Sat, May 14 - Sun, May 15, 2022

Matt Ammon Memorial Driving School '22

Ridge Motorsports Park, Road Course

About this event

Audi Club Northwest (ACNW) is proud to present the 14th annual Matt Ammon Memorial Driving School (MAMDS) and Teen Clinic 2022, May 14-15, sponsored by Toyo Tires!

We are returning to Ridge Motorsports Park (“the Ridge”), located in Shelton, WA, to host both Driver Skills (DS) and High-Performance Driver Education (HPDE) instructed lapping for MAMDS.

Who was Matt Ammon? Matt bought his new Nogaro Blue Audi S4 in May of 2001 and became very active in local chapters of Audi Club North America in Ohio, Illinois, Virginia and Missouri before coming to the Seattle area in the Summer of 2006. Tragically, he was taken from us at age 31 in November 2006, when a Bellevue construction crane collapsed. In his short time with us Matt brought his enthusiasm, skill and knowledge to our region. He quickly became integrated with the local Audi community and Audi Club Northwest as an Instructor. When asked what modifications should be made to your car, Matt would be quick to answer, “The first mod should be driving school.” This is the legacy we are honoring with the first combined DS and HPDE of the season.

What is Driver Skills? It's not like what you may have experienced when you first earned your driver's license. This is an advanced car control course that is encouraged for all drivers, both new and experienced. It is a great opportunity to learn how you and your car work together and can be applied in real life situations on the street and highway. DS students will participate in a variety of fun and challenging exercises such as slalom, emergency braking, collision avoidance, figure-8 and autocross to hone their driving skills on Saturday. 

Teen Driver Clinic on Saturday is simply Driver Skills with a discounted fee for young drivers age 15-19.  Drivers with Instruction (Learner’s) Permits are allowed. The clinic is a valuable and perfect complement to traditional driver’s education programs, because it teaches real world skills like emergency braking and collision avoidance, in addition to helping the new driver understand and master their car control skills. A parent, guardian or authorized representative must accompany anyone younger than 18 into the facility.

Parents or guardians of teen drivers are encouraged to attend the Teen Driver Clinic as a participant. Take the same clinic as your teen; you’ll be surprised how much you can learn together!

What is autocross? A chance to drive your car on a course made of up cones, as fast as you can, while not breaking any laws and being totally safe! You'll drive through the course following a route of orange cones that define the course. It looks crazy from afar, but from behind the wheel it's a blast! Autocross is an excellent way to apply the skills you learned in the other DS exercises.

What is HPDE or lapping? An exciting opportunity to drive your car around a real racetrack at whatever speed your skills, comfort, and/or instructor allow you to do safely. With no competitive element and drivers of similar skill/experience/pace grouped together, it provides an opportunity to enjoy the controlled environment of a racetrack. Novice drivers are always paired with an experienced ACNW instructor to learn the skills necessary to safely navigate the track while applying the skills learned in DS. Drivers must be 16 years old or older.

We will be offering 1-day or 2-day High Performance Driving Education (HPDE or lapping) options that is the staple of most of our events along with our Saturday Driver Skills and Autocross option.

Registration includes lunch. Guest lunches are available for purchase as well. Note: When meals are a part of our events, ACNW will attempt to accommodate special dietary requirements if requested. However, meals are provided by third parties and circumstances may not always enable ACNW or its vendors to meet every special dietary need.

LODGING OPTIONS

If you have any questions about registration, your qualifications or anything else, send a message to the registrar Alex Vollmer or the event master Adrian Power.

Event requirements

Please read the 2022 Matt Ammon Memorial Driving School Driver Handout and ACNW HPDE Event Information for Drivers documents posted on ACNW's Driving School Materials page.

Drivers participating in Driver Skills and Autocross only (no HPDE):

  • You do NOT need to be a member of Audi Club North America to participate.
  • You MUST be at least 16 years of age (or 15 with learner permit) to participate.
  • You do NOT need a helmet to participate in the Saturday DS and autocross.
  • Convertible cars and select High Center of Gravity Vehicles (see description below) ARE allowed.
  • A completed safety inspection form is NOT required.
  • You may skip the next section and jump to the Release and Waiver of Liability section below.

Drivers participating in HPDE/lapping:

You need to be a member of Audi Club North America to drive on track at this event*. If you’ve not yet joined the club, you can get in the club by clicking here.

All participants and guests must be at least 16 years of age. To qualify for lapping, drivers must have previously attended a Driver Skills (DS) clinic with the Audi Club or other equivalent club/group (please check with registrar Kris Wegielewski with any questions).

If you are bringing a convertible car or cross-over, please read the Convertibles or High Center of Gravity Vehicles section below.

*Reciprocal instructors from BMWCCA Puget Sound Chapter and PCA Pacific Northwest Region may instruct and drive without an ACNA membership.

Convertibles (HPDE participants only):

Convertibles lacking rollover protection are not permitted in ACNA High Performance Driving Schools (HPDE, lapping, or any events held “at speed”). Vehicles with removable hardtops or retractable hardtops lacking a rollover protection system are also not permitted at high-speed events. Convertibles with factory-installed rollover protection (either fixed or deployable) meet the ACNA minimum requirement for high-speed events and are acceptable, subject to approval by chapter leadership and event staff. We strongly recommend driving with the soft-top up or the hard top installed; otherwise, SFI and/or FIA approved arm restraint system(s) must be used.

