During the course of the day, we experience braking and skid situations; both understeer (where the wheels are turned yet the vehicle plows in a straight line) and oversteer (where the vehicle noses in and its rear end starts to swing around) and learn what to do while ESP is activated, and also how to correct it on our own, without the electronic aids.
A straight-line braking exercise teaches us to use force when applying ABS brakes, then to let off when we feel the wheels regain traction. The electronically controlled system applies on-off braking faster than we possibly could, those fractions of a second when the brakes are released allow the wheels to roll and regain grip. It’s rare to encounter a vehicle without ABS these days, but the reflex reaction of slamming on the brakes is the worst thing we can do in a non-ABS car. The tires reach the limit of their grip, and the vehicle can slide, with deadly consequences. Instead, using a “cadence” method of pumping hard, then off, the tires can roll and regain some of that lost traction and stop the vehicle safely.
Navigating a slalom course around cones, we learn the importance of gentle inputs with the steering wheel. With the hands held in the correct “9 & 3” position, we can complete even full lock-up turns without shuffling our hands. Just a gentle turn of the steering wheel, with the eyes looking far ahead, and the car glides through the slalom smoothly.
Too much steering, and the car is off-balance, as the unfortunate driver in the large R-Class SUV learns. He over-corrects and the car is thrown even more off balance, wallowing and leaving a few mashed cones in its wake.
Stringing together some of the tools learned in morning exercises, we practice “obstacle avoidance”, barreling down the straight, braking just before the bend and applying the wheel quickly to avoid a row of cones representing a stalled car, pedestrian… or accident scene. During the critique afterward, instructor Mark Antoniuk (an affable guy whose stunt-driving resume includes such productions as “I, Robot”, “Paycheck” and “Babylon 5” ) notes that I was clenching the wheel. He’s right of course, not much gets past these guys.
Although many students are keen, and look forward eagerly to a little “drifting” action – others, especially those who’ve had their confidence shattered through accidents, have some trepidation about losing control.
And that’s the beauty of participating in an event like this: experiencing an out-of-control skid in a wide-open, safe environment takes away the frightening element of surprise so students can relax and learn what to do when it happens. Danny Kok likens it to a “horror movie” – once you’ve seen the scary bits, they’re not so frightening anymore.
We’re all wearing ear-to-ear grins as we watch the formerly terrified young woman driver glide around the skid pad in a textbook-perfect drift.
The next time she encounters a surprise slide on a slippery winter on-ramp, she’ll not only know what to do, she’ll probably smile as she continues safely on her way.
For more information about the Mercedes-Benz Academy, and a complete listing of upcoming dates, visit www.mercedes-benz.ca/drivingacademy or call 1-866-577-6232.
A straight-line braking exercise teaches us to use force when applying ABS brakes, then to let off when we feel the wheels regain traction. The electronically controlled system applies on-off braking faster than we possibly could, those fractions of a second when the brakes are released allow the wheels to roll and regain grip. It’s rare to encounter a vehicle without ABS these days, but the reflex reaction of slamming on the brakes is the worst thing we can do in a non-ABS car. The tires reach the limit of their grip, and the vehicle can slide, with deadly consequences. Instead, using a “cadence” method of pumping hard, then off, the tires can roll and regain some of that lost traction and stop the vehicle safely.
Navigating a slalom course around cones, we learn the importance of gentle inputs with the steering wheel. With the hands held in the correct “9 & 3” position, we can complete even full lock-up turns without shuffling our hands. Just a gentle turn of the steering wheel, with the eyes looking far ahead, and the car glides through the slalom smoothly.
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| Photo: Mercedes-Benz |
Too much steering, and the car is off-balance, as the unfortunate driver in the large R-Class SUV learns. He over-corrects and the car is thrown even more off balance, wallowing and leaving a few mashed cones in its wake.
Stringing together some of the tools learned in morning exercises, we practice “obstacle avoidance”, barreling down the straight, braking just before the bend and applying the wheel quickly to avoid a row of cones representing a stalled car, pedestrian… or accident scene. During the critique afterward, instructor Mark Antoniuk (an affable guy whose stunt-driving resume includes such productions as “I, Robot”, “Paycheck” and “Babylon 5” ) notes that I was clenching the wheel. He’s right of course, not much gets past these guys.
Although many students are keen, and look forward eagerly to a little “drifting” action – others, especially those who’ve had their confidence shattered through accidents, have some trepidation about losing control.
And that’s the beauty of participating in an event like this: experiencing an out-of-control skid in a wide-open, safe environment takes away the frightening element of surprise so students can relax and learn what to do when it happens. Danny Kok likens it to a “horror movie” – once you’ve seen the scary bits, they’re not so frightening anymore.
We’re all wearing ear-to-ear grins as we watch the formerly terrified young woman driver glide around the skid pad in a textbook-perfect drift.
The next time she encounters a surprise slide on a slippery winter on-ramp, she’ll not only know what to do, she’ll probably smile as she continues safely on her way.
For more information about the Mercedes-Benz Academy, and a complete listing of upcoming dates, visit www.mercedes-benz.ca/drivingacademy or call 1-866-577-6232.
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