Blog

Final Track Event in PDC’s Celebration of a ‘Decade of Performance’

This year has been PDC’s tenth year of operations and with five track events completed and only one left for Monday, September 28th it has been a fantastic year of high speed fun!

  Smiles abound at all PDC events - Here Skip Yeng and instructor Tony Riddel get ready to savour another session.

Ride with an Instructor

The ‘Ride with an Instructor’ program is still a huge success. First Time participants ride for some fast laps with their instructor. The experience is often an epiphany for most participants when they find out how fast and smoothly a skilled instructor can pilot a car around the track.

  PDC member and contributing photographer, Goran Srekovic,  enjoys a ride with PDC’s Chief Driving Instructor, Dennis Lee, in Dennis’  awesome R8.

Line up a ride at our next event and you will never regret it.

PDC to Wrap Up its ‘Decade of Performance’ Celebration with a Party

What better way to wrap up a great year than with a great party? Last year PDC held a party at the Point Grey Golf Club and the food was great, the door prizes were great, the people were great and the Master of Ceremonies was…..well, let’s just say he even managed to avoid any embarrassing jokes -  and that was great. What could be better?

This year’s party will be better - it is guaranteed! There will be more door prizes,  including a set of custom wheels. The banquet will be awesome -no rubber chicken for PDC -the caterer has promised to surpass last year’s gourmet treats with even better delicacies. And the MC promises to leave the tasteless jokes in his back pocket for another year.

Mark your calendars. The time and location of PDC’s year-end, decade-ending wrap-up party are

When:   Saturday, November 7th
Where: Point Grey Golf & Country Club

Don’t miss it. We won’t celebrate with another Decade Party until 2019.

Track Tip from a PDC Instructor

Here’s something to think about. How much of your overall driving skill do you use when you’re driving day to day - 50%?,  20%?, 80%? We’ve ALL seen some people that are using the full 100% of their driving skill just getting to work!

So we all have what could be called a ‘reserve fund’ of driving skill that we rely on to get us out of whatever situation comes up on the road. The more of a reserve fund we have, the safer we are out on the street. AND…. the faster we can go on track days!

This reserve fund is really just the set of habits you’ve incorporated into your driving, how far, and how much you’ve pushed those habits. It’s the reason the PDC instructors harped on us so much about seemingly ultra-basic things like holding the wheel properly, sitting correctly, and looking farther ahead.

The Buddhist saying of “A journey of 1000 miles starts with the first step” could be translated for us as “The road to a harmonious balancing between oversteer and understeer in every corner begins with 9&3.” In classic Buddhist irony it’s also a fact that the more we concentrate on the fundamentals of driving, and not on speed - the faster we will go.

Better fundamentals, equals better habits, equals MORE SPEED.

On with the fun,
  Mark.

*Check out some stunt driving videos on my new blog at www.prostuntdrivers.com

 
  Mark Aisbett heads out on the track in his BMW E36 M3.

Mark has been a professional Stunt Driver since 1987. Check out his book “The Secret Art of Stunt Driving- All the insider tricks of driving at the edge” at www.extremedrivers.com.

  PDC Vice-President Married!

Congratulations to PDC’s Vice-President, Brian Yeung, and his beautiful bride, Hyemee, on their wedding this summer. The happy couple spent their slightly delayed (so that Brian could participate in PDC’s track event in August) honeymoon in Europe which coincided with the Frankfurt Auto Show.  Sounds like Hyemee allows Brian to indulge in his passion for cars - lucky guy!
 

Pictures and Articles are Welcomed

Remember that we welcome your pictures from a PDC track day (or any other   motorsport event) to be posted on our website. Please upload them at: http://performancedriversclub.org/index.php/gallery/

  http://performancedriversclub.org/img/Newsletter-PDC-09-2009-image06-small.jpg” alt=”” align=“baseline” />
Any and all articles you may wish to submit for the year-end issue of The   Challenge are welcomed. E-mail your submissions to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

How Can   You Get Involved with the PDC?