High Center of Gravity Vehicles (HPDE participants only):

High center of gravity vehicles (truck, van, SUV-Sport Utility Vehicle, CUV-Crossover Utility Vehicle, SAV-Sport Activity Vehicle) are not permitted in Audi Club Driving School events held “at speed” (DE-Driver Education, HPDE, instructed or non-instructed lapping, track days), except those models included in the ACNA Vehicle Participation Exception List found in the ACNA Driving School and Event Guidelines document. These exceptions include Audi Q3/Q5, BMW X1/X3/X5, Porsche Macan, Cayenne, for example.

Audi Club North America policies for convertibles and high center of gravity vehicles are posted on the ACNW's Driving School Materials page under ACNA Driving School and Event Guidelines for your review.

Helmets (HPDE participants only):

Approved helmets are required to be worn when on the racetrack at this event. Approved helmets include only Snell SA2015, EA2016 or SA2020. We have club helmets in various sizes available for rent ($25) on a first come, first serve basis.  Please request a rental helmet, if needed, on your registration form.

Safety Inspection Policy (HPDE participants only):

For every HPDE event, ACNW requires two (2) signatures on your Vehicle Safety Inspection Checklist form. View this form here.  Safety Inspection forms are NOT required for participants of Driver Skills events.

  • The signature at the bottom is yours. It is your car, and we need you to take responsibility for its safe condition and operation.
  • It is ACNW’s expectation that your car will be inspected per the areas of emphasis on the Vehicle Safety Inspection Checklist form, by someone in addition to you. This should be a dealer, a local automotive shop, or any other person you believe has the technical knowledge and experience to thoroughly inspect your car for safety. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to confirm that your car is safe to operate at the event, and ACNW strongly encourages you to be honest about your own mechanical abilities/knowledge. Should you feel capable and confident in inspecting your own vehicle, it is permissible for the second “Inspected by” signature to be your own.
  • View the entire Safety Inspection Policy and Procedure here.

Completion of the Vehicle Safety Inspection Checklist form, including the second signature, should be completed PRIOR to the event.  Please bring a signed paper copy of your Safety Inspection Checklist to registration to hand in on the morning of the event. 

Release and Waiver of Liability:

Everyone must sign the Release and Waiver of Liability and Communicable Disease Spectator and Participant Release forms online for Audi Club Northwest’s insurance coverage prior to coming to the facility.  You can initiate the process here, for both yourself and as the legal guardian of a minor. You may also initiate the process using the SpeedWaiver invite on the registration form. The full text of this Release and Waiver of Liability is on the last page of the registration form, and can also be found on the ACNW's Driving School Materials page.

In addition, you will need to sign an online waiver from the Ridge prior to attending the event.  We will provide that information to you when we get it.

Morning of Event:

  • At the Ridge entry gate/guardhouse, show your Ridge Motorsports Park Waiver QR code (details for obtaining this will be closer to the event) and put on the wristband that you will receive there.
  • HPDE participants: Proceed to paddock A as outlined in the drivers’ handout, and find an open parking spot.
  • DS participants (Saturday only): Proceed to paddock B as outlined in the drivers’ handout and park where directed.
  • Remove all loose items from your vehicle's cabin and trunk.
  • Registration will be held in the Ridge Peformance Center classroom.  Please proceed there with your driver's license to check in.
    • HPDE particpants: Please bring your filled-out Safety Inspection Checklist form, and your helmet if you don't already have an ACNW "good thru" helmet sticker.
  • HPDE participants: Apply the two large car numbers found in your packet to car exterior on both sides; rear windows are recommended, if possible. The small number should be placed on the top center of your windshield. 
  • DS participants: Apply the sticker with the letter “A” or “B” to the top center of your windshield.

HPDE: Pre-grid, prior to first session on track:

  • Drive your car to pre-grid, with car empty of loose items, helmet on, restraints fastened securely. Please arrive at the pre-grid 10 minutes prior to the start of your first on-track session.
  • A volunteer will inspect you and your car to make sure that:
    • Your car's tow hook(s) are installed (if available)
    • You have equal restraints installed (i.e. both driver and passenger, if there is one, have the same type of harnesses or OEM 3-point seat belts), and that 4-point harnesses are of the anti-submarine (ASM) style.
    • You have an ACNW-stickered helmet on and buckled securely.
    • If you have a forward head and neck restraint (e.g. HANS, Simpson Hybrid, etc.), that it is positioned properly under the shoulder harnesses and connected to your helmet
    • Your car is empty of loose items.
    • If you are driving a convertible, that it passes the broomstick rule for driver and passenger, and if you are running with the top down that you have approved arm restraints.
  • If everything checks out, you will receive an additional inspection sticker on your vehicle windshield; otherwise, you will be required to leave the pre-grid area to fix the safety concern.

Questions?  Please reach out to registrar Alex Vollmer or the event master Adrian Power.

Ridge Motorsports Park, Road Course

Shelton, WA
Download track map
Download track map

Organizer

HPDE organized by

Audi Club NA - Northwest Chapter

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Event over!