Four years ago my husband dragged me kicking and screaming to my first high performance driving event. Once there I was perfectly content to observe, just observe. But after each twenty minute session he would climb out of his car more excited than the time before. And then he said those ominous words, “You must try it.”

 My palms were so sweaty I could hardly hold the wheel. And my helmet was crushing my hair. Am I really going to do this? These are men, with muscles, motors, and MOPAR. I might make a mistake. They might laugh at me!

 But after a very informative discussion with my driving instructor, we pulled onto the track – at a speed that was comfortable for me.

 I WAS HOOKED!! What a thrill! This wasn’t about speed, or racing. It wasn’t even a competition. It was “Hooked On Driving,” a very controlled and safe learning experience with coaches and very specific rules. With each lap my confidence improved, as did my technique. I was braking harder, accelerating faster, and pushing myself (and my car) ever faster – but always safely and within complete control.

 I carried the confidence I gained to other aspects in my life. In a world where men are often the “bosses,” I’ve learned to deal with their testosterone; knowing that he might have me in the board room, but that I would most definitely have him in my rear view mirror.

 Now an instructor specializing in teaching other women, I’ve seen in the faces of my students the fears, the trepidation, and the hesitation that I felt in myself that first day. But as their training progresses, I see their fear turn to pride, their trepidation to attitude, and the hesitation disappears altogether. They leave the event empowered.

 HOD is a group of friendly driving enthusiasts who produce quality performance driving events. Our events are held on closed course race tracks, with a focus on safety, fun, and driving skill. It’s made clear at every HOD event that we do not hold competition events. Our focus is on the progression of driver skill, and having a blast in a safe and controlled environment. Our coaches are trained to use the same terminology and techniques, and they “encourage” rather than “push” their students. We seek drivers who want to drive their cars to the track, keep them in excellent condition, and drive them home at the end of the day.

 For more information:

http://www.komensf.org/events_thirdparty.htm

http://www.HookedOnDriving.com/moreinfo1.cfm?Product_ID=172