South Haven, Michigan – Last week, MAMA teamed up with Dodge to host the third annual Performance Track School at GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, Michigan, where nearly 20 Midwest-based journalists learned the ins-and-outs of driving safely on a racetrack. Since MAMA hosts two annual track events, the Spring and the Fall Rally, the association deemed a track school essential so that members are educated and comfortable when driving at MAMA-sanctioned events.

As far as manufacturer partners go, Dodge is the perfect fit. Not only is Dodge known for its legacy of muscle cars (we never said anything about the track school being boring!), the automaker also embodies safety. A strong message to MAMA Performance Track School attendees is that while these cars are fast and fun, there is a proper way to drive and handle them on a track.

MAMA President Jill Ciminillo summed up the event’s mission: “Our goal is to make our members some of the best drivers in the business. An annual track school is a great opportunity for attendees keep their skills sharp and take what they learn back to everyday driving on the roads in their neighborhoods.”

Led by racing experts at CGI Motorsports, the day opened up with breakfast and a “track safety talk” for the morning session. Dodge brought in 11 performance vehicles, including the new 2018 Dodge Durango SRT and 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody. Track school attendees were among the first to drive these new vehicles—which boast 475 and 707 horsepower, respectively—before they hit dealer lots this fall. 

Both novice and intermediate drivers were paired with driving instructors from CGI Motorsports to learn how to take these high-powered vehicles properly and safely around a racetrack. Following the morning session, the second wave of participants arrived for the afternoon lesson. Just prior to lunch, all participants heard Dodge Durango SRT Engineering Manager Pete Jacobsen explain some of the behind-the-scenes development challenges.

Throughout the past three years, MAMA has provided Performance Track School instruction to 63 students. This year marked the first time MAMA has offered more advanced instruction to intermediate track drivers and previous track school attendees.

MAMA looks forward to seeing members who attended the Performance Track School put their skills to use at its 2017 Fall Rally, to be held on Wed., Oct. 4 at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois.