arniecoleman
06-11-2011, 05:30 PM
If you're wondering if the Street Survival program really makes a difference, this letter from the parent of a student at last week-end's BMWCCA Streeet Survival school should remove any doubt:
************************************************** ****
Todd M. Frare
1242 Clarkson St.
Denver, CO 80218
tmfrare@gmail.com (tmfrare@gmail.com)
Mark Irvine
President BMW CCA
Rocky Mtn Chapter
June 10, 2011
I am writing this letter with extreme gratitude for the BMW CCA, Rocky Mountain Chapter. As you are aware my 16-year-old daughter was a passenger in an extremely tragic auto accident this past March. While she didn’t look too banged up, her head, neck and brain injuries were so severe we weren’t sure she was going to pull through. As I had lost my 17-year-old brother in an auto accident many years ago and most recently my father the same way, you can imagine my fear of ever letting my daughter get behind the wheel again, let alone be a passenger.
I was given a flyer for the Teen Street Survival Event at Invesco by a friend; I showed it to my daughter whom was 8 weeks post accident and showing no interest in ever driving again. As she was significantly improving, the doctors, her mother and I thought it was time to press her about driving, definitely a case of getting back on the horse. I first made a phone call to Fred, sorry I don’t recall his last name, and after listening to my explanation of what I was looking for he urged me to enroll Melissa and let her do as much as she could assuring me BMW CCA would be able to accommodate her needs and any little bit of experience would be just that much more for her. She agreed to take the class with the understanding she could leave at anytime should she get too tired.
Over the next few weeks, she started declining again, and we decided the class would be too much for her, deciding to let it go. However a few days before the class, the flyer mysteriously appeared on the kitchen table again, and Melissa asked if I had signed her up as she was looking forward to it and hoped she could still go. Remembering what Fred had said, I signed her up a day or two before and hoping there was still room.
After receiving an email from Darlene Irvine about what was expected for the class, I decided to call Darlene directly and explain Melissa’s situation to make sure this was indeed something that would be helpful. Darlene listened intently and agreed to assign one instructor to Melissa, whom she felt would be the best for her and who was great working with kids. Darlene’s kindness and genuine interest in Melissa and her condition made all of us feel we were in good hands and we really began to look forward to the coming event.
When we arrived Saturday morning Andy was waiting for us and quickly took Melissa under his wing as they headed off to her car for a routine safety inspection. I, of course, being Mr. Protective, needed to be right by her and hear what Andy was saying. Understanding the situation, Andy allowed me to be a little more involved then he would have liked, I’m sure; and as I quickly became comfortable with the whole situation I slowly backed off and let him do what he is so good at. Not everyone understood Andy was “assigned” to Melissa, and eventually other instructors were taking his place in the passenger seat of Melissa’s car. Not missing a beat Andy was always quick to say, “I’ve got this one” or to check with Melissa if she was “OK” with someone else sitting with her. She was fine, and quickly began to get the hang of it as was evidenced by her significantly picking up speed as the day wore on. By the end of class, she was able to give it full throttle and had the whole braking thing down; and the biggest grin I have seen on her face in many, many months. Everyone gave such special attention to her to make her feel comfortable and yet not singled out and I don’t believe any of the other kids knew that Melissa was getting any special attention as they all felt special themselves. You are all true professionals.
I want you to know the Rocky Mountain BMW CCA significantly changed my daughter’s life. This is a girl that carried a 4.0 average all through middle school and her first two years of high school, and was looking at scholarships to Yale. She was unable to finish her sophomore year and could not even take her semester finals due to the brain injuries she sustained. Since last Saturday she is up and out of the house everyday, and always willing to climb behind the wheel to drive. She has found the motivation to get involved in life again, even volunteering at a soup kitchen this coming weekend. She has started to act like the girl I knew before the accident happened. I know there are a lot of driver safety classes out there, but I firmly believe none of them would have had the patience and understanding to deal with Melissa’s condition the way the BMW CCA has done. My first indication that things were changing was when we were leaving the event she said, “Dad, can I drive home?” You might be asking “how is it possible we did this for her” and I cannot answer that; but whatever it was, building confidence, instilling trust or just plain having fun, BMW CCA did this for her and I am forever in your debt.
Thank you for giving us our daughter back, you will never know how much Melissa’s mother and I appreciate Fred, Darlene, the Street Survival instructors and especially Andy. You truly provide a great service to the community and I will plug your organization at every opportunity.
Peace be with all of you and happy motoring the “ultimate driving machine”.
Todd M. Frare
************************************************** ****
A rare case, you might say, but I can attest to having restored confidence and improved the driving skills of at least two "post-accident" students and a couple "special circumstance" students through our SCCA schools over the past couple of years.
Street Survival Instructors do save, and in some cases, restore lives.
