 Morrisport Advanced Driving. Click image to enlarge |
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Morrisport Advanced Driving
I will not lie: I think I am a much better driver than I really am, and I have had the benefit of a substantial amount of professional instruction due to opportunities that often come my way due to my chosen profession. The sad reality is that the majority of drivers on the road today feel that they are good, if not exceptional, drivers, despite the fact that they learned the fundamentals of driving from lessons hastily delivered by one of their parents, or an older sibling, some time during their formative teenage years.
In some cases a responsible parent may have enlisted the help of a hired-gun (usually the driving instructor who ponied up for the largest ad in the phone directory) to stress to their young driver the need to check their mirrors and blind-spots, wear their seatbelt, and watch for pedestrians. After getting overly acquainted with the operation of their turn signals, they may also have been given instructions on how to master the art of parallel parking. For the most part the bulk of your knowledge behind the wheel is derived from repeating the same bad habits over and over again on a daily basis.
 Morrisport Advanced Driving. Click image to enlarge |
I appreciate the fact that it is important that we all learn the rules of the road, the importance of safety equipment and speed limits, as well as the meanings of the messages conveyed by the various lane markings and road-side signage we encounter in our daily travels, but we would all be a lot safer if drivers had a better understanding of the handling dynamics of their vehicles as well as the true limitations of their driving skills.
B.C. professional racing driver Tony Morris Jr. and his team from Morrisport Advanced Driving offer local automotive enthusiasts the opportunity to both improve their driving skills as well as test the limits of their personal automobiles on the road course at Mission Raceway Park, about 70 km east of Vancouver. For $235 (+ taxes), customers receive between 90 and 100 minutes of track time, professional instruction (both in-car and in the classroom), and a hearty lunch. Safety is a top priority for this company, so all vehicles must pass a tech inspection before they will be permitted on the track.
There are two programs offered, FirstTime and TrackTime. The FirstTime program is for individuals who have never experienced a track day event, or would just like a little more attention from Morrisport instructors.
  Morrisport Advanced Driving. Click image to enlarge |
“First-timers” are paired up and assigned to an instructor who will work with them throughout the day, alternating from car to car. Initially the instructor will ask for your keys so that he or she can introduce you to the track layout as well as show you how to handle some of its idiosyncrasies – details which will hopefully soak through your helmeted head as you test the lateral stability of the passenger seat and the effectiveness of the grab handles. You will then be scheduled for four track sessions (for a total of 80 minutes) which surprisingly can take a lot out of you, so you will soon appreciate the downtime between each of your sessions to catch your breath, mingle with other drivers, or just take a break in the refreshment tent.
You will no doubt also find yourself perusing the paddock area as it tends to be populated with more than its fair share of exotic machinery during these events. I found myself salivating over the likes of a Porsche Carrera GT, Ford GT, and a Lamborghini Gallardo.
  Porsche Panamera Turbo (top); Porsche 911 Turbo. Click image to enlarge |
The second of Morrisport’s offerings is called TrackTime, which is geared towards the more experienced driver, and allows the participant to access instructors if they want some tips or a critique of their driving skills. Most of the members of this group are here to hone their skills, test modifications to their cars, or complete their quest to find the perfect line around the twisty Mission track. TrackTime entrants benefit from a total of five track sessions (totaling 100 minutes).
During my time behind the wheel I received instruction from Morrisport principal Tony Morris Jr, but his father, veteran hot shoe Tony Morris (himself an accomplished racer) stepped in to offer me some of his driving tips as well. Interestingly, both men showed me very different lines around the track, which while expected, brought home the revelation that there’s always more than one way to get things done, and both methods proved quick enough that I would be hard pressed to know which one was superior without access to actual timing data. I should point out that having access to more than one instructor over the course of the day was a big plus, as each individual noticed something different upon which I could improve, while at the same time offering up their own methods to help me improve on my driving.
 Learning the meaning of the different flags. Click image to enlarge |
What did I take away from the experience? I have no doubt that my day at the track with Morrisport honed my skills and improved on my ability to control a high-performance vehicle. As a guest of Porsche Motor Cars I was privileged to have two of the company’s press cars at my disposal – 2010 models of the potent Panamera Turbo and legendary 911 Turbo (the latter complete with ceramic brakes). I had previously spent a week with each of these cars for review purposes, but it was nice to have the opportunity to access their true handling limits (and my driving prowess) on a dedicated track.
I was quickly reminded that “smooth is fast” and that I need to look through the corner to best prepare for what may lie ahead, but the real revelation was that I could lap quicker if I used the brakes MORE. Brakes are your friend as they settle the nose of the car down so that you can steer.
Although the events operated by Morrisport are designed to help participants improve their, driving skills and explore the handling limits of their automobiles (which in itself offers a driver a significant safety advantage when things go wrong), it is important to note that racing is not permitted.
 Driver’s briefing. Click image to enlarge |
Careful planning by the organizers groups both drivers and cars according to both skill level and performance potential, but obviously there will be occasions where you may encounter slower cars on the track. Participants learn about how to safely overtake other vehicles at the morning driver’s briefing, as well as the other track procedures such as flagging and the safety rules.
If getting involved in racing is on your bucket list, there are a number of dedicated racing schools in Canada. In B.C., there is the Allen Berg Racing School, or you can join the Sports Car Club of British Columbia which uses the Mission track as its base of operations.
For more information about Morrisport Advanced Driving or either of its Inside Line programs visit Morrisport.com or TheInsideLine.com.
