Matt Ammon Memorial Driving School and Teen Clinic
The Ridge Motorsports ParkAbout this event
Audi Club Northwest (ACNW) and Northwest Audi Dealers Group are proud to present the 11th annual Matt Ammon Memorial Driving School and Teen Clinic 2017 (MAMDS), May 20-21!
For the first time MAMDS will host both Driver Skills (DS) and High Performance Driver Education (HPDE) instructed lapping in Shelton. WA. DS will be held at Sanderson Field on Saturday, with an All-Day Autocross there on Sunday. HPDE will be run both Saturday and Sunday at The Ridge Motorsports Park.
We are thrilled to announce that Ross Bentley will be providing classroom coaching as part of our HPDE program on Sunday the 21st. Ross has written eight performance-driving books under the Speed Secrets name, and continues to coach and train drivers all over the world. He's worked with top engineers, studies the mental game of driving, and has raced in almost every type of car. His performance driving instruction is sought after by organizations all over the world. You don't want to miss this opportunity!
Who was Matt Ammon? He bought his new Nogaro Blue Audi S4 in May of 2001 and became very active in local chapters of Audi Club North America in Ohio, Illinois, Virginia and Missouri before coming to the Seattle area in the Summer of 2006. Tragically, he was taken from us at age 31 in November 2006, when a Bellevue construction crane collapsed. In his short time with us Matt brought his enthusiasm, skill and knowledge to our region. He quickly became integrated with the local Audi community and Audi Club Northwest as an Instructor. When asked what modifications should be made to your car, Matt would be quick to answer, “The first mod should be driving school.” This is the legacy we are honoring with the largest driver learning event of our season.
What is Driver Skills? It is not like the experiences when you first earned your driver's license. This is an advanced DS course that is encouraged for all drivers, teens, novices or intermediate drivers. It is an exciting opportunity to learn how you and your car work together in real life situations on the street and highway. DS students will participate in a number of exercises (slalom, emergency braking, collision avoidance, figure-8) on Saturday morning and then run the DS Autocross in the afternoon.
What is an autocross? A chance to driver your car on a track, as fast as you can, while not breaking any laws and being totally safe! You'll drive through the race course following a route of orange cones that define the course. It looks crazy from afar, but from behind the wheel it's a blast! Autocross is an excellent way to apply the skills learned in the morning's exercises.
There are just 40 slots available in the Drivers Skills Program!
More experienced drivers can register for the All-day Autocross on Sunday with a more challenging course layout. The All-day Autocross is for practiced drivers looking for lots of runs! For enthusiasts, this big autocross is a chance to sharpen your skills and warm up for the new driving season.
Saturday’s Driver Skills Clinic (DS) and Sunday's All-day Autocross will be held at Sanderson Field (5 min from RMP).
What is lapping? A super fun opportunity to take your car around a real race track at whatever speed your skills, comfort, and/or instructor allow you to do safely. With no competitive element and drivers of similar skill/experience/pace grouped together, it provides an opportunity to enjoy the controlled environment of a race track while respecting every driver’s specific abilities. Novice drivers are always paired with an experienced ACNW instructors to learn the skills necessary to safely navigate the track while applying the skills learned in DS.
The Teen Driver Clinic on Saturday is discounted to $75 for young drivers with either an Instruction Permit or Intermediate License. Register early: There are only 15 spots available for Teens! This clinic is designed for the beginning driver, teaching valuable skills such as emergency braking, collision avoidance and car control using the same exercises as the Driver Skills. A parent, guardian or authorized representative must accompany anyone younger than 18 into the facility.
Parents or guardians of teen drivers are encouraged to attend the Teen Driver Clinic as a participant, also discounted! Take the same clinic as your teen; you’ll be surprised how much you can learn together!
This weekend is FULL of options to teach you how to be a better driver and that will guarantee FUN. Check out all of the options for Two and One day packages during registration!
Registration pricing includes lunch for each day you participate. Guest lunches are also available!
Saturday-only participants at Sanderson Field are welcome to be spectators on Sunday at the track! Bring your friends and family with you too. Who knows, you may even be able to ride with an instructor on-track and experience first-hand what a lapping day is all about!
ACNW is hosting a dinner at the Shelton Civic Center at 6:30 pm on Saturday, May 20th. It will be catered by Smoking Mo's. This will be a great time to get to know those in the Club better while eating the best BBQ in town! Add this option if you're interested during the registration process!
Sunday at 11:30 am we will host a Track Tour at The Ridge. Family and friends are invited to drive the track at low speed and experience the elevation changes and blind turns at this very exciting track. Any licensed driver can participate. Passengers of any age are also welcome.
Audi Club North America (ACNA) membership is required for all lapping participants at this event. If you're not yet part of the club, change that here: http://www.audiclubna.org/membership.
If you still have questions, please check out the next page first. If you still have questions, email one of the Event Masters, Doug Cerretti < cerr5000@yahoo.com> and Kent Burlingame <kentaburlingame@outlook.com> .
There are two recommended hotels for MAMDS:
Shelton Inn, 628 West Railroad Ave, Shelton, WA 98584. Call (800) 451-4560 and mention "The Ridge Motorsports Park" for a special discounted rate.
Super 8, 2943 Northview Circle, Shelton, WA 98584. Call (360) 426-1654 and mention "Audi Club Northwest" for a special discounted rate.
