Wanna drive like a rally car driver? Join the Special Forces!

[RackMaster]

I'd love a job with whatever company gets this contract, even if it's just delivering box lunches. lol

Wanna drive like a rally car driver? Join the Special Forces!


By Lee Berthiaume, Postmedia News December 4, 2012 7:40 PM

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Canada's special forces are going to be trained to rally drive like a pro. (Leonid Mamchenkov Photo)
OTTAWA — The Canadian Forces is hoping to turn its commandos into rally car drivers, or at least the closest thing to them.
The Defence Department invited companies with experience training rally drivers to submit bids on a contract that would see them teach Canada’s special forces soldiers to drive like the pros.
Rally racing is a high-speed sport that sees drivers speeding along forest roads, up mountain trails and through often difficult road conditions like snow and gravel, taking sharp turns and fighting to keep control on the way to victory.
National Defence wants the successful bidder to provide instructors, facilities, driving tracks, safety equipment and the vehicles themselves on demand for five-day courses.
The contract is very specific about what will be taught, and includes learning five skid types, high-speed obstacle avoidance, advanced cornering techniques, off-road driving, handbrake turns, left-foot braking, pendulum turns, and slalom skills.
The contractor also has to provide a minimum of a 2.5-kilometre loop on a variety of track terrains, including wooded and rugged terrain, gravel, rough or loose dirt, and boring old pavement.
The tracks must also feature blind corners and crests, a variety of corners, side slopes, ascents and descents, and ditches and logs.
Even the vehicles are specified, with either a Toyota Hilux, Toyota 4 Runner, Land Cruiser or Land Rover being acceptable.
The contractor must also have at least three years rally driving experience — and be able to feed the students lunch.
The Canadian military has contracted such training in the past for its commandos, Major Doug MacNair of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command said in an email.
“The Canadian Forces seeks to provide its personnel with the best possible training in order to contribute to their safety and security while operating in areas of elevated risk and also to ensure that CF personnel have the best chance of success on operations.”
MacNair said Canada’s special forces soldiers are required to operate both military and civilian vehicles in a variety of environments in Canada and abroad where risks include not just hazardous road and traffic conditions, but local criminal and insurgent elements as well.
“This driver training will mitigate these threats and serve to enhance the safety and security of (special forces) personnel operating in areas of elevated risk,” he wrote. “The Canadian Forces does not possess the requisite experience and facilities required to deliver this training to the required standard.”
Maybe some stunt driving will be the next demonstration Joint Task Force 2 does after this summer’s show in the Arctic.
© Copyright (c) Postmedia News

 

[pardus]

I surprised this wasn't in place long ago.

 

[RackMaster]

I surprised this wasn't in place long ago.

I'm pretty sure it has and I think in part of the story it alludes to it but I don't think there was an official bid/contract in place. I think all the budget cuts and funding oversight is what prompted this.

 

[Rampart]

Pretty common elsewhere.... Necessary skills.

 

[arch_angel]

I wonder if they'll accept donation vehicles....I've got a 4Runner I wouldn't mind having pimped out for rallying, haha.

 

[pardus]

I wonder if they'll accept donation vehicles....I've got a 4Runner I wouldn't mind having pimped out for rallying, haha.

Sure, I'll arrange that for you. Just send me the 4 runner (i'll need the title in order to do the work for you.
Don't call to ask when it's finished, I'll call you

 

[SpitfireV]

How many companies *teach* rally though? Most of the pros are pretty much self taught.

 

[Centermass]

How many companies *teach* rally though? Most of the pros are pretty much self taught.

Pretty sure James Yeager has a course for it.......

 

[AWP]

How many companies *teach* rally though? Most of the pros are pretty much self taught.

I'd bet a dollar that "rally" and "off-road" are the same in some people's eyes; the military can use the latter, the former...not so much. Looking at the vehicles listed, those are trucks/ SUV's...not the sort of thing for "rally" driving but perfect for off-roading.

 

[Coyote]

I wonder if they'll accept donation vehicles....I've got a 4Runner I wouldn't mind having pimped out for rallying, haha.

You'd like it to look like this?

 

[SpitfireV]

I'd bet a dollar that "rally" and "off-road" are the same in some people's eyes; the military can use the latter, the former...not so much. Looking at the vehicles listed, those are trucks/ SUV's...not the sort of thing for "rally" driving but perfect for off-roading.

Ah so this is more of a terminology issue.

 

[arch_angel]

You'd like it to look like this?

View attachment 7733

Absolutely. Except I want some 38" Super Swampers on that bad boy...;)

 

[goon175]

American SOF has been sending guys to a rally sport driving school down in florida for some time. The company has a specific course sat up for it, to include a DZ for airborne operations. Pretty bad ass course.