Using Racing Drivers to Teach Driver Safety - Part 1

I have recently noticed a media trend regarding this question of using Racing Drivers to teach Driver Safety. I have been on both sides of the debate throughout my career. My own experience progressed from a racer, to a driver instructor and racing school owner. Now it continues as a driver training equipment supplier, instructor trainer, and driver training service provider employing instructors to work for me, primarily outside the public sector.

Motor skills training (if that is what you're teaching) needs experienced instructors that know vehicle dynamics inside and out. The instructors have to be very good drivers to answer, persuade, motivate and often times demonstrate physically what they can't communicate cognitively. Some Racing Drivers make excellent driving instructors as they have had to master not only driving, but communication on many different levels from PR, to working with data, to dealing with cranky car owners, crew chiefs, media and fans.

The real and great trainers I know are easy to use in hybrid training as they are presentable, professional, and know their craft well enough that given an assignment they learn quickly. Most of them are masters at turning a sow’s ear into a silk purse.

As a Racing Driver Instructor in the early 90's, I was involved in a study in Oregon. It is out there on the web somewhere, but in short we used a curriculum of skills-based training dealing with the issue of SKID CONTROL.

Want to know how the study turned out? Come back for Part 2 next week, and as always, we are interested to hear your thoughts and comments.