Living in the south of the South Island means black ice and snow are unpleasant regulars on the roads - leaving many of us women (and I ’m sure a few blokes) nervous when heading out in our cars.
Based near Cromwell, Highlands Motorsport Park is no stranger to freezing mornings and in a bid to help ease those fears ran a Ladies Driving Day last week.
The course is designed for women who wish to advance their driving skills, become safer and more competent drivers, and be better equipped to keep themselves and others safe on the roads this winter.
The seven of us – from Twizel, Dunedin and Wanaka - all bought our own cars, so the skills we learnt were tailored to our vehicles’ capabilities.
Having recently picked up my All-Wheel-Drive Subaru XV, I was keen to learn how to alleviate the dread associated with tackling the notoriously-dodgy-in-winter Crown Range and even just the supermarket run from my home in Hawea to Wanaka, after a weather bomb has struck.
Highlands’ professional race driver Andrew Waite greeted the mixture of eager and anxious faces and outlined how our morning would pan out. We would hit the skid pan first (while it was still ice-covered), then it was straight into an ABS braking exercise, followed by some slalom steering, then back to the skid pan (this time water-drenched).
He imparted some wisdom before we jumped in our cars that would help not only in our session that day but in any winter driving situation.
Number one rule was to have vision. “If you are looking in the wrong place, that’s when it’s going to go wrong,” he reasons. Similar to mountain biking or skiing, it is vital to focus on where you want to be going and not on what you are trying to avoid, when something unexpected crops up on the road.
Second and third up, Andrew sorted out our seating positions so we had a good grip on the steering wheel (elbows slightly bent) and made sure our seating position allowed for maximum brake deployment.
Off to the ice and can I just say, sliding a car in a controlled environment is actually really fun! I also realised how adept the Subaru XV’s traction and stability control systems were as they fought valiantly to find grip on the slippery surface.
We learnt that the ‘bad noises’ were actually the cars doing a good job. The stuttering, shuddering sounds coming from beneath my XV were just the stability systems pumping away at the tyres – helping them to gain traction.
On to the real ABS test. We got to drive foot-to-the-floor for about 100 metres, slam on the anchors once we reached a section of cones, then dive to the right or left depending on what Andrew commanded through the in-car radio. It was exhilarating hearing my XV’s peppy 2.0 litre engine singing as we hurtled towards the braking point at around 100 kph - then it was impressive how very quickly I was able to slow and steer at the same time – thanks again to ABS.
My cheeks actually pinked with pleasure when over the radio Andrew commended my final run through with “Textbook! Absolutely perfect. Well done.”
Over to the slalom cones and we all got a feel for just how much you can throw a car from side to side without any terrible consequences. Weaving through at pace, the Subaru XV’s stability control system lit up after it deemed the steering angle to be too severe. Good to know that the same response would apply in real life should I ever need to swerve abruptly on the open road.
Round two on the skid pan was pure entertainment, slipping around on the wet concrete. Andrew sat alongside us as we performed one slalom run with traction control on and then one without. The bad (good) noises were back, indicating all the same stability systems that were functioning on the ice runs were back on board for the water session.
Encouragingly, even when Andrew turned the Subaru XV’s traction and stability control off, although the compact SUV felt looser as I cornered, there were still obviously safety controls functioning. Subaru’s helpful tech man Noel Robinson confirmed afterwards that stability control would have remained on but at a reduced level of control.
Because the Subaru XV is a SUV, the factory will not totally turn off stability control as this is a safety issue. Traction control can be turned off as this allows the wheels to spin and dig through the road surface to find better traction in certain situations. Cue the Crown Range under 10cm of snow!
There were genuinely smiles all around afterwards and even the more timid drivers had found the confidence to tap into their inner-petrol head. Many of the women wanted to enroll their teenage daughters in the course and commented on how valuable it would be for a defensive driving programme.
Confession time: I have actually worked as a motoring journalist for eight years and have been treated to a number of driving advancement days over this time. I still learned a lot however, and will be feeling a little braver the next time I head out on the highway after Jack Frost has left his calling card.
If you would like to enroll for a Ladies Drive Day at Highlands Motorsport Park, the next session is on Wednesday, July 22. Please contact Amy at functions@highlands.co.nz
PHOTO CREDITS BEN READ PHOTOGRAPHY
For further information, please contact Subaru of New Zealand Public Relations - Catherine Pattison (027) 4455 389 or email catherine.pattison@subaru.co.nz