Here are a few pics I managed to take inbetween some fairly hectic (and fun) driving on the defensive driving course held at the San Bernadino Sheriff's Emergency Vehicle Operations Center, on Saturday. There were four phases to the course - driving skills, emergency avoidance, skid pan, and maneuvering. This kind of training certainly makes you appreciate just how good the cops have to be in order to drive those pursuit vehicles safely.

I just want to get these pics posted for now. Perhaps MarkS2K or wanabe can post some comments and observations later, here.

wanabe tests his reactions in the emergency avoidance test:



Instructor Roy sandwiched between John twohoos (left) and Mike wanabe (right):



Car 39 (I think that was wanabe) making bow waves on the skid pan:



wanabe and twohoos ready to do some skids:



1Y2KS2K showing off his freshly Zaino-ed Car 45. (Yeah. Right!):



Beaming smiles as the "survivors" proudly show off their certificates in front of the EVOC building.
John (twohoos), Vu's brother (who doesn't have an S2K), MarkS2K, Brandy (Mark's GF), then the instructors (in red). Almost hidden in the middle of the instructors is Vu (cvuplay), with Mike (wanabe) and Clive (1Y2KS2K) on the right:

 

The skidpan sure looks like a pond to me ... Damn, you guys get to drive cop cars around the course? Hmm ... Anyone of you buzzing the sirens on and off like a real pursuit gone bad? Hah!

 

wanabe tried the siren - no go. The lights worked, however, and I ran my last stint with lights blazing!

 

That's cool ... I've always wanted to drive a highway pursuit vehicle, hah! Try Japan's NSX or GTR for a pursuit run, they are ex-racers or something ... Excellent driving skills.

 

we also drove acuras on the slalom course... pretty cool- had to start out slow, but eventually improved and sped up (driving in cones and we had to set-up any we hit).
sirens must have been disconnected, but i had fun playing with the lights!!
still having some trouble remembering to shuffle-steer!!
(good photos- thanks 1Y2KS2K!!)

 

The sirens worked for me..... but riding in the backseat of the police car brought back some childhood memories

 

Umm... no beer in the police car please! Cool pics, looks like fun. They wouldn't let you get the s2k in the pond eh?

 

That's a lie! twohoos and myself invariably ended up picking up the cones that wanabe knocked over, in front of us! (We didn't knock any over ourselves, of course.)

 

This should be standard fare with all drivers on the road - looks like you all had a blast!

 

We had a blast at the class. Thanks Clive for taking the pictures.

They actually have a high speed pursuit course at the facility. If we were able to sign up enough people, they were going to elt us do that and teach us how to drive fast. Now that wou;d've benen fun. It was still a very good class though.

I think Clive or someone even mentioned that we might be able to get around 15% off of our insurance rates for takingthe class. I need to call my agent.