Great Sept 13 Event

[ThumbsUp]

Today, we put 14 kids thru the New Driver Car Control Clinic. As usual, the change in the students from the beginning of the day to the end was nothing but amazing. If you have never witnessed a NDCCC, you just don't "get it". Don't take my word for it, just ask the guys who make it happen.

I'm talking about guys like Ricky Ragan who simply show up, take charge of the the field excercise set-up, works his butt off, and then quietly leaves without receiving the thanks he deserves.

I'm, talking about guys like Eric Edwards who has had to cut his involvement in club activities back so that he can meet all the obligation in his life. But the NDCCC was at the top of his list, once again, of things he could do to help the club and make a difference in the lives of these kids.

I'm talking about guys like Michael Cholewa whose involvement with the club has been almost exclusively with the NDCCC. Michael is a veteran. I know I can always count on him.

I'm talking about guys who aren't guys at all, guys like Elaine Ferrell. Elaine has been without Barrett for seven months while he has been in Afganistan; he came home this week, and she still spent this Saturday helping these kids because she believes in what we do. Elaine is a real connection point for all the girls that attend our clinics.

I'm talking about guys like Matt Williams who have the absolutely perfect demeanor for talking to these kids. Matt is an anchor in this program; quiet and simple, reliable as hell. Matt watches carefully and critiques wisely. Matt is the Yin to my Yang.

I'm talking about guys like Sean Yoder and Jamie McKimmel who don't simply talk about giving, they put shoe leather to it. Sean quietly does things for his community completely outside this automotive community that make a day to day difference in the lives of those less fortunate. And Jamie, who will leave us in a few months to spend several years in Africa helping those that we cannot even begin to imagine how improvished they are, instead of working in a phat medical practice stateside. These guys worked their first clinic today and took to it like ducks to water.

I have been blessed to be able to work with all of these guys, and others like Evan Waugh, who would have been here today but needed to spend some time with his dying Grandfather. Still, he said, if you're short of workers, let me know and I'll be there. And then Wally Lacey, who drives from the Montgomery area to use his talents to help these kids - and put on one hell of a show for them at the same time.

When kids and parents alike tell you at the end of the day that they really learned something, and take the time to say "thank you", I feel like I just set a track record at Barber, took FTD at the Solo, and climbed Crow Mountain at class winning time all combined.

THANK YOU for those of you that made today's clinic possible.

We have another opportunity for you to get in on the action coming up on October 4. If you just want to observe, be prepared; you'll be hooked in the first hour. Give me a call or drop me an e; I'll make a place for everyone who wants to help.


Greg
(205) 401-3820

[zukitek]

The only fellow that was left out of that whole post was the guy that has been the anchor of this program for so long .THANK YOU GREG LEE!!!!

My contributions are minimal at best and all my pleasure ...Btw..My son Matt is 15 come April 09.He will be a student soon.

RR

[Jamie Holladay]

Great to hear Greg. It is also good to see all the other folks participating!

[Cholewa]

Go team us!!!

[CELLIS]

Me and my daughter attended this clinic and it was fantastic. I was amazed at my daughters ability to handle this p/u trk. She got her learners permit July 15 and has only drivin a vehicle about 10 miles total.This clinic has really inspired her and has given her tremendous confidence in her abilities as a driver.Thanks to every one involved who put this on.

[Cholewa]

As always, we're glad you could bring her out because not only will she be a safer more confident driver, but it will make you feel a little bit more comfortable when you give her the keys. Always a pleasure to help out.

[ThumbsUp]

Me and my daughter attended this clinic and it was fantastic.

His daughter is Samantha, the cutie driving the standard cab Chevy Pickup - without ABS! Sammie was threshold braking better than anybody I've ever seen - and doing it in that truck! Way to go Sammie!

