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"HOW TO" FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SAFETY CLINIC

The Capital City Mountain Goat Four Wheel Drive Club puts on three weekend safety Clinics a year. The first one is the first weekend in April, The Second one is the first weekend in June and the last one is the last full weekend in September. The classes are held on Saturday and Sunday. The clinics are for one day only, so that people can attend either Saturday or Sunday.

Registration Forms

PURPOSE
There are many purposes to putting on a clinic.

1. To have participants gain confidence in their ability to operate a four wheel drive vehicle in many different kinds of situations. The course is set up for beginning drivers and those with little experience.

2. To have participants gain confidence in their vehicle and get to know it better. When you start you will think that your vehicle can not do the courses but at the end of the course you have done it.

3. It teaches you to have fun with your vehicle. You will find that the Goats enjoy putting on the clinic and working with all of the new drivers.

4. The course gives each driver tips to better operate your vehicle and what you can do to get out of interesting situations. For example, the option of letting air out of your tires to get more traction. When you let air out to 10 – 15 pounds, that will increase you tread area on the ground by 250%.

5. It teaches you the safe way to operate your vehicles. It furnishes you with the California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs Vehicle Safety Check List to show drivers what safety devices and equipment you might like to have in your rig.

6. The course stresses the use of the BUDDY SYSTEM. Do not go out by yourself. If you have a problem you are stuck by your self with no transportation to get help, parts or a way to tow you out of the area.

COURSE CONTENTS

Packets – Each student is furnished with a packet, which contains required forms for the course, safety checklist, pamphlets of four wheel driving, a list of recommended medical item to take on the trail and a Four Wheel Drive Manual, which is for the participants.

Slide Presentation – There is a presentation of over an hour that covers the types of terrain that you can traverse and how to do it. Good driving safety practices, and ways to make the trail easier and how to help others are also covered. It is a good time to ask questions on any subject regarding four wheeling. There is a display of some of the safety equipment that four wheelers carry.

Winch Demonstration – During a break in the slide presentation, a winch demonstration is put on. The proper procedures and safe operating procedures are covered. Again it is encourage that participants ask any questions that they have. Questions about their rigs; how to modify them, what to get, is it really necessary. Remember, before you spend money on your rig you have to decide what type of four wheel driving you are going to do.

The Courses at Prairie City SVRA – Upon completion of the slide presentation, we all move to Prairie City SVRA (State Vehicular Recreation Area) which is on White Rock Road south of Folsom.

Preliminary work – The first thing that is done is the vehicles are safety checked and the sheets given to the driver. Than the tire pressure is lowered to 15 psi. This gives more traction through the course and an easier ride.

1. Course Number one – the Block ‘Course – This is a very simple course where you are directed to drive your left front wheel over a 4x4 wooden block and then you drive the right front wheel over the block. Another block is driven over with the left front wheel. This course teaches the operator where the centerline of the wheel is so that he can drive over an obstacle.

2. Course Number Two – The Back-Up Course – A course is set up with highway pylons or as they are called in the trade, delineators, and operator backs their rig through the course.

3. Course Number Three – The Stop Course – This course makes the operator drive their vehicle up a short hill. Just short of the top, stands an instructor who tells you to stop, put on your hand brake and kill your engine. After a brief time the driver reverses the procedure and continues to the top of the hill

4. Course Number Four – The Back Down the Hill Course. This course is a little different than the last one. You drive up to the top of the hill and then using your mirrors, you back down the course. When you use your mirrors, you do not have a tendency to turn your head and then the wheel.

5. Course Number Five – The Stair Steps – This is a manufactured course where the operator is directed up a hill on a course of dips and rocks. This teaches you to drive over rocks rather than miss them There are a least two instructors on this course to direct you through the course up the hill.

6. Course Number Six – The Frame Twister – This is a course laid out on level ground that has cement dips that you drive your vehicle through. There are three sets of dips for you to traverse. Before you start this course, you drive over the log course, which are logs in concrete that you drive over. This teaches you how to approach this type of obstacle.

Instructors – All of the course instructors have been though the In-Field Instructors Course and are fully qualified to teach all phases of the course. Through out the entire course, you will be guided by instructors. At any time that you have questions just ask them. They love to have them asked.

There are several other little runs at the 4X4 Area that the drivers can drive over. Also, when the clinic is over anyone can go over and play in the park at no charge.

Airing – up the Tires. Upon completion of the course, you return to the Goat Club House where ther are air compressors to air up your tires.

Refreshments Upon arrival at the Class Room, Prairie city SVRA, Rancho Cordova at 8:00 in the morning, you will be treated to hot coffee, orange juice and rolls. When the course is completed and you are furnished hot dogs, buns, the trimmings and sodas. This refreshment is part of the course.

COURSE INFORMATION To obtain information on the next Safety Clinic in the Northern California Area just call
Adviser: Doug Sinclair (916)784-9379 or
Registration Chairman: Carol Moreland (916) 455-9930 or
A flyer will be sent to you about the next clinic.

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Registration Forms

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