Race Lab is one of those great organizations that run events all year long. They’re something like a cross between a thrill ride and a rally school, with events on snow covered rallycross track in winter and a gravel quarry in the heat of summer. Crazy Leo and his crew will give anybody with a couple bucks in their pocket the opportunity to drive a Subaru off road, bringing World Rally Championship dreams to life…for a day.
Michelle, the youngest member of Demaras Racing, accompanied her father Chris to Race Lab. She’s just beginning the long road to becoming a motorist. But learning to drive in the farmers field known the Crazy Farm will give Michelle an advantage. She had the opportunity to work with Race Lab’s female rallyist Alissa, which put Michelle at ease.
All jokes aside, Race Lab is an advanced driving school. The techniques learned here are fully applicable to real world driving scenarios. Understanding how to react when a front-wheel drive car understeers (or rear-wheel drive car oversteers) is the kind of training that can keep a car out of the concrete wall on an icy highway onramp this winter.
Chris has been to Race Lab more times than he can remember, and Race Lab certificates line the walls of his office. This time, Chris would be driving with Crazy Leo; it’s not every day that a regular person gets training from a two-time Canadian Rally Champion.
The experience was going to be difficult, and Chris was nervous about the late day sun. Leo assured him that despite being a chicken, it was important for Chris to learn to deal with changing lighting conditions on each lap, and how temperature effected the level of grip available. Being able to adapt to a difficult situation will make sure that the driver makes it to their destination.
Form Michelle and Chris is was another fun day with Alissa, Leo and the ‘crazy crew’. It was also the end of the season for Race Lab events at the Crazy Farm. But everyone is looking forward to returning in January for the completely different experience of aggressive driving on snow and ice!
Well that looks both fun and terrifying. I would have to be reassured my shocks could handle that kind of surface. Brings up what you wrote about months ago about driving school. Isn’t it interesting that so few people are interested in the art of driving?
The first time I went to Race Lab ‘advanced driving school’ I was offered a 2005 Subaru Impreza to rent for $100. I declined, since I arrived in a 2003 Subaru. Why pay money to rent the same type of car I already owned?
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Because of the $500 damage the car suffered at Race Lab. They tried to warn me that the shocks the wheels none of it was designed for ‘rallycross’ but I wouldnt listen.
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On a side nite, I find new driving schools and disciplines fascinating. Id like to know how to drive a forklift, or an 18 wheeler.
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Like the Fonz said, “school is cool”
Oh the confidence of youth! That’s a cool side interest! As the fonz also said “you ain’t nobody till you do what you want.”
What a cool way for Michelle to get driving experience. Cool videos, too. I learned to drive on our dirt roads and fields when I was arounf 8 years-old, but not rally-style. Being chased by our local cop on my dirt bike in my teens and always getting away from him was more rally-like. Back in those days, it was a game for Benji, our local corrupt cop, to chase me. Today, I would be charged with multiple felonies.
Thanks buddy. I think experiences like this can be really fun for a dad and daughter duo.
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And I love filming this stuff. A decade goes by and you watch your own YT videos like home movies (action movies!).
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Im jealous of your dirt road driving experiences as a youngster. I was raised a city boy, so there was no such opportunity. But I made up for lost time.
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Felonies… for joy riding. How times have changed.