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Forum Member
 
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Last Login: 6/23/2009 8:56:39 PM
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My name is Chris Clermont. I am an automotive enthusiast from Nh trying to bring the community together, to promote the construction of a New Motorsports park in the New England area. The time has finally come, I am organizing the So You Think You Can Drive?- Challenges.
The first one is going to be next Friday June 12th 2009. I scheduled the date last min, I couldn't get a weekend until August 2nd, but I have a few Friday events scheduled in between. The location is in North Andover, Ma.
So You Think You Can Drive?- In Control, June 12th, June 26th, July 24, and Aug 2nd 2009 these are all day events starting at 8am with the In Control challenge. Around 12:30pm we will transition to an autoX event where drivers can get seat time with their own cars running until around 5:30pm.
These will probably be the most expensive of the challenges until I secure sponsors and finish the development of the website concepts in the pipeline. It is $299 per driver to participate, you will use our cars the first half of the day. Participants may get insurance discounts for going through the program, they will have to check with their insurance provider.
If you know of anyone who might be interested I am limited to 20 drivers per event, have them contact me be before June 9th for the June 12th event. My email is below, I will try to stay active on here, so if you pm me I should get to it within a couple of days.
Hope to hear from you all soon!
ClermontC@gmail.com
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Forum Veteran
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Last Login: 2/7/2012 10:47:51 AM
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| Use your cars doing what???? Event is in Andover, but is it at a track or a parking lot? I'm not trying to be negative about this but you are asking people to give up a days pay as well as 300 clams.
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| $300 and a day's pay is a lot for a non-track event. I echo the concerns posted above - could you describe what we would be getting for such an amount?
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Forum Member
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I understand your concerns. Don't worry, you won't hurt my feelings, I can use all the feedback I can get.
This is an open parking lot. The exercises we normally do here get up to 60mph so if you can imagine the space required for that by insurance.
I added the autocross for the the second half of the day, and got it for no extra charge. This is where you guy's will get seat time in your cars on the course.
If we maximize our time that leaves 15 min of autoX time per driver!
Some of the other autoX's I've looked at, each driver gets 5 runs that are roughly :50 sec. totaling almost 5 min per driver. If you can run all 15 times or so without getting tired that will be a challenge in itself.
Add in the fact that you might get an insurance discount for participating, especially if your from MA.
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Forum Veteran
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But what are we doing in the morning in "your" cars?
BTW, I do appreciate your attempt to create a new motorsports facility in New England.
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Forum Member
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In the morning your taking the In Control portion of the challenge... If you want to know more you'll have to show up! 
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Crysco (6/4/2009)
In the morning your taking the In Control portion of the challenge... If you want to know more you'll have to show up!
don't take this the wrong way, but I'm not giving a complete stranger $300 without a complete explanation of what I am going to get in return. I am sure you can understand that. I think you will have a lot more success in gathering participants if you at least take the time to explain to them what you are selling / offering.
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Last Login: 1/24/2012 7:42:11 PM
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Hi Chris, Glad you're offering new things for people to try, but I have to tell you what the other people are comparing your event to.
Our chapter autocrosses are generally 8 timed runs @ 80-110seconds each (depending on drivers skill) for $35, instructing included. Our chapter schools are $85, and have a ~50 second timed autocross course, plus unlimited runs of 3-4 elements of slaloms, kidneys, a skidpad, threshold breaking, etc. You also have some pretty accomplished instructors helping you out all day, both inside the car and outside. People get the better part of hours of seat time at those events.
Of course we do not offer potential for insurance discounts....
Btw, is this the same In-Control company that Phil & Linda Kogan were part of, and were running events at S.Weymouth Air Station?
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repenttokyo (6/4/2009)
Crysco (6/4/2009)
In the morning your taking the In Control portion of the challenge... If you want to know more you'll have to show up! don't take this the wrong way, but I'm not giving a complete stranger $300 without a complete explanation of what I am going to get in return. I am sure you can understand that. I think you will have a lot more success in gathering participants if you at least take the time to explain to them what you are selling / offering. I agree completely. I wouldnt even consider forking out the cash until I 1. Knew what i was spending my money on and 2. Thought that it was worth the $300. From what you are saying so far, it sounds like its worth about $50 to me, maybe less, since its on a Friday. As mentioned above, dont take this the wrong way. For the insurance argument: It sounds like you "might" get a discount if you attend. Sure, an insurance discount would peak lots of people's interest, but a promis of "possible insurance discount" sounds like there is a good chance you wont get it. Details about how to get the discount would help.
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I believe this is the same In Control program. We also have a location in S. Weymouth. I can't say for sure I have heard of the Kogan's.
I am a Test Driver part of my week during the day, I came across In Control by chance. They asked me to come down and go through the course. I felt like every driver should go through something like this, it could save your life. I consider myself to be a good driver, I am on the road for a living, there were still habits I found that I got into over time.
I have been promoting their program since I found them. I believe in it so much, after a year I asked if they had a position available and I am now working on expanding it into NH.
In the meantime, my personal goal is build a New Motorsports Park in the New England area. I had this idea for the So You Think You Can Drive? Challenges after a conversation with another car enthusiast. An idea where we might get different types of drivers to participate at the same event. Its a good way to bring people together, show interest for a new venue and get some seat time.
I was trying to think of different challenges I could do, I wanted to start with safety first, but still provide some seat time. In Control is the best match I have available. So I asked the guys from In Control at a meeting if we could put together a dual event. They said if you can get people there do it.
I think this is a great way to kick-start these challenges. I can be sure that people have been through some type of advanced training if they go through this step before moving to the next challenge. here are some of the things you will do hands on:
Defensive driving techniques
Tailgating drills
Steering control
Speed control
Spatial awareness /Backing up
Hazardous conditions
Rapid decision making
Personal risk assessment
Proper hand placement and seating
Emergency braking (including ABS)
Emergency lane change
Dealing with distractions
Making quick decisions
My personal favorite is the tailgating excersize, I was amazed at how many peolpe could not react and stop in time. Some people didn't even try to stop! I was asked not to give out details about how the scenarios are set up, but you will get up to 60 mph.
I understand you guys/girls have all probably been through stuff like this. Groups like yours make up the automotive community, if you support this program it will help us keep moving forward.
If you are from MA, I believe all of the providers will give you a discount. If you are from outside of MA, you might still get discounts if it is a national company.
I wish there was an easier way to communicate everything that is going on. I started with this idea a few years ago. I left a steady full time job last year so I would have more time to work on this. I locked in a part time position, lucked out that it is test driving cars for a local company.
I am going to do this if it takes my entire life to do it and all of my extra funds. I don't spend money on anything else, everything is going into this project.
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