We often get asked by members how they can become more involved in the   Club events. One of the best ways is to assist the Tech Inspection Team with   its morning inspection of cars for the event. Not only will you meet some of   the executives and other volunteers and participants but you will get a   chance to learn about some of the great cars and their owners that take part   in our events.

Contact our Tech Team Chairs/Directors, Rob & Phil Boznik at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you want to assist.

Tech Team members, Chris ‘gangsta rap’ Bakalar, Phil Boznik and Derrick Lee.

Did you Thank a Turn Worker at the Last Event?

Regardless if the weather is wet or dry, hot or cold, turn workers spend   long hours at their corner making sure it is safe for us to drive around the   track. The next time you are driving your cool down lap, remember to give   them a wave, as a small ‘thank you’ for doing their job so we can have fun.

Street Racing is Stupid!

PDC   encourages every member to spread that message. There is only one place for   high speed driving - on the racetrack. So if you know someone who needs a   little education about high performance driving, encourage them to join PDC.  It will definitely be the biggest favour you can do for them. At the least,  it will teach them all about high performance driving. And it could save a   life.

Support our Sponsors

It is through the generosity of our sponsors that we are able to make PDC   the very best club we can. The sponsors provide a wide variety of products   and services. Visit their websites from http://performancedriversclub.org/index.php/club/sponsors/ or by clicking their logo on the right side of this newsletter for full   details. Please consider them first when you are in the market for their   products and services.

PDC Supports BC   Rehab

Many victims of serious motor vehicle accidents benefit from the services   offered by BC Rehab, an independent, non-governmental, non-profit society.  That is why PDC is a proud supporter of BC Rehab http://www.bcrehab.com.  From each participation fee paid for a PDC track event, $5.00 is donated to   BC Rehab. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but over the years, PDC has collected   close to $10,000 for BC Rehab. So remember that when you are enjoying your   day at the track, you are also helping a organization that is helping British   Columbians.

Feedback

We want your feedback.
  Is there something that you would like to see in this Newsletter? Or some   sort of event that you would like PDC to take part in? If so, please let us   know. Send your suggestions to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  Michael Provenzano
  President
  Performance Drivers Club

  Take it to the track!

Our Celebration of a Decade of Performance Continues

This year is PDC’s tenth year of operations and while summer has just begun, it is hard to believe but our celebration of a ‘Decade of Performance’ is already half over. We have had four great track events this year, starting with our first in mid-April, followed by one in each of May,  June and July.

It was typical ‘challenging’ weather in the April and May events (adding credibility to PDC’s motto of ‘The Ultimate Driving Challenge’) and then we had absolutely fabulous weather at our June event. The July event started out slightly damp but soon dried out resulting in faster speeds and bigger grins amongst all the lucky members that attended. Others may disagree, but starting in the damp or wet and progressing to a dry and fast track (as opposed to starting dry and going wet) is always enjoyable as one experiences a diverse mix of track conditions for a full range of driving challenges.

  Showing the diversity of the cars PDC members drive, an Aston Martin leads a Mini Cooper into a corner.

The ‘Ride with an Instructor’ program continues to be a huge success with First Time participants jockeying to get in some fast laps with their instructor or in their favourite car. The experience is often an epiphany for most participants when they find out how fast and smoothly a skilled instructor can pilot a car around the track. Line up a ride at our next event and you will never regret it.

PDC’s success comes from the passion of its members for the Club and its events. But it works because of the dedication and hard work of its executives and volunteers. A sincere and heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all of the executives and volunteers over the years that have worked so hard at making PDC a success we can all be proud of. And special thanks to Dennis and Justina Lee for selflessly volunteering countless time in launching the Club in 1999 and running it through the last decade. We all owe you a big debt of gratitude.   

July Lapping Event was Great, really Great!

Regularly participants at PDC events had the pleasure of attending our first Lapping Day on July 13th. The event was almost sold-out with only a few spots unfilled in one or two of the run groups.

