About this event
The Thunderhill Raceway Car Control Clinic gives students real-world, hands-on experience behind the wheel of their own cars. Thunderhill Raceway’s Teen Car Control Clinic is in cooperation with the California Highway Patrol. Although the course is targeted towards the teen driver, all ages and experience levels are welcome to participate.
Teenagers: Teen drivers in this age group have a fatal case rate almost three times as high as drivers 20 and older per mile driven.
Senior Drivers: Senior drivers can find age related changes impact their driving abilities, like medications side effects, reduced reaction time and impaired vision. Over 23,000 seniors were injured in accidents in 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSAA);
Parents: Anyone can be involved in an accident no matter what age /experience level and anyone can improve their ability to avoid an accident. We have a lot of parents participating in the program. Participation not only demonstrates the parents support for the program but also provides the parent with a valuable opportunity to provide feedback to the children about different aspects of the class.
Anyone who wants to become a better driver: The class can benefit anyone who wants to improve their driving ability in emergency situations. Vehicle’s behave differently in emergency situations. An SUV will act differently than a sedan or a truck. Knowing how your individual vehicle will behave in an emergency maneuver is valuable information and improves your chances of controlling that vehicle in an emergency.
Thunderhill Raceway offers these Car Control Clinics because it’s our belief that we can make the streets safer for everyone, and at the same time, help save the lives of all drivers. It is our mission to help prevent as many avoidable accidents as possible!
Drivers schools do a great job of teaching the rules of the road, but they don’t have access to the type of facility required to safely teach car control. Thunderhill Raceway Park’s expansive facility allows us to teach the skills required in an emergency. We see this as an important community service activity, as more teens are killed in accidents every year than by any other means.
Some parents go through the course along with their teenager. This opens a dialogue with your teen as you discuss the various exercises and how they apply to real world driving. I can assure you that even parents will be able to sharpen their skills. This would require that each of you bring a car.
The day starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. If you need a loaner helmet, you should arrive by 8:00 and go to the Gift Shop to pick up a helmet. The gate guard can give you directions. Then proceed over the hill to the 2.0 mile Thunderhill West where the clinic is held.
You should bring water and sun protection. Lunch is provided for the students. Parents can order lunch on the registration form if they choose. Parents and others can stay in the air-conditioned/heated clubhouse or on the covered patio.
For more information please visit: https://thunderhill.com/teen-car-control-clinics
When you submit your registration - you will be asked about what vehicle you are bringing - we only require make and model in this description.
Event requirements
You must have the following: A minimum of a DMV Learners Permit. Your own street legal, registered and insured car (trucks and SUVs are allowed.) Using the car that the student drives or will be driving in the future is highly recommended.
This course is valuable for anyone of any age, as car control can’t be practiced on the street and it’s always good to sharpen your skills. Having parents participate also sends a message as to the importance of these skills. Each participant must have their own car. Each student drives in all sessions during the day, so there is no way to share a car.
