Teenage Driver Training

[brv@chrysler.com]

     Doug Haley wrote:

     >Has anyone any direct personal experience with a great school that
     >would work for a non-racer sweet young thing?  Looking for
     >raves/pans/anecdotes and a warm feeling that I'm not wasting my
     >money.  Cost is trivial compared to her life.  What's the best
     >choice?


     Doug,

     I can reccomend a terrific non racing school that specializes in
     teaching teenage driving (one of my favorite soapbox subjects). Its
     called MASTERDRIVE and is located in Colorado Springs, CO.

     the school was founded by a guy named Ron Langford whose 16 yr old
     daughter was killed by a drunk teenage driver while on a date.  Ron is
     a past SCCA national champion racing GT-2 Porsches and a true driving
     enthusiast.  He sold a very successful real estate development company
     to found a non-profit organisation called the Driver's Skills
     Institute to do research and effect changes in legislation to increase
     the rediculously low skill level needed to obtain a driver's liscence
     today. He is totally dedicated to his message.

     the school is a two day deal that teaches driving skills as well as
     attutude and includes participation of the parents.  He is a believer
     in visualisation techniques (like racing does) and will not teach them
     to dive fast but rather confidently. The results are simply amazing:

     They run a competition every year as a fundraiser where they invite
     police officers from around the state to compete in an autocross
     against a few of his 16 yr old students.  He gives a select few
     students another weekend of training and every year, the cops get
     clobbered by the kids!!  Imagine being out driven by a teenage girl
     with 6 weeks of driving under her belt!!

     I have visited the school and have spent time with Ron. I can assure
     you that it would be a great move for your sanity and your daughter's
     life.

     I have no affiliation with them.  I have worked at a racing school
     before and I know the difference between racing and street driving for
     a teenager.  This would be better in your case.


     If you need more details, like a phone #, E-mail me and I'll be glad
     to find it for you.

     Cheers!


     Brian Vinson
     BRV@Chrysler.com
     86 5KCSTQ