  An E46 M3 pulls off the track for a well deserved break.

With roughly 100 minutes of track time per run group (one more session than at regular events) no one left at the end of the day wanting more - we were all exhausted from the being on the track as long as a Formula 1 driver in an F1 race (although, to be fair, our speeds were slightly slower).

Four Down, and only Two to Go—Next Event is Monday, August 31st

If you have not attended a PDC track event this year, then don’t delay any further - there are only two scheduled events left!

There is no better way to enjoy driving your car than at speed on a racetrack. Don’t be disappointed and register for PDC’s next event at http://performancedriversclub.org/index.php/events/details/mrp-2009-08-31 before it is sold out.

  An S2000 rounds the corner heading for an apex. 

Participants are reminded they must have a valid PDC membership to register for this event.  As well, if this is your first event for 2009, a properly completed Vehicle Inspection Form indicating your car successfully passed the inspection is necessary to participate. Details are on our website.
 
Welcome Yokohama Canada as a New Platinum Sponsor

PDC is pleased to announce the addition of Yokohama Canada as a Platinum sponsor for 2009. There is a good reason that Yokohama tires have been the high performance choice of PDC members for 10 years - they offer the highest performance and at very competitive prices.

Yokohama is generously offering PDC members a $15 discount on each high performance street tire and a $30 discount on each street legal track tire.  This offer is only valid for a limited time, so don’t delay. Please see me at the next event, or send me an email, to receive your coupon entitling you to these savings on your purchase of Yokohama tires.

Thank you, Yokohama!

Links to all of our sponsors are found on the right hand side of this e-newsletter.

Track Tip from a PDC Instructor
There is always a lot of smoothness to be gained from the edges.
The edge is the initial turn of the steering wheel, or the first bit of brake pressure or throttle applied. One of the easiest places to overlook in our driving is the other side of that edge. Coming off the brakes or throttle or unwinding the wheel super smoothly. Cornering fast is about balance. Balance comes from smoothing out the edges.
 
On with the fun….
 
  PDC Member, Jack Price, on his way to clipping a nice apex. This kind of precision is why Jack is becoming another PDC instructor.

Mark has been a professional Stunt Driver since 1987. Check out his book “The Secret Art of Stunt Driving- All the insider tricks of driving at the edge” at www.extremedrivers.com.

Pictures   and Articles are Welcomed

Remember that we welcome your pictures from a PDC track day (or any other   motorsport event) to be posted on our website. Please upload them at: http://performancedriversclub.org/index.php/gallery/

 

  Seeing double? Can you believe it - not   only is one as handsome as the other, but they have the same car too!

  Any and all articles you may wish to submit for the year-end issue of The   Challenge are welcomed. E-mail your submissions to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

How Can You Get Involved with the PDC?

We often get asked by members how they can become more involved in the   Club events. One of the best ways is to assist the Tech Inspection Team with   its morning inspection of cars for the event. Not only will you meet some of   the executives and other volunteers and participants but you will get a   chance to learn about some of the great cars and their owners that take part   in our events.

  PDC Member, former executive and a   fast racer, Joel Siegel, chats with Lawrence Howlett, instructor, all ‘round great   guy and another fast racer.

  Contact our Tech Team Chairs/Directors, Rob & Phil Boznik at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you want to assist.

  Tech Team members, Chris ‘gangsta rap’ Bakalar, Phil Boznik and Derrick Lee.

Did you Thank a Turn Worker at the Last Event?

Regardless if the weather is wet or dry, hot or cold, turn workers spend   long hours at their corner making sure it is safe for us to drive around the   track. The next time you are driving your cool down lap, remember to give   them a wave, as a small ‘thank you’ for doing their job so we can have fun.

Street Racing is Stupid!

PDC encourages every member to spread that message. There is only one place for high speed driving - on the racetrack. So if you know someone who needs a   little education about high performance driving, encourage them to join PDC.  It will definitely be the biggest favour you can do for them. At the least,  it will teach them all about high performance driving. And it could save a   life.

