other tracks in the wood, plus a frozen lake. Etc. I will investigate.

Lee, will you post the registration info when you get it?
Thanks!!! :)
Karin

[Lee]

Lee, will you post the registration info when you get it?
Thanks!!! :)
Karin

Sure, honey. I will post it as soon as I get the info. ;)

[bmwqc]

I registered as well - - can't wait!

I just registered as well.

[Lee]

Here is Alan Bellavance's email address in regard of the Feb Winter School at Mécaglisse with the Audi Club.

"A. Bellavance" <a.bellavance@citenet.net>

[Emre]

It looks like there will be a large BMW Quebec contingent at the Ottawa/MCO event. Can we get a roll-call of who will be attending? AFAIK, the following people have already signed up:

me
Michel
Karin
Henry
Alex
Andrei (?)

Is there anyone else? Have you guys organized a caravan or anything?

Emre

[bmwqc]

I'm OK for caravan.

[Turbo_Bimmer]

I'm in also.

[Andrei]

I'll be there. Can't decide what to bring :)

[Emre]

I'll be there. Can't decide what to bring :)Warm boots ;)

BTW, what are the choices car-wise? Did you end up getting the Legacy GT? That should be fun.

Emre

[Andrei]

Warm boots ;)

BTW, what are the choices car-wise? Did you end up getting the Legacy GT? That should be fun.

Emre

Legacy GT is allright. Once you get through the massive understeer.
I love the M3 in snow. It does exactly what I ask it to do, which mostly involves swinging the rear end out as far as possible.

[Nano]

impossible for me to make it...


someone TAKE PICTURES

[Emre]

If everything goes according to plan, I should have in-car video of the event. If someone can help me digitize it, I'd like to post it up on the site.

Emre

[alex]

If everything goes according to plan, I should have in-car video of the event. If someone can help me digitize it, I'd like to post it up on the site.

Emre
shouldnt be a problem with digitalization i have a All-In-Wonder card :)
see you there

[bmwqc]

Hey guys & gals,

The weather looks very wet and warm right until the weekend. Is the Ottwawa school still going to be on?

[Emre]

The weather looks very wet and warm right until the weekend. Is the Ottwawa school still going to be on?Here is the e-mail that was sent to the instructors this morning:


Gentlemen,

I would like to inform you that our Winter Driving School this Sunday in Ottawa will be on as scheduled.

I have had a few emails sent to me asking me if the event is still on since the weather has not been very good lately and the forecast does not look very good for this remainder of the week for our winter activity on ice and snow.

I was told that the track conditions are very good, we had a bit of snow, and the track has a hard packed surface. The next couple of days it will still be mild, so it might get pretty slick. On Sunday it is suppose to get quite a bit colder again, so it will be hard and icy.

There is no indication of a cancellation. Like I said, the track is in excellent shape and it will be in the minus degree again on Sunday.

Please arrive on time at the Ottodrome in Stittsville at 7:45 to 8:00 am.So it looks like things are still on.

Emre

[bmwqc]

Here is the e-mail that was sent to the instructors this morning:

So it looks like things are still on.

Emre

Are we going to do a caravan?

[bmwqc]

The Winter Driving School in Ottawa was cancelled today due to lack of snow and too much water from the mild temperature. We all showed up at the Ottodrome only to be told upon arrival that the track surface was unsuitable to drive on. Well, it was a nice drive anyway. At least some of us got some fun from some slipping and sliding on the wet ice/slush covered parking lot before leaving. Of course, with the front-drive car I was driving, I had to use the handbrake to induce the necessary rear rotation.

Afterwards, a few of us drove over to Calabogie to check out the track. Nice place. There was so much snow on that mile long access road that we gave up trying to actually drive into the place. We ended up parking near the entrance to the paddocks and walked the rest of the way. All four of our cars took turns getting stuck in the deep wet snow. Some passing snowmobilers helped out. A good thing, we needed the extra muscle as the car, although with AWD, was really stuck in the deep wet snow. So despite the Winter Driving school being cancelled, a few of us had our own little "Real life Winter School" at Calabogie.

[Lee]

Well, that sucks that they did not take the phone and call you the night before. I hope that Audi's event at M&#233;caglisse will have a proper weather.

[bmwqc]

Well, that sucks that they did not take the phone and call you the night before. I hope that Audi's event at Mécaglisse will have a proper weather.

Can't blame the organizer for that. He was advised by track management right up until last night that the track surface was OK for driving. Klaus only found out that it was a no go this morning, same time as everybody else.

[Emre]

Well, that sucks that they did not take the phone and call you the night before.The weather forecast called for freezing temps and snowfall overnight. At around 8pm on Saturday, temps started to drop and some snow started to fall in Ottawa. Up until late Saturday night, it appeared as if everything would be OK in Stittsville.

But it turns out the overnight temps were very mild and all that snow turned into rain...which washed out the ice. The organizers didn't find out until around 7:30am. By that time, it was already too late for the Montreal contingent.

Emre

[Emre]

I hope that Audi's event at Mécaglisse will have a proper weather.Mecaglisse had their own lapping event booked for today but they were also rained out. This is the downside of the mild winter!

Emre

[yield]

Yep... Unfortunatly... Arrived at the track the event had to be canceled because of the warm temperature.... Se wwe finally went for a breakfast far far away from home.. LOL...

On our side the road from the 117 to the St-Donat village was really dangerous... &#224;so we didn't really had fun on that side... I hope the weather will be better next ween-end for the Sherbrooke ice Challenge !

[Lee]

I guess that organizing a winter event must be even more nerve-breaking than a summer one. The worst that can happen in summer is to have some rain. Just drive slower and the event still runs. In winter, you could have a snow storm, or mild weather or major thaw.