Driving Schools
Knowledge is Power
by Jim Allen
So, you’ve bought the world’s best 4x4. Your first four wheel drive. What are you going to do with it? Well you have several choices. One, you can let the t-case shift lever rust into place and never see the dirt.
Two, you can bluff and blunder your way though, make a bunch of silly mistakes, cost yourself some money, set back the sport in general and maybe hurt yourself or others. Well, nowadays, none of us can afford the damage to the outback that comes from indiscriminate on-the-job-training and few of us can afford the damage to our vehicles. Nobody wants to hurt themselves or anyone else.
Three, you can open your mind to the hard learned lessons of others and avail yourself of the growing number of training resources available to the novice and veteran four-wheeler alike. Some take the form of books, publications or even videos and DVDs. All of that’s a fine start. You also have the option of supervised hands-on training in your own rig or somebody else’s. Four wheeling at every level is nothing more than the extension of the basic moves. You learn those core skills and, with just a few exceptions, you can translate them into advanced skills. As promised, here is the long awaited guide to off-highway driving schools. Some are quite reasonably priced. Some cost more than your current rig. Let your wallet be your guide.
Who Trains the Trainers?
How do you know if the person teaching you knows what he’s talking about? You may not until you’ve plunked down your money and taken the course. Even afterwards, an otherwise inexperienced student may not be able to determine whether the training received was up to snuff.
Several vehicle manufacturers have long had extensive certification systems in place for instructors, including Land Rover and Hummer. These have traditionally been the gold standard for instructors. As good as they are, by design, they are somewhat limited to the average four-wheeler unless he owns one of those brand-named rigs.
The United Four Wheel Drive Association has long offered a basic 4wd instructor’s course for an instructor that trains in their clinics. Local or regional four-wheel drive associations and clubs may also offer a certification program. The problem has been that there isn’t a standardized certification process that can be universally applied to all of the four-wheeling public. There may be one soon.
The International 4-Wheel Drive Trainer’s Association (I4WDTA) started up last year with the goal of providing a set of basic standards for instructors. To this end, a set of tests were developed to certify instructors at Apprentice, Journee and Master Levels. The test covers written and demonstrated skills in off-highway driving, recovery, mechanical ability and environmental ethics. In addition, the applicant is tested in curriculum development and people skills and is required to supply verifiable evidence of experience in the field to obtain Journee or Master Level certificates. Current certificates for first aid training at varying levels is also required according to the level of I4WDTA certification desired. Time will tell if the I4WDTA program will take hold. After all, it’s voluntary. Still the tests are not cakewalks and the trainer that passes them will have to know his or her stuff. Stay tuned.
Contact the I4WDTA: http://www.i4wdta.org/
Leonard Motorsports
CERTIFIED SCHOOL
Leonard Motorsports is the only 4x4 Driving School in New York State. Owner Kevin Leonard offers a wide variety of training, from basic skills to specialty courses like snow driving, stunt driving for beginners and winching. Also offered are “adventure vacations” such as the one or two day Vermont Vacation Packages. These combine the “shuns...” a detailed four-wheeling educa-shun with a great vaca-shun in the wilds of Vermont. Leonard accommodates groups or individuals as well as corporate groups and team building training. Training can take place on a closed course near the home facility in Upstate New York or out on the trail in various locations around the country. Leonard can supply vehicles for training. They also offer event services and off-road course design.
Leonard Motorsports
http://www.leonardmotorsports.net/
518-365-9504