[SammiSam]

I can't take the credit for learning to threshold brake, because it really was because of all of ya'll who volunteered at the clinic. I had a blast when I went and am amazed that I did as well as I did, but once again the credit goes to ya'll who took your time to teach a "mentally impaired" teen as Mr. Greg called us. Once again I thank ya'll for allowing me and the other students to be able to learn to be a more cautious and confident driver, while scaring the heck outta our parents. I was a blast ~Sammi

[CELLIS]

check vehicle

Samantha, you did not check any fluids in the vehicle, you did not check tire pressure as required by the rules ,you did not deflat tires to manufacturers recomendation,you did not help me this morning pressure wash the engine because the hose was blowing radiator stop leak all over the engine compartment,or fix the hose that blew a hole,other than that I am proud and impressed that you could do what you did at the clinic,I want to see you in my cj5 do some mudslingin and stump jumpin and river crossin.And another thing,you will be jacking the truck up and taking the tire off to put the ABS wheel sensor on or no drivin for you.Love you and GOD BLESS AMERICA.

[Jedi1]

Now that's what I'm talkin about!!!!

Teach HER how to work on that truck and drive it better all at the same time! My wife is the vehicle repair manager for a rather large rental company down here in Bama and one thing that both of us love to see is a young women learning to actually take care of the car she drives. There's no excuse for anyone to NOT know how to at least check the oil, tire pressure and maybe even rotate the tires and change that oil every once in awhile.

I feel priviledged to have been a part of the clinic on Saturday. Over the rest of this year I will be taking a much more active roll in the NDCCC and after this weekend I can't wait to get started!

Thanks to every one of the Students, Parents, Instructors and specially Greg for keeping this going. I knew it was going to be great, I did not really realize just how GREAT it would really be.

Sean Yoder

[TouringBubble]

I really did have a blast at the clinic Saturday, even with the resulting sunburn. I will be applying sun block next time ... I usually do it just after I arrive, but I was late. =(

This group of students was amazing. Overall, they were more timid than usual and had to be urged to push to the limits, but when they did the control they learned was inspiring. With Sammi being brought up ... she NAILED the braking exercises with an expertise very few of the instructors could have matched. All without losing a single peanut.

All of the students showed drastic improvement and that's what it's all about. I think that Anna was one that really stood out to me for a different reason. She attacked the slalom with a Chris Warren-esque enthusiasm. As the day progressed she actually slowed down. This tells me that she realized that she couldn't just go out with the pedal to the floor and the car would just perform ... I think it clicked with her that it does get a little scary and the car does have a limit. I think the experience will be of great benefit to her and to all of the students.

[ThumbsUp]

Oh, and there was this guy who happened to live nearby, and he just happened to hear the sounds of the clinic, and he just happened to come over and ask what was going on, and he just happened to be a professional independent film producer, and he just happened to have a camera handy, and he just happend to spend the rest of the day with us, interviewing students, parents, and instructors, and filming the action on course, and filming inside cars, and he just happened to get a real bang out of doing the whole thing.

Anyway, he'll edit the footage and produce something nice, I'm sure. I watched him as he worked, and I think it's going to be good. He has promised to let me know when it's finished. I'll let ya'll know all about it.

BTW, he just happens to be Randy Archer with Creekbank Films, (866) 819-0035, randy - at - creekbankfilm.com.

[SammiSam]

I talked to Mr. Archer over e-mail, and he sent me a few frames from stuff I had done. He said that the final video should be ready in a few weeks I do believe, I can't wait to see it, it should be good

[ThumbsUp]

That's cool, Sammi(NotSo)SoSo!

BTW, when you get ready to run with the big dogs, just let me know. We'll make a place for you in a racecar any time you're ready. Start with a ride along, and then grab hold of something a tab bit more responsive than a Chevy Pickup for a real thrill.

As I used to tell people, "I could tell you, but you wouldn't get it. I could show you, but it would scare the (crap) out of you."

[Cholewa]

for the record, my car DOES have abs, i'm not really sure how the myth perpetuated that the rabbit was so cheap that it didn't come standard with abs, but yeah. The volvo did not have abs and it stopped the same (because i rule) but besides that, the rabbit is german beauty. Much like myself.