Support our Sponsors

It is through the generosity of our sponsors that we are able to make PDC   the very best club we can. The sponsors provide a wide variety of products   and services. Visit their websites from http://performancedriversclub.org/index.php/club/sponsors/ or by clicking their logo on the right side of this newsletter for full   details. Please consider them first when you are in the market for their   products and services.

PDC Supports BC Rehab

Many victims of serious motor vehicle accidents benefit from the services   offered by BC Rehab, an independent, non-governmental, non-profit society.  That is why PDC is a proud supporter of BC Rehab http://www.bcrehab.com.  From each participation fee paid for a PDC track event, $5.00 is donated to   BC Rehab. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but over the years, PDC has collected   close to $10,000 for BC Rehab. So remember that when you are enjoying your   day at the track, you are also helping a organization that is helping British   Columbians.

Feedback

We want your feedback.

Is there something that you would like to see in this Newsletter? Or some   sort of event that you would like PDC to take part in? If so, please let us   know. Send your suggestions to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

  Michael Provenzano

  President

  Performance Drivers Club

Take it to the track!

New Website launched for 2009

For those of you that have not seen PDC’s new website yet, you are in for a treat.  PDC member, Ramin Towfigh, and his crew have done a fabulous job of creating a new website from the ground up.

There is improved functionality throughout the new website, including an automated event registration and payment feature, which is literally saving hundreds of hours of administrative work for PDC’s hardworking but unpaid executives.  There is also a new Gallery that makes uploading pictures a breeze and many other great features.

Take a look at www.perfornancedriversclub.org to see all the changes for yourself. And while you are there, why not upload a picture or two or make a post on one of the Forums?

Celebrating a Decade of Performance

This year is PDC’s tenth year, and what a decade it has been! 

From a few events in 1999 to this year’s six local events and 17 affiliate events (plus a few special events that will be announced soon) PDC has grown and matured into a club that truly delivers on its promise to fulfil anyone’s ‘need for speed’.

In the early years, the cars driven at PDC’s events consisted primarily of Porsches and Vipers with a few BMWs for good measure. Now, our events now feature numerous marques from Japan, North America and Europe with both modern supercars and vintage sports cars sharing the track.

Our members are as varied as the cars we drive - our members range from students to retirees and from novices to seasoned track drivers.

  PDC’s Challenge Editor, Justina Lee, and Vice-President,  Brian Yeung, are two of the Club’s hardworking executives.

PDC’s success comes from the passion of its members for the Club and its events. But it works because of the dedication and hard work of its executives and volunteers. A sincere and heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all of the executives and volunteers over the years that have worked so hard at making PDC a success we can all be proud of. And special thanks to Dennis and Justina Lee for selflessly volunteering countless time in launching the Club in 1999 and running it through the last decade. We all owe you a big debt of gratitude.  

Two Down, and Four to Go

If you have not attended a PDC track event this year, then don’t delay any further. It is hard to believe but we are rapidly approaching the halfway mark - PDC has already held two sold-out events this year and the third event is selling out fast.

While the weather was somewhat ‘challenging’ (in keeping, one might suppose, with PDC’s logo ‘The Ultimate Driving Challenge’) with damp and wet conditions for the first two events, PDC members are a hardy bunch and proved their skills in keeping their cars on track while still enjoying track driving.

  A little rain could not keep Jennifer Bleeza (aka ‘Adrenaline Junkie’) from smiling at her first event of the year.

The ‘Ride with an Instructor’ program continues to be a huge success with First Time participants jockeying to get in some fast laps with their instructor or in their favourite car. The experience is often an epiphany for most participants when they find out how fast and smoothly a skilled instructor can pilot a car around the track.

Next Event is Monday, June 15th

There is no better way to enjoy driving your car than at speed on a racetrack.

  PDC Executives, Jim McAdie, Secretary (BMW) and Brian Yeung, VP (Porsche) enjoying a nice moment at Season Opening. 

