Technical > Four Wheel Finesse
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: www.i4wdta.org
Porsche Driving Experience
Porsche? Four-wheeling school? Yep! The Cayenne is one capable machine and it didn’t take Porsche long to incorporate an off-pavement driving course into their long running high performance driving school. The two day program includes what four-wheelers would expect in the way of dirtside training. What many won’t expect is the high speed trackside part of the course. One moment you’re slogging through a pit of gumbo mud and over a boulder-strewn path. The next you’re on a track learning to handle the Cayenne in high-speed avoidance maneuvers at the Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Alabama and running lickety split through their autocross course. Their faculty includes such legendary race drivers as Hurley Haywood and Doc Bundy.
Porsche Driving Experience |
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Bill Burke’s 4-Wheeling America
Though based in Western Colorado, Bill Burke’s 4-Wheeling America has traveled to just about every part of the country to teach classes or lead trips. A veteran four-wheeler and 1991 Camel Trophy competitor, Burke holds classes in all aspects of off-pavement driving and outdoor skills. Burke can accommodate one-on-one classes, groups of almost any size or corporate leadership training. He also leads guided four-wheeling trips in various parts of the country. Bill is an I4WDTA certified instructor and combines teaching hands-on four-wheeling skills with emphasis on the ethics and environmental concerns needed to keep our trails open. Bill Burke’s 4-Wheeling America |
Badlands Off-Road Adventures
Badlands Off-Road Adventures offers driving instruction and guided four wheeling tours year-round in sunny Southern California. Operated by Tom Severin, an I4WDTA certified instructor and longtime SoCal ‘wheeler, the classes include one or two day group courses at the Hungry Valley State Recreation Area, Basic Sand Driving courses at the Oceano Dunes near Pismo Beach and the Rocks, Ruts and Ridges Course near Big Bear. Guided tours include the Mojave Road Adventure, the more difficult Miller Jeep Trail and the Wheel and Wine Tour of Santa Barbara’s wine country. Badlands Off-Road Adventures |
Bridgestone Winter Driving School
Winter driving on the highway can be just as difficult as hard core ‘wheeling and a lot more dangerous. A bad winter can present challenges equal to many you have experienced on the trail... and often with lots more at stake. With a permanent site at beautiful Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the Bridgestone Winter Driving School operates seven days a week from December to early March on a specially prepared, track that has been “enhanced” with more than 80,000 gallons of frozen water. There are a wide variety of vehicles are available from average and high performance cars, true 4x4s and AWD sport-utes. Bridgestone Winter Driving School |
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Western Adventures & 4x4 Driving School
In addition to guided adventures all over the west and Mexico, Frenchie La Chance offers a full day off-pavement driving course. Topics include basic off-pavement driving skills, field repairs, survival, trail etiquette, outfitting and choosing the right vehicle modifications. The classes start with a three hour classroom session and then a day on the trail. Guided trips include deepest Mexico, Moab, Anza Borrego, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, the San Juan Rockies and other four-wheeling hotspots. Western Adventures & 4x4 Driving School |
Iron Range Offroad
Working out of Minnesota’s Iron Range OHV Park, just three hours north of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Iron Range Offroad offers a comprehensive training course geared to the entry level 4x4 owner. Iron Range’s owner, Mark Filonowich is thoroughly familiar with the area and is certified in Wilderness First Aid and holds a Level 1 Guide Card. The course includes trip planning, vehicle maintenance and repair, recovery, vehicle upgrades and hands-on technique on the trail. Iron Range operates late May into October. Iron Range Offroad |
The Adventure Company
Harald Pietschmann, proprietor of the Adventure Company, has an almost unbroken annual schedule of trips and training in the USA and elsewhere. They run the gamut from basic 4x4 and SUV courses, to 4x4 Recovery, Rock Crawling 101, Expert 4x4 Training, the Rubicon for First Timers and private one-on-one training. Pietschmann also offers guided trips to Mexico, the Rubicon Trail, South America and other places. Harald also offers training to groups or organizations and past customers have included the FBI, DOE, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Army Delta Force, Department of Fish & Game, Porsche, VW and Mercedes. Pietschmann has a small fleet of built-up vehicles for use on the Rubicon course. The Adventure Company |
Offroad Academy
From north of the border, the Offroad Academy offers driving schools, guide services and even expedition services. Based in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, the Academy staff gives one day Discovery courses designed to teach first timers the basics on their Westport track. The two day Explorer course includes the stuff covered in the Discovery course, with many additions, but adds a day of real-world ‘wheeling on a local 4x4 trail. The Adventurer course is custom made according to the needs of the group, but always includes recovery and winching techniques, navigation and map reading. Other elements can be included according to the clients needs. Guide services are offered inside Canada, in Africa and occasionally elsewhere. Offroad Academy |
