able to demonstrate and coach skills for front, rear and 4 wheel drive vehicles on ice and snow.
demonstrate good judgement in when and how far to push a driver to remain safe while maximising learning.
knowledge of safe procedures for extracting stuck vehicles – working safely with tractors and tow vehicles etc.
Winter Driving Instruction: key points for instructors.
Why driving on snow and ice makes drivers better?
Driving to the level of grip means driving without any understeer or oversteer. You always have the same speed on all 4 wheels and you maintain grip by adjusting speed.
Brake early enough before the corner to get speed down enough to be able to steer with no slip. If the car understeers you are too fast, if you brake and turn at the same time, you are braking too late.
If you brake too early and lift off the brakes before turning, weight transfers away from the front wheels which causes understeer.
Throttle control, acceleration in axle/axles steers the car. Always lift off throttle at turning point but go on throttle asap in the corner to get acceleration. Control throttle very strictly so that you are not spinning wheels but you have acceleration. Throttle is not on/off switch. On weak grip, the most important tool for controlled driving.
Steer into the corner and direction you are heading, keep on gas but not flat out, feel the grip. Maintain throttle during corner!
Much more challenging way of driving, important throttle control and nimportant to stay OFF the grip. If you go on grip, you need to start from beginning.
When driving road or a longer handling track with straights, you need to mix these two techniques. When you have a sequence of bends you go off grip, but before a longer straight, you need to balance and straighten out from last corner.
End of long straight you need early braking to get front wheel grip into the corner, and then you can power it out from the grip again.
Less steering wheel movement gives you smoother ride, point the next straight with small movements, "lean on ESP"
Recognise "grip of the day" quickly. Even on ice grip changes massively during the day.
Don´t drive as long as customer wants, take rest breaks to limit mileage.
Repeat exercises during the day.
If customer drives till he is tired, he has lost the ability to concentrate way earlier.
QUOTE: Drive the car, don’t just be a passenger!
A continuous mid-corner to allow detailed experimentation of in-corner vehicle dynamics.
Be aware if potential issues for engine cooling and steering pump overheating/failure.
A short sequence of bends allowing quick repetition of a dynamic series.