You can take the girl out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the girl.
I suppose I grew up on dirt roads and driving in less than desirable weather conditions but I was always intimidated and never actually knew what I was doing. This week I finally learned how to drive ‘off-road’. Reno local Rod Hall and his racing team supported athlete/driver Emily Miller host their first ever all women’s off-road driving course.
The group of women was diverse including athletes, test drivers, writers, technicians, tire sales etc. with equally varying backgrounds. The twelve of us were broken into team of two and split between three Ford Explorers and three Hummer H3’s. Through each exercise we would rotate vehicles allowing us a chance to try both and with different types of tires: pavement, all terrain and mud. My partner in crime, Lori, was an experienced technician, teacher, business owner and general joker. We were laughing before we even made it out of the parking lot.
Our goals for the course were to learn throttle control, accuracy and line choice. Through a series of exercises we were put to the test. Starting on the pavement we sped our way through a slalom course of cones. At the starting line my heart was racing, I wanted to go fast, but I really didn’t want to hit the cones. Looking where I wanted to go, keeping even throttle and accelerating through the corner I felt great. But by the time I screeched the brakes to a halt I couldn’t wait to get back up to the line to try again…and faster!
Done with the pavement the rest of our drills would be in the dirt. Next we went through a course working on tire placement. As a shorter person it was obvious this was going to be a challenging exercise since seeing over the hood of either vehicle was unrealistic. In an off-road situation it would be likely both driver and passenger would get out and scout the obstacle and then the passenger would verbally help to guide the driver. We were locked between boulders and poor placement would certainly end in a dent or scratch. My passenger provided me days worth of entertainment but when it came to communicating about where I needed to go her words turned to grunts. Unfortunately when she finally did spit out something comprehendible… I didn’t listen (the ‘control’ in me, sorry Lori). Luckily our truck made it through unscathed.
For the remainder of the day we worked on traction and torque. We climbed hills, worked through a mud pit and drove a short course through some loose sand. By the end of the exercises I was confident in the 4×4 capabilities of the vehicles and my abilities as a driver. Even stopping mid-way up a hill and regaining throttle control or while crossing a hill at a steep angle I was at ease. But the one technique that I still struggle with is left foot braking! What a challenge!
The highlight of the course was to be passenger to Emily Miller in an H1. We each had a chance to don a helmet and get buckled in to a four point harness for the ride of our lives. Emily took us on a quick course at rally speed so we could feel what it would be like to race off-road. In just a few short minutes we went up, down and all around flying through turns at high speed. Dropping down and coming out of the hill through a deep sand corner I was amazed at the drift and stability of such a huge truck! On the straight away Emily says ‘I wonder how my jump is today?” Before I can even process the word ‘jump’ we are soaring through the air, all four tires off the ground! YAHOO!
Rounding out the day Sue Mead, driver and auto industry icon lead a discussion on the automobile industry and the environment. I was both surprised and happy to learn that companies are still working on solutions to our petroleum dependency issues. And although the Prius might be an answer today the future will hold many exciting options.
The following day we took to the hills north of Reno. What I would call my back yard, our team of trucks climbed up Peavine, winding our way up steep hills, over washed out roads and down loose terrain. With my new found skills the trail ride felt like I had come home… back to the country…. only this time I wasn’t scared, I was prepared!
A bit about Emily Miller. She learned to drive under Rod Hall after turning 40 (not long ago) and has since had many podium finishes, recently winning TSCO Vegas to Reno race. She has been driver and navigator on many races and earlier this year spent 9 days on course in Morocco where racers were only allowed to use a compass and map! www.teammillerfisher.com, www.rodhallracing.com