Off-Road at the Equinox
Located in the Green Mountains near Manchester, Vermont, the Equinox resort has been operating an off-highway driving school since 1997. It’s open year-round and the typical Vermont winter offers a chance to learn winter driving skills. The school operates Hummer H2 and Land Rover vehicles with Land Rover and I4WDTA certified instructors. The training can be tailored to beginning or advanced drivers and can include a variety of extras. The training starts on some of the cultured obstacles on a special 80 acre site and progresses to the many miles of trails in the hills around the resort. Individuals or groups can be accommodated. A Junior Off-Roading course on a Mini Jungle Track is offered for kids. Off-Road at the Equinox |
American Off-Road Training Center
Operating out of the Sayersbrook Bison Ranch in the Ozarks near Potosi, Missouri, the American Off-Road Training Center operates on 30 miles of trails within a six square mile area. The standard course goes for two days and includes a morning of classroom work and the basics on the manmade Off-Road 101 course. Winching and maneuvering skills are included. The second day is devoted to running the trails and honing the skills acquired the first day. Advanced courses are also available that include extras like GPS navigation and off-road event planning. Customized packages are also offered for groups or for specialized events. American Off-Road Training Center |
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Esprit De Four Hands-On Safety Clinic
The Esprit De Four Wheel Drive Club has earned quite a reputation with their Bay Area, California off-highway driving skills and safety courses. They take place at various times of the year, usually at the Hollister Hills State Vehicle Recreation Area in Hollister, California. The day classes are designed to teach the basic skills necessary for safe, environmentally friendly four-wheeling. The instruction starts in the classroom but ends up on easy to moderate trails where real world obstacles are encountered with an instructor standing by to walk you through it. Esprit De Four |
United Four Wheel Drive Association
Since 1993, the United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) has offered 4-Wheel Drive Awareness Clinics. These are one day clinics designed to start novice four-wheelers on the right road (and whip more experienced ‘wheelers into shape) to be safe, conscientious trail stewards. These clinics are offered through local 4x4 clubs that are affiliated with the UFWDA. They include basic driving techniques, recovery, vehicle modifications, environmental stewardship and the value of club interactions. United Four Wheel Drive Associations |
Land Rover Experience Driving Schools
By most reports, Land Rover was the first manufacturer to establish an off-highway driving school. Land Rover North America established the Land Rover Driving Academy in 1993. There are now two established schools located at the Biltmore Estate, near Asheville, North Carolina, and at Fairmont Le Château Montebello, Quebec, Canada. These schools operate seven days a week, year around with instructors trained and certified by Land Rover and vehicles are supplied. The courses include all the basics learned from constructed obstacles as well as real world driving on a variety of scenic, unimproved roads in the area. Land Rover dealers also have “Wheels” events that often include training combined with fun and Land Rover camaraderie. Land Rover also operates a driving school at Eastnor Castle in England and periodically offers special four-wheeling adventure vacations in exotic locations around the world. The Land Rover Experience |
Camp Jeep On the Road–Jeep 101
Camp Jeep has become a Jeeper’s “Mecca” event. The main event is a large gathering held in the summer with thousands of Jeepers in attendance. The locale varies according to year and it’s been held in the west and the east. Camp Jeep is a fun event with a variety of activities that cater to Jeep owners, including lots of four-wheeling, of course. A part of that event is Jeep 101, a basic training course in which Jeep instructors walk you through a ‘wheeling course in a current year Jeep vehicle. That school follows along with Camp Jeep on the Road, which is a travelling weekend celebration that will travel to eight locations in 2005 and includes Jeep 101. Camp Jeep |
Nemacolin Off-Road Driving Academy
This resort in the deep woods of Pennsylvania claims a west coast attitude in an east coast latitude. Their Off-Road Driving Academy operates 365 days a year and features Hummer vehicles. The training is performed by Hummer certified instructors and takes place on 600 acres with 18 miles of trails of varying degrees of difficulty. The training starts at “The Rock,” where a number of manmade obstacles are used as training aids. You then progress to the Crater, which is more challenging and natural. You then hit the trails and do it for real. Individual or group training is available. Nemacolin Off-Road Driving Academy |
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