Participants are reminded they must have a valid PDC membership to register for this event.  As well, if this is your first event for 2009, a properly completed Vehicle Inspection Form indicating your car successfully passed the inspection is necessary to participate. Details are on our website.

Welcome New & Returning Sponsors
  PDC is pleased to announce its sponsors for 2009, some of which are new and some of which have been sponsors for many years. This year’s sponsors are:
 
  Titanium
  McL Motor Cars (welcome back, to a long time sponsor of PDC)
  Platinum
  Driver’s Edge Autosport (a founding sponsor, Frank Micucci, is well known to many PDC members)
  Gold
  Clarkdale VW (welcome to this new sponsor for 2009)
  Designo Auto House (a familiar face, Samson Chan, is a continuing sponsor for 2009 - thank you!)
  Silver
  Autowest BMW and Mini of Richmond (welcome to this new sponsor for 2009)
  DigiTech Printing (a long time sponsor and official printer to PDC -  thank you!)
  GP F/X (well known to many PDC members, Andy Wong, is a source of fine graphics for helmets and cars and more)
  Jim KC Fraser, CA (Jim Fraser, a Chartered Accountant, a PDC member is returning as sponsor for 2009)
  Bronze
  World Insurance Services Ltd. (Bosco LI is a long-time PDC member, and is is a returning sponsor for 2009)

 

Track Tip from a PDC Instructor

Using all of the track is a basic skill of high performance driving but something not a lot of people do, whether at a PDC event or even racing. Luckily, it is an easy skill to learn.

The next time you are at the track, try lapping slightly slower and make sure you are within six inches of every turn in, apex, and exit cone. Use your first lap out and your cool down lap to get within two inches of every cone. Ask your instructor to check the distances for you. To many of us, two feet feels like six inches!

Soon you will be using the whole track, and you will also begin going faster because the track is now straighter than it used to be!
 
  PDC Member, Phil Linzey, on his way to clipping a nice apex. Fine line, Phil!

  Mark has been a professional Stunt Driver since 1987. Check out his brand new book “The Secret Art of Stunt Driving- All the insider tricks of driving at the edge” at www.extremedrivers.com

Pictures and Articles are Welcomed

Remember that we welcome your pictures from a PDC track day (or any other motorsport event) to be posted on our website. Please upload them at: http://performancedriversclub.org/index.php/gallery/

  ‘Can you believe this guy - not only is he my brother, but he is a PDC member!’

  Also, any articles you may wish to submit for the year-end issue of The Challenge are welcomed. E-mail your submissions to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

How Can You Get Involved with the PDC?

We often get asked by members how they can become more involved in the Club events. One of the best ways is to assist the Tech Inspection Team with its morning inspection of cars for the event. Not only will you meet some of the executives and other volunteers and participants but you will get a chance to learn about some of the great cars and their owners that take part in our events.
 
  PDC Member, former executive and all around great guy, Jonathan Suzuki, volunteering at the morning tech inspection.

  Contact our Tech Team Chairs/Directors, Rob & Phil Boznik at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you want to assist.

Did you Thank a Turn Worker at the Last Event?

Regardless if the weather is wet or dry, hot or cold, turn workers spend long hours at their corner making sure it is safe for us to drive around the track.  The next time you are driving your cool down lap, remember to give them a wave,  as a small ‘thank you’ for doing their job so we can have fun.

Street Racing is Stupid!

PDC encourages every member to spread that message. There is only one place for high speed driving - on the racetrack. So if you know someone who needs a little education about high performance driving, encourage them to join PDC. It will definitely be the biggest favour you can do for them. At the least, it will teach them all about high performance driving. And it could save a life.

Support our Sponsors

It is through the generosity of our sponsors that we are able to make PDC the very best club we can. The sponsors provide a wide variety of products and services. Visit their websites from http://performancedriversclub.org/index.php/club/sponsors/ for full details. Please consider them first when you are in the market for their products and services.

