Just skidding around

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/04/2010 (5988 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As the owner and chief instructor of Crossroads Driver Training, Dane Wilson has taught countless Manitobans how to drive. With his latest teaching tool, however, he’s poised to take driver training to the next level.

Last summer, Wilson, a retired Winnipeg police officer, purchased a skid-avoidance training platform that miraculously transforms a normally sure-footed Chevrolet Impala into a vehicle that feels like you’re driving with bald tires on an ice-covered Manitoba highway.

Essentially, what the platform does is lift the cars tires slightly off the pavement via four hydraulic jacks affixed to articulating wheels at each corner. A controller inside the car allows for adjustments. The result is a serious reduction in traction even at low speed and on dry pavement.

Wilson invited me to participate in the skid-avoidance training course last Sunday morning on an abandoned runway at St. Andrews Airport. The training is typically offered in classes consisting of three drivers, and I was joined by Terry Ortynsky Nissan sales representative Bill Kueneman and fleet/lease manager Tom Nitychoruk.

Following a brief classroom session that discussed important stuff like vehicle dynamics, weight transfer to assist in gaining traction and learning proper sight-lines, we were out on the runway slipping and sliding like there was no tomorrow.

Nitychoruk was up first and, as he weaved through the maze of pylons, it became abundantly clear that this was no ordinary car. Even with the unit adjusted to the lowest setting, the rear end slid out in the corners like a high-powered race car. Things were going great until Nitychoruk entered one corner a little too quickly and the rear of the car swung out of control, maiming a pylon or two in the process.

Kueneman and I chuckled in the back seat, but not for long. Kueneman was second up and initially appeared that he could give Mario Andretti a run for his money. But like Nitychoruk, when his confidence increased so did his speed. Before too long we were spinning out of control again like we were on an amusement-park ride.

When my turn came I figured I’d watched the guys closely enough to ace this thing. But as soon as I sped into a sharp corner at the seemingly innocent speed of 30 km/h we were spinning around in circles again.

For the next portion of the training, Wilson reduced the traction even more. As we each took our turn weaving through the pylons, it became increasingly more difficult to control the car even at speeds as slow as 20 km/h.

Each of us eventually got the hang of it and realized that reducing our speed was paramount to keeping the car travelling in the direction that we wanted it to go. It was huge fun, but we all agreed that it was also a valuable teaching tool. The beauty of the simulator is that in a normal vehicle you’d have to hit the corners in excess of 100 km/h to achieve the same loss of traction.

Wilson, a certified professional driver who spent 26 years with the Winnipeg Police Service before retiring in 2001, has owned and operated Crossroads Driver Training since 2002. He was introduced to the skid simulator a few years ago in Alberta. When he took us through the course his driving skills were quickly apparent, as he manoeuvred the car through the pylons with complete control.

"This unit is able to duplicate a stressful driving situation that most people will only experience when it’s already too late," Wilson said. "It’s an excellent way for anyone who has never experienced a skid or has limited winter or wet-driving experience to see what it feels like to lose and regain control of a vehicle in a controlled environment."

The units are designed and manufactured in Sweden and, although found all over the world, are mainly used as a training tool by law-enforcement agencies. In Canada, there are only four skid-simulation rigs available for use by private citizens, and Wilson’s is the only one in Manitoba.

The price of the unit alone, excluding the car, was more that $50,000. This model was designed to specifically fit a Chevrolet Impala, but the company also build units that can be attached beneath vehicles as large as a transit bus or a fire truck.

Terry Ortynsky Nissan is considering offering the course to customers who purchase a new vehicle, and both Kueneman and Nitychoruk agreed that it’s a great way to learn not only how to react to a loss of traction but also how to avoid such a situation in the first place.

"It’s a valuable learning experience because, in the real world, you’d have to learn to control a skid at much higher speeds in a dangerous environment," said Nitychoruk, who has been driving since 1980.

"I thought I was a pretty good driver, but attending this course was a real eye-opener."

The cost of the skid-car training is $250, while a 90-minute driving lesson will set you back $60. For experienced drivers who simply want to have their skills assessed, a one hour driving evaluation is also available for $60.

For more information check out www.crossroadsdrivertraining.com

willy@freepress.mb.ca

Hey Brad, can I borrow the van?

He’s known to friends and customers as Brad the Friendly Broker but, thanks to his latest initiative, local auto dealer Brad Bowslaugh may soon be known as Brad the Benevolent Broker.

Bowlslaugh, who owns and operates Indoor Auto Sales near McPhillips and the Perimeter, recently purchased a 1997 GMC cargo van that’s available for use free of charge to anyone with a valid driver’s licence.

The only catch is that if you borrow the van for a day you must donate $100 to the charity of your choice.

"We thought it would be a nice way to raise some funds for local charities in our community," said Bowslaugh, who’s been an auto dealer for more than 20 years.

The typical cost of renting a van of this size is about $100 a day, but the added incentive for folks who opt to borrow this van is that they can get a charitable tax receipt.

The van will generally be available for a maximum of 200 kilometres of driving per day within city limits, but with special arrangements it can be borrowed for longer periods of time and longer trips. It will also be loaned outright to local charities.

For more information or to book the van call Indoor Auto Sales at 777-2723 or 955-9778.

Swap till you drop

Members of the Gimli Car Club will be hosting their third annual "Giant Indoor Swap Meet" this Sunday, April 18, at the Gimli Rec Centre. The gates open at 9 a.m. and treasure-hunters can expect to find table upon table loaded with car, truck and motorcycle parts and accessories, as well as tools, sporting goods, home-and-garden items and crafts.

Admission is just $2 and vendor tables are available for just $10, although there were going fast.