On November 3rd, St. Louis Region hosted our first Tire Rack Street Survival teen driving school. As I mentioned in my October President’s Column, Street Survival was started by the BMWCCA Foundation 16 years ago, and “the school’s aim is to reduce deadly car crashed involving teenagers by providing them a controlled setting where they can gain invaluable experience in car control, all with a knowledgeable coach always at their side…”. After many years of prompting by Jim Singler, me and others to bring this worthwhile program to our Region, Dan Hinkebein stepped forward and volunteered to run this first event.
As the object is to teach teens how to react in emergency situations and in less than ideal conditions on the road, the cool, damp, and overcast Fall day provided a great setting for the school, which was held on the drag strip parking lot at Gateway Motor-sports Park. In addition to classroom instruction, students performed several exercises, including emergency lane change, standard, reverse, offset and diamond slaloms, emergency braking while turning, wet and dry braking and the skidpad. After a full day of practice, twenty-three students left as better drivers with much improved driving skills and the volunteers left with the satisfaction of a job well done. Feedback from both parents and teens was extremely positive.
I want to thank Dan for setting up and running this event, the SCCA for the use of their equipment, and, in addition to St. Louis PCA members who helped as volunteers and in-car instructors, volunteers from both the St. Louis BMW Club and the St. Louis SCCA who provided the classroom instruction and additional in-car instruction. Without everyone involved, Street Survival could not happen. Thank you all!
President’s Challenge: I know most of our members are exceptional drivers. You’ve spent years in great cars honing your driving skills. To help make our public roads safer, let’s pass that knowledge and experience along to more St. Louis area teens. Next year, let’s really step up and triple the number of teens we train. To do that, we need more volunteers and in-car instructors. When the call comes for volunteers, please consider helping!
Our Holiday Party will take place December 1st at Porsche St. Louis. Our Social Chairs have been working hard to make the party even better than last year’s celebration. Adeline’s Kitchen will again provide the food and a professional DJ will provide the music. Seating is limited, so please be sure to send your $40 per person in NOW! See the ad in this issue of the Plauderei for more information.
As 2018 come to an end, please accept my sincere wishes for a happy Thanksgiving, a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year for you and your family.
