In conjunction with the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department, the Golden Gate Chapter (GGC) of the BMW Car Club of America (BMWCCA) is pleased to announce a special car control clinic oriented towards teen drivers and their families, and at a reduced price compared to our normal clinics. This all-day clinic will be held in the parking lot at Candlestick Park on Sunday, August 4^th.

Before registering, please read the entire Student Packet for important information and the required forms for the day of the clinic. Please also see the FAQs. The Teen/Family Car Control Clinic is similar to our regular car control clinics, but oriented specifically towards teen drivers and safety. More information about our regular car control clnics can be found at the Car Control Clinic Overview.

Traditional driver’s ed classes for teenage and beginning drivers typically only really cover driving regulations and some basic practice at driving a car on the road – more just the “rules” of driving, so to speak. Our car control clinics are designed to teach “skills” to drivers – for example, what to do when the car begins to slide or skid, staying in control during a panic braking stop, or swerving around an obstacle. These skills are especially important for teen drivers to learn, given their limited experience behind the wheel – and can be life saving knowledge when such situations occur. What could be more important than to give a teenage driver the knowledge and skills to be a better, safer driver?

Using their own cars, students will learn the hands-on physics of car control, pushing the limits of tire adhesion in a safe, controlled situation. A trained driving instructor accompanies each student to provide immediate feedback while students maneuver their cars through exercises laid out with orange rubber cones in a closed parking lot. Exercises are designed to be fun, safe, challenging, and educational—and each exercise teaches a specific skill.

We will teach skid control, ABS braking, accident avoidance, and emergency lane changes—among many other good driving skills and habits.

All you need to attend is a valid driver's license, and the registration fee which includes a t-shirt and lunch. You will also need to complete a Minor Waiver if you are under 18. Two-driver cars are allowed (two separately registered drivers sharing one car).

Helmets are not required for the clinic. If you wish to wear a helmet, it must meet the club’s helmet standards and must be inspected at check-in.

The August 4, 2013 Teen/Family Car Control Clinic will be held at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, CA (Directions to Candlestick Park). Check-in for registered students opens at 8:00am. The event concludes at 5:30pm.

- Registration is ONLY open to drivers aged 16 to 21, and their adult parents (we note that some teens learn better without their parents around, while others enjoy sharing the day with their parent(s)).

- All registrants must have a valid driver’s license by the day of the clinic – sorry, no learner’s permits.

- Registrants under the age of 18 MUST bring a completed and notarized minor waiver.

- Two paid registrants can share the same car (same driving time as separate cars).

- No minivans, SUVs, or SAVs allowed (due to their high center of gravity).

- $110 registration fee includes lunch, t-shirt, and a one-year membership to the BMW CCA (normally $198).

The BMW Car Club of America is a non-profit, volunteer based organization, comprised of car enthusiasts who enjoy the BMW marque. The club is not part of the BMW corporate structure, and ownership of a BMW is not required to be a member of the club. The Golden Gate Chapter of the BMWCCA is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and is one of the largest chapters in the United States, with over 4000 members. The clinic programs are conducted entirely by volunteers who simply enjoy teaching better driving skills to other people. More information about BMWCCA and the Golden Gate Chapter can be found at www.bmwcca.org and www.ggcbmwcca.org, respectively.

Our Clinics are open to anyone wanting to learn more about enhancing their driver skills and understanding the capabilities of their cars. This program is structured for drivers without any formal performance driving experience. Our goal is to prepare you with a fundamental foundation of skills from which you can further develop your driving abilities. Each participant receives personalized instruction provided by experienced volunteer club Instructors. The level of instruction is tailored to fit the needs of each individual student.

If you have further questions please contact us at carcontrol@ggcbmwcca.org.