Event requirements
Everyone must sign the Release and Waiver when coming onto the facility to become credentialed (covered) in Audi Club Northwest’s insurance. This requirement includes drivers, instructors, teens, guests and visitors - everyone. The full text of this Release and Waiver is in the next screens. Please read it carefully. Parents or guardians must also sign a Minor Waiver on behalf of participating teens. Please contact the Event Master or Registrar prior to the event with any questions.
Indicate the signoff from your Log Book for driver skill level when that question appears in the registration process. Instructors will be available for anyone who wants coaching, and for those who are not signed off to Intermediate (solo) or higher.
Chalk Talks are required for first time attendees and will be held Saturday morning at 8:00am at Sanderson Field.
Gates open at 7:00am both Saturday and Sunday at The Ridge and at Sanderson Field.
Helmets are NOT required for the Driver Skills (DS) Exercises on Saturday morning or the DS Autocross on Saturday afternoon. Helmets are required for the All-day Autocross and are supplied at the event.
Helmets ARE required for HPDE Lapping and Sundays All-day Autocross. Our Helmet Requirement for this event is Snell 2005 or later. The SA (Special Application-Automotive), M (Motorcycle) and K (Karting) designators are approved. We have 28 club helmets in various sizes available for rent on a first come, first serve basis. If you still need a helmet but they are all rented out at the time of your registration, please make a note in the registration comments that you need one. We cannot guarantee that one will become available, however, and you will not be allowed to participate without a helmet.
Convertibles and roadsters are not permitted to run high speed driver training or lapping events unless equipped with an approved aftermarket 4-point roll bar in the car and 4-point ASM (anti submarining), 5-point or 6-point harnesses. Equal restraints must be provided for both the passenger and the driver, if an instructor or passenger will be in the car. For example, harnesses with 4, 5, or 6 point mounts used by the driver, must also be provided for the front seat passenger. The roll bar must pass the “broomstick rule” such that a broomstick from the top of the windshield to the top of the roll bar is over the head of the driver. Roadsters, Cabriolets, and Spyders will not qualify for tech inspection without an aftermarket roll bar. Audi Club North America policy is posted on http://www.audiclubna.org/resources/driving-school-and-event-guideline under Chapter Resources for your review.
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs, SAVs), trucks, and other high-center vehicles are not permitted on either Saturday or Sunday. Email the event master if you have questions about your car qualifications.
ACNW will attempt to accommodate special dietary requirements if requested. However, meals are provided by third parties and circumstances may not always enable ACNW or its vendors to meet special dietary needs.
Payment is due at the time of online registration using credit card information you supply to guarantee your registration. While your registration is under review, your credit card charge will be deferred, until confirmation of your registration or to a date closer to the event determined by the event management. If your registration is not successfully paid online, your spot will be forfeited.
Cancelation Policy :
It is the attendee’s responsibility to prepare and bring a vehicle that is safe for the event and meets the club’s safety and technical requirements together with signed Tech Form submitted to the event staff. If your car fails tech scrutiny at the track and cannot be fixed, you cannot run and you will not get a refund.
- Cancelations received before the registration Closing Date (typically a week prior to the event) entitles the driver to a 100% refund.
- Cancelations received after the Closing Date, but more than three or more full days prior to the event, entitles the driver to a 50% refund.
- No refunds or credits will be given if canceled within three full days prior to the event, or a no-show.
- No refunds will be issued due to halting an event for any reason - rain, incident, etc.
Any refunds due under this policy will be issued as soon as practical after an event.
**ATTENTION: NEW TECH INSPECTION REQUIREMENT FOR 2017**
Audi Club Northwest (ACNW) will be implementing a new policy developed by Audi Club North America (ACNA) on vehicle safety inspections and our event Tech process.
For every event, ACNW will require two (2) signatures on your Safety Inspection Checklist. View this newly updated form HERE.
- The signature at the bottom is yours. This isn't changing. It is still your car and we need you to take responsibility for its safe condition and operation. (Pretty easy so far!)
- The second “Inspected by” signature above yours is new. It is ACNW’s expectation that your car will be inspected per the areas of emphasis on the Safety Inspection Checklist form by a dealer, a local shop, or another person you believe has the technical knowledge and experience (“competent”) to properly inspect your car for safety. Ultimately it’s your responsibility to confirm that your car is safe to operate at the event, and ACNW strongly encourages you to be honest with regard to your own mechanical abilities/knowledge. Should you feel capable and confident in inspecting your own vehicle, it is permissible for the second “Inspected by” signature to be your own.
On the morning of the event, you will take your car through the Tech Line process (see below) in order to be allowed on track. However, completion of the Safety Inspection Checklist form, including the second signature, should be completed PRIOR to getting to the Tech Line process.
Tech Line Process:
Prior to getting in line for Tech:
- Visit Registration to check in and get your registration packet (with event car numbers)
- Ensure your vehicle meets all areas of the Safety Inspection Checklist form, particularly removal of all lose items from the cabin and trunk
- Apply event car numbers to car exterior (outside rear windows, if possible, on both sides)
- Complete Safety Inspection Checklist form with car number
During Tech:
- Get in line with your vehicle at designated area
- Stay in your vehicle and be prepared to participate in the process as directed by Tech Line staff
- Provide your completed Safety Inspection Checklist form (this includes 2 signatures) when requested
- Upon successful completion of the process, you’ll be given your final event sticker that signifies your vehicle is cleared for entry on track. You will place this sticker in the center of your car's windshield, at the very top.
- Return to your parking spot and be prepared for the mandatory Driver’s meeting
Please reach out to Pat Martin (mardkins@msn.com) with any questions on this new Tech Inspection policy.