You are awesome!
(BTW - the next school is August 7th at PPIR. Save the date!)
************************************************** ****
Todd M. Frare
1242 Clarkson St.
Denver, CO 80218
tmfrare@gmail.com (tmfrare@gmail.com)
Mark Irvine
President BMW CCA
Rocky Mtn Chapter
June 10, 2011
I am writing this letter with extreme gratitude for the BMW CCA, Rocky Mountain Chapter. As you are aware my 16-year-old daughter was a passenger in an extremely tragic auto accident this past March. While she didn’t look too banged up, her head, neck and brain injuries were so severe we weren’t sure she was going to pull through. As I had lost my 17-year-old brother in an auto accident many years ago and most recently my father the same way, you can imagine my fear of ever letting my daughter get behind the wheel again, let alone be a passenger.
I was given a flyer for the Teen Street Survival Event at Invesco by a friend; I showed it to my daughter whom was 8 weeks post accident and showing no interest in ever driving again. As she was significantly improving, the doctors, her mother and I thought it was time to press her about driving, definitely a case of getting back on the horse. I first made a phone call to Fred, sorry I don’t recall his last name, and after listening to my explanation of what I was looking for he urged me to enroll Melissa and let her do as much as she could assuring me BMW CCA would be able to accommodate her needs and any little bit of experience would be just that much more for her. She agreed to take the class with the understanding she could leave at anytime should she get too tired.
Over the next few weeks, she started declining again, and we decided the class would be too much for her, deciding to let it go. However a few days before the class, the flyer mysteriously appeared on the kitchen table again, and Melissa asked if I had signed her up as she was looking forward to it and hoped she could still go. Remembering what Fred had said, I signed her up a day or two before and hoping there was still room.
After receiving an email from Darlene Irvine about what was expected for the class, I decided to call Darlene directly and explain Melissa’s situation to make sure this was indeed something that would be helpful. Darlene listened intently and agreed to assign one instructor to Melissa, whom she felt would be the best for her and who was great working with kids. Darlene’s kindness and genuine interest in Melissa and her condition made all of us feel we were in good hands and we really began to look forward to the coming event.
When we arrived Saturday morning Andy was waiting for us and quickly took Melissa under his wing as they headed off to her car for a routine safety inspection. I, of course, being Mr. Protective, needed to be right by her and hear what Andy was saying. Understanding the situation, Andy allowed me to be a little more involved then he would have liked, I’m sure; and as I quickly became comfortable with the whole situation I slowly backed off and let him do what he is so good at. Not everyone understood Andy was “assigned” to Melissa, and eventually other instructors were taking his place in the passenger seat of Melissa’s car. Not missing a beat Andy was always quick to say, “I’ve got this one” or to check with Melissa if she was “OK” with someone else sitting with her. She was fine, and quickly began to get the hang of it as was evidenced by her significantly picking up speed as the day wore on. By the end of class, she was able to give it full throttle and had the whole braking thing down; and the biggest grin I have seen on her face in many, many months. Everyone gave such special attention to her to make her feel comfortable and yet not singled out and I don’t believe any of the other kids knew that Melissa was getting any special attention as they all felt special themselves. You are all true professionals.
I want you to know the Rocky Mountain BMW CCA significantly changed my daughter’s life. This is a girl that carried a 4.0 average all through middle school and her first two years of high school, and was looking at scholarships to Yale. She was unable to finish her sophomore year and could not even take her semester finals due to the brain injuries she sustained. Since last Saturday she is up and out of the house everyday, and always willing to climb behind the wheel to drive. She has found the motivation to get involved in life again, even volunteering at a soup kitchen this coming weekend. She has started to act like the girl I knew before the accident happened. I know there are a lot of driver safety classes out there, but I firmly believe none of them would have had the patience and understanding to deal with Melissa’s condition the way the BMW CCA has done. My first indication that things were changing was when we were leaving the event she said, “Dad, can I drive home?” You might be asking “how is it possible we did this for her” and I cannot answer that; but whatever it was, building confidence, instilling trust or just plain having fun, BMW CCA did this for her and I am forever in your debt.
Thank you for giving us our daughter back, you will never know how much Melissa’s mother and I appreciate Fred, Darlene, the Street Survival instructors and especially Andy. You truly provide a great service to the community and I will plug your organization at every opportunity.
Peace be with all of you and happy motoring the “ultimate driving machine”.
Todd M. Frare
************************************************** ****
A rare case, you might say, but I can attest to having restored confidence and improved the driving skills of at least two "post-accident" students and a couple "special circumstance" students through our SCCA schools over the past couple of years.
Street Survival Instructors do save, and in some cases, restore lives.
You are awesome!
(BTW - the next school is August 7th at PPIR. Save the date!)