For many years, Driving Camp livened up the Bologna Motor Show with synchronized "ballets" of 6 cars.
The shows, which we repeated 4-5 times a day, lasted about 25 minutes each.
From the packed stands, we often heard choral "OOhhhs" of wonder.
And often in the past, we livened up the mornings of the Formula 1 GP in Monza, both with track laps - in "fluid formation" with 4/6 cars - and with "shows" on the finish straight.
The synchronous performances of 2 cars, with a flute of rosé sparkling wine glued to the center of the roof, are now legendary.
During the highly dynamic performance, not even a drop of wine was to be spilled. At the end, the two Instructors would get out of the car, detach the glasses from the roof, and make a toast, pouring the rest on the ground. This way they could prove there was no trick (like cellophane sealing the glasses or a pink molasses less liquid than wine).
From the stands came 20,000 OOhhhs and very gratifying applause.
Since driving "sideways" - as Miki Biasion, two-time World Rally Champion, says - is the most beautiful thing you can do while dressed, many years ago, some very passionate former students, seeing the performances, asked us if we could teach them some of the "moves" we did during our shows.
Since at Driving Camp we are serious, but not normal, () people, we accepted the challenge, and thus the Acrobatic Course was born which, being difficult, lasts 2 days (even the good Lord seems to have taken 7 to create the world...).
After the first courses, and seeing the flattering results, we gradually added more and more complicated exercises, bringing the course to a level we thought impossible.
And, each time, we were amazed by the results obtained by the participants.
Here are the maneuvers that students learn to perform:
- handbrake "parking"
- "slap" (schiaffo): this is the maneuver often seen in movies - the car is reversing and then suddenly, with a spin, changes direction and moves forward
- Hairpin in powerslide
- "double 180°" - you reach 80 km/h then, with the help of the handbrake and "wise" and fast use of the steering wheel, the car does a half-turn on itself and then returns to the original direction.
- wide "donut" (tondo) in powerslide
- "braid" (treccia) - it is a series of tight "donuts." One to the left and the next to the right, then left and right again. All while keeping the car in a linear, non-random direction.
- Another hairpin in powerslide
- "360°" - again at 80 km/h, instead of doing a half-turn and then realigning, this time you do a complete pirouette.
- handbrake "parking".
Each of these exercises is already a challenge for the students.
And imagine the amazement - and joy - of all of us (students and Instructors) witnessing the execution of the "Final Test":
all these exercises are performed, in the exact sequence described above, with no pause between them!
To think that a normal driver - however passionate - can learn to correctly perform all these "figures" is already an exciting fact.
But then to see them remember the sequence and successfully perform the entire final test, as the commercial would say: "is priceless".
Duration: 1 day
Location: at the racetrack in Monza, Imola, and Vallelunga.
Daily schedule: from 8 AM to 6 PM approximately.
Group Composition: 6-8 students with 2 Instructors + 1 track assistant + 1 group assistant.
CARS: Nissan 350Z, BMW 3 Series
