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Thursday, November 14, 2013
Drives-U-Crazy. . .
Nanaimo News Bulletin B13
Drives-U-Crazy. . .
Driving self-betterment: because Nonyou’re worth it Non- signallers: signallers: I want to scream when I am stuck behind a car that fails to signal takes to a good shetraffic light turns green. anitintent tobe turn left driver,” until the stated. It has to be one of the most inconsiderate acts, especially in It’s like what my grade 12 an math congested areas. It’s also offence, which carries a $121 fine and teacher always said, “Math is two-point penalty. Considerate drivers would realize their error not a spectator sport.” and drive on. Ha! They don’t exist.
I want to scream when I am stuckI doubt behind a Sebastian Vettel slums car that fails to signal an intent to turn left around in his down time, even until the traffic light turns green.after winning his fourth consecuIt has to be one of the most inconsiderate tive Formula1 world championship. acts, especially in congested areas. It’sSure, alsohe gets a break, but he’s and constantly training to be an offence, which carries a $121 fine faster and stronger. two-point penalty. Considerate drivers would In another realize their error and drive on. Ha! They interview, I chatted with Izod Indy racecar driver don’t exist.
There was even a poster on the
What drives-u-crazy. cubicle wall to remindkeith.morgan@drivewaybc.ca us.
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Every time you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, there’s a possibility you can change your life.
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Alexandra Straub
B.C. racecar driver Cherie Storms told me she was taking an advanced driver training course to appease her father’s wishes. She’d been putting it off since teenagedom. That said, her father is an accomplished racecar driver and a proficient motorist, so you could argue it was an inevitability. But she had to find the desire in herself first. What followed, even she didn’t think would happen. She recently took home the championship title for the B Spec series in her Mazda2 for the 2013 race season. She grew up in a motorsports household but it wasn’t until she actually got behind the wheel at the driving course that her mindset changed. “I was just overwhelmed with all of the technical aspects that
The same thing goes for driving. Except there’s no poster in the cubicle for that! We need to be an active participant, not a wallflower. Anyone who has taken advanced driving courses will know exactly what Cherie is talking about. It’s not just about knowing how to shift gears on a manual transmission without jerking the car, or parallel parking your sedan without curbing the rims. Driving is so much more. I understand that this mode of transportation is a necessity for many. And it’s something done out of convenience rather than love. Kind of like laundry or grouting the bathroom floor tiles. Then again, for others, it’s a passion. Myself included. Taking a specialized course, whether it’s a track day or a race school isn’t just for wannabe racers. It’s for everyone. And we can all learn if we have an open mind. We read to keep our mind sharp. We walk/run/work out to keep our bodies active. We sleep to keep our bodies functioning. Why should driving be any different? Why shouldn’t we actively en-
Simona de Silvestro. She tells me
that there’s really no such thing What drives-u-crazy. as an “off-season.” She says keith.morgan@drivewaybc.ca
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Racing school doesn’t just make you a faster driver, it makes you a safer driver. gage in making ourselves better drivers? Every time you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, there’s a possibility you can change your life or the lives of others. We might not think too much about it, but operating a vehicle is a huge
Mean mower Drives-U-Crazy. . . A word from a cuts down Non- signallers: competition
Resident.
I want to scream when I am stuck behind a car that fails to signal anaimo to Nturns ovinglight m an intent to turn lefte until the traffic green. on si ci de wis e a of madone impressed nowtoI be the mostfu inconsiderate in IItkhas l landscapingacts, especially ti au be he e, T . at ge hg la ig congested areas. It’s also an offence, which carries a $121 fine and il H V d Seniors e I entere the first tim m two-pointaw penalty. Considerate drivers would realize their error ro d F . an r ay chee right me drive passion, good and on. Ha!abThey don’t comexist. solute as
Honda’s ‘Mean Mower’ is set for a special appearance next week in front of 60,000 trade visitors at the world’s premier h day one and I was met wit automotive speciality at home from What drives-u-crazy. keith.morgan@drivewaybc.ca lt fe e av h I . nts have trade show, the Specialty friendliness d fellow reside an f af st e th by Equipment Market Assoere, and time has gone food, atmosph he T ciation exhibition in Las . y’ il am ‘f y a great become my We really enjo Vegas. y. it al u Q op T all re to The 1000cc, 109-horseactivities are end living he ould recomm w I d an , power lawn tractor will re lifestyle he good life. appear on Honda’s stand preciates the ap ho w ne everyo within the Las Vegas Convention Centre alongside the 2014 Civic coupe, which makes its world debut at the show, as well as an array of personalised Honda cars and Ask about motorcycles. g Commissioned by Honda our excitin ! and built by its British cials Touring Car Champiove-in Spe M onship partner, Team Dynamics, Mean Mower is set up and geared to achieve a top speed of 214 kilometres per hour, weighing 140 kilograms. Call Kat today to schedule a personal visit The project saw Team 250.760.2325 6089 Uplands Drive Dynamics re-engineer a Honda HF2620 Lawn Tractor from the groundup, adding a custommade fabricated chassis, a 1000cc engine from a Honda VTR Firestorm, a A Retirement Concepts Community bespoke suspension and wheels from an ATV. nanaimoseniorsvillage.com
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she trains all year long. In fact, she trains harder when she’s not always behind the wheel of a car to prepare for the upcoming races. If the pros do it, we should to. Some of the most fun I’ve had behind the wheel of a car has been at a driving school. Whether it was the three-day racing school at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with the Skip Barber program, or a track day at the Mission Raceway with Morrisport Advanced Driving, or even a track program close to you, it’s a win-win. If we’re all safer drivers then the chances of accidents are minimized and we can keep our vehicles dent-free longer. And avoid going through insurance claims. The few hundred dollars it takes to enrol is of infinite worth in the long run.
responsibility. Poor driving habits, not shoulder checking, not using your signals, driving in the left lane when you’re not passing are minor details in the grand scheme of things, but have a large impact. It’s never too late to refresh the
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basics and then pick up a few new good habits. For example, if you look at any of the top athletes in their sport, they’re training most of the time. They’re trying to perfect their craft, even when they’re at the top of it.
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Alexandra.straub@drivewaybc.ca Twitter.com/cargirlsgarage
Drives-U-Crazy. . .
Non- signallers: I want to scream when I am stuck behind a car that fails to signal an intent to turn left until the traffic light turns green. It has to be one of the most inconsiderate acts, especially in congested areas. It’s also an offence, which carries a $121 fine and two-point penalty. Considerate drivers would realize their error and drive on. Ha! They don’t exist.
What drives-u-crazy. keith.morgan@drivewaybc.ca
Drives
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