Twenty minutes later, we arrive at Sandown Raceway ready to tackle Driver Dynamics’ Level 2 Advanced Car Control driver training course. There’s no time to get to know the Veloster because, in a flash, all 10 cars are out in the members car park, lining up and raring to go.
The first exercise involves us driving towards two cones, and then braking as hard as we can. Starting at 60km/h, we slowly increase speeds up to 110km/h.
Never having had the chance to do anything like this before, I’m a little easy on the brakes â€" even knowing the car has anti-lock brakes (ABS). Lead Driver Dynamics instructor Kevin Flynn notices and, after my second go, jumps in the drivers seat to show me how it’s done. “Stand on it,†he says.
Slightly embarrassed, next time around I do as he says and, for the first time in my life, feel the ‘thumping’ of ABS ‘cycling’. Now I’m getting the gist of this!
The second exercise, according to Kev, has our faces filled with worry as it involves multi-tasking: braking and turning. But he wants us to do it intentionally wrong, turning the wheel quickly while braking and winding on as much lock as possible.
Almost resulting in getting the rear end to swing out, the point is to show how ABS can be influenced by driver input (i.e. asking for more steering can reduce straight-line braking efficiency).
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