When I purchased my car back in 96; Ford sent out invitations for what they
called "The School of Advanced Driving" I'm sure they held several
around the nation. The one I attended was held at The Meadowlands in New Jersey.
This was done strictly to promote the car and to Sho-off the cars abilities in a
variety of situations:
1. Braking heavily in wet conditions
2. Accident avoidance
3. Motorcross
I am probably leaving out a few things. Perhaps if anybody on the list attended
one of these they can refresh my memory....it's not what it use to be...:-)
We arrived around 8 in the morning for check-in. Several Racing professionals
gave talks and demonstrations, Lynne St. James was among them. I believe at
least a couple of them actually assisted in the testing of the "new"
SHO.
We were divided up into teams and allowed to drive SHO's other than our
own...Thankfully. We received hands on instruction on car's capability. With
deepest respect for those of you more skilled than I, this car in the hands of
professional driver is a site to behold and a "gas" to be a passenger
along for the ride! Perhaps one day I'll be afforded the opportunity to learn
some of your techniques in driving.
The braking demo was fun. We were allowed to accelerate up to.speed (whatever
you were able to punch it to, and on the instructors demand told to just
"kill" the peddle...my personal record was up 60 miles an hour. The
brakes on this car as most of you know are awesome. From that day on I knew that
all things being equal, I would not hesitate to get on the brakes in wet
conditions. I have done so many times over the years and have not hit anyone in
front of me......Deer included...:-) We were also shown that you can still turn
the car under heavy braking and still avoid and accident near the end.
As far as curves are concerned the guidance we received that day was not to ask
the front wheels at speed (just passing along what the opinion of the day was)
to do too many things at the same time. The tutelage that day was when
approaching a curve to apply enough brake to allow the weight of the car to
shift (load) to the front. Take the curve and accelerate out. Again, I point out
that I'm not a "racer."
Anyway it was a fun day! It was great learning that a quick yank to left and
equally quick yank to the right one could be around an obstruction in the middle
of the road and live to talk about it..Damn Deer!.....Still haven't hit one
yet....Thank you brakes and of course that yank of the wheel thing.
We went through the Motor cross set up with each team member taking a turn at
the course racing the clock. My team finished 2nd. The winning team got prizes
of Jackets embroider with "School of Advanced Driving " on them....:-(
We were later allowed to purchase them...:-)
It was fun, I do know that what I learned overall that day made me a better
defensive driver and gained total trust in the Cars ability in capable hands of
staying out of harms way.
Hopefully one day I'll benefit from the capable hands on Professionals here on
this site.
Shepherd
S. D. Mims
'96 TR SHO
Vanity Plate: SDM SHO
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