PDC Supports BC Rehab

Many victims of serious motor vehicle accidents benefit from the services offered by BC Rehab, an independent, non-governmental, non-profit society. That is why PDC is a proud supporter of BC Rehab http://www.bcrehab.com. From each participation fee paid for a PDC track event, $5.00 is donated to BC Rehab. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but over the years, PDC has collected close to $10,000 for BC Rehab. So remember that when you are enjoying your day at the track, you are also helping a organization that is helping British Columbians.

Feedback

We want your feedback.
Is there something that you would like to see in this Newsletter? Or some sort of event that you would like PDC to take part in? If so, please let us know. Send your suggestions to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

  Michael Provenzano
  President
  Performance Drivers Club
  Take it to the track!

We have updated the photo gallery so that Club Members can now upload photos. Members can access this through a link on the Gallery page [between Most Recent Images and Random Images]. Please note that the server will not accept images that are larger than ~850 KB in size. This will help with the load on the server and make downloads considerably faster. If you try to upload a larger file your browser will just show a blank page.

As track-days/events pass we will be creating new galleries. However, if there is another event/subject that you would like to see with a gallery please contact the webmasters and we will set one up for you. There is also a Test gallery set up under Happening for those who are not sure about what they are doing.

The gallery and its content will be reviewed by the Execs regularly; all inappropriate pictures will be removed and the member reprimanded.

When uploading:
• Make sure you are putting the photo in the correct gallery [event].
• Make sure your file size is below 850 KB.
• Do not upload photos taken by another unless you have their permission.
• If you are uploading photos taken by someone else, please give them credit in the Photographer field.
• Photos must be car, driving or PDC related. Inappropriate photos will be removed and could result in loss of uploading privileges.
• Photos of track event accidents or cars damaged in such accidents (whether at PDC or non-PDC events) may not be uploaded here or posted in the Forums. Doing so will result in the person uploading being banned from future PDC events.

If you have any other questions or comments please contact the webmasters.

In support of the BC Cancer Foundation, a PDC team has been formed to participate in the two-day major cycling event called The Ride to Conquer Cancer.  On June 20-21, Team PDC will cycle with thousands of others from Vancouver to Seattle. All proceeds raised in this effort will go to BC Cancer Foundation to support cancer research, treatment, and services.

I would like to thank everyone for posting comments in regards to issues with the site. It was a great help in finding bugs and helping other members with their specific problems. Now that the problems have been resolved I’ll be erasing the comments that no longer apply, such as the IE/PayPal issue. This is to reduce the total amount of info on certain pages and make it easier to find relevant information.

Thanks for your patience. We were making sure that Club Membership registration was working the way it should. Now when you pay for a Club Membership your account will automatically be upgraded on the site, allowing you access to Event Registration without waiting for an admin confirmation.

Where has all the time gone? PDC is about to celebrate its 10th anniversary and I can proudly say that I have been involved with this great club for more than half of those years. As I have a flash back I can remember my very first event, not as a driver but as a spectator! With my leg in a cast and sitting in a very uncomfortable camping chair I was forced to watch some of the finest road cars in the world hustling around the track and all I could do was sit there and feel sorry for myself. But, there would be another day!

Can life get any better? The last four years of my life have been very exciting. Here it is in point form:

1. Buy a motorcycle.
2. Get a motorcycle license.
3. Take a motorcycle-racing course.
4. Start motorcycle racing.
5. Trade in race bike for a dirt bike.
6. Start dirt biking.
7. Start dirt bike club racing.
8. Get motarded.
9. Start racing supermoto.
10. Buy a new car – a fast one.
11. Take a PDC course.
12. Hmmm…now what happens?

It seems that I have caught a disease that has no cure. There is a name for those inflicted, Adrenalin Junkies. How does a person cope with this hormonal disorder? My method is to interact with other individuals with the same disease. I tend to hang out at racetracks, bike shops, and now I’ve taken my obsession a step further to working at a car dealership.