NEQ is pleased to announce our second Winter Driving School for 2023.

This is our chance to get back on the ICE!!!  

These events are held on lake ice with areas car control exercises including a skid pad area, and slalom area as well as a 1.0 – 1.5 mile road course on the ice.  This event is open to all members and non-members interested in honing their low friction driving skills.

You’ll perform exercises in the morning designed to improve your car handling skills on low friction surfaces followed by lapping on a prepared track in the afternoon. NEQ Club instructors will be on hand to help you learn car control techniques. We especially encourage new drivers and even those with learners permits to attend to develop car their control skills. 

The location (to be confirmed) will likely be one of the usual lakes – Lake Algonquin in Wells NY, Caroga Lake, Caroga Lake NY and Warner’s Lake near East Berne NY a few miles east of Albany.  

As in the previous years we will be working with AMEC with our event held on Saturday prior to their races on Sunday.  We follow their racing schedule which determines the final location. AMEC members will be on the ice with us at this event to lend their expertise and “scratch up the ice” with studded tires to improve traction for us. I encourage you to ride with them an seek out their knowledge that comes from many years of experience of competitive driving on the ice.

As always with lake-based winter events we are at mercy of the weather and we may be forced to change the schedule according to Mother Nature’s whim.  Our partners at AMEC are expert in determining the best time and place to get on the ice and we count on them to make the right decisions regarding where and when. Flexibility is the key. 

Consider staying over on Sunday to watch the AMEC racing.  If you want more time driving on the ice, if the schedule permits AMEC may offer an introductory to racing program on Sunday. – 20 minutes of lapping in your own car for $20. Helmets are required but will be available on Sunday at no charge. Check out their website icerace.com for details.
 

Cost

The cost is $125 for the day. You’ll be driving your own car. 
 

A Note About Registration 

WDS veterans are well aware that events held on frozen lakes are very dependent on the weather and ice conditions, so be prepared for schedule changes.  As always, we will keep you informed by email of changes which could include both date and venue.  Its highly recommended that you make any overnight reservations directly with your chosen hotel and verify a 24-hour cancelation policy.

We charge credit cards ONLY after the event is confirmed. Cancelation fees only apply if YOU cancel on a confirmed event. If the event is canceled or rescheduled there will be no cancellation fees.

This event often sells out quickly. Don’t worry – everyone’s status will be “waitlisted” initially and you will be notified by email status update if you are selected as an attendee. Once registration closes we will run the lottery and notify the “winners”. The lottery applies to students only. We will close registration in time to notify those who get in so you can make travel plans etc. Note that Audi Club members will be given priority in for these limited spots in this school.  If you are not an ACNA member and want to increase your chances of getting into this school, please join the Audi Club

Feel free to contact me, Dave Klock, with questions and remember we welcome friends and family members to come along and observe and if they would like to volunteer during the event that would be appreciated too. 
 

Typical Schedule:

7:30 – 8:00       Registration

8:00 – 9:00       Welcome and Classroom with Drivers Meeting at 8:15

9:00 to 12:00    Exercises – We will break up into 3 groups for the skid pad, slalom and road course working on the basics of car control in winter conditions

12:00 to 1:00    Lunch / Drivers Meeting

1:00 to 4:00      Run groups on the full track practicing the skills learned in the morning.
 

What You Will Learn:

First, how to make your car skid!…you can’t learn to get out of a skid if your car is not in a skid. We will then coach you through recovering from understeer, oversteer and 4-wheel skids. You will be introduced to these terms in the classroom session prior to getting on the ice. You will also learn proper hand and seating position, where to look (it’s not always out the windshield) and the nuances of getting your car back in control and have a ton of fun doing it. 

For those interested in learning more (maybe to join the ice racing community or just want more advanced skills) we can coach you on some of those skills too.
 

How to Prepare: 

Facilities will be very basic. Plan to spend the day outside. The only place to get warm other than lunch will be your car. Toilet facilities may be a porta potty or a local establishment off the ice depending on the venue.

Facilities vary from lake to lake but we will have a building of some sort, a restaurant or community building for registration, classroom and lunch. You will be outside all day so dress accordingly. Layers and wind blocking outerwear is recommended.  Footwear is a tough choice shoes or boots need to be warm but also you need to be able to feel and manipulate peddles. If your boots are too bulky you will get tangled in the pedals and perhaps create a situation that ends up in a snow bank.  Consider two pair of boots one warm pair of pack boots and one pair of smaller insulated boots for driving.
 

About Tires

Note we require winter specific tires: Studded or Non-Studded snow tires. If you have “all weather tires” such as Nokian Wgr series or Contintential DWS on an AWD car those are also allowed)
 
For further information on this event and all NEQ events and requirements, please visit our website at www.NEQClub.org.  This web site has much useful information, especially under the “Events” and “Web Articles” sections. You need not be an Audi Club member to participate.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me

Dave Klock // Event Master.