FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can sign up?
Skid School is not just for kids. Permitted drivers must attend with a parent or guardian. Any driver can sign up.
 
Where are programs held?
Hawthorne-Feather Airpark in Deering, NH. Directions, as well as a minor release form and a confirmation letter that explains the day, will be sent to you when you register.
 
When?
One Sunday per month, year round.  Check the schedule.
 
What are the class hours?
There are morning and afternoon sessions. Classes are from 8:30_12:00 and 1:00 - 4:00. You may choose which you would prefer when you register. 
 
What does the training look like?
Check out our video, A Day at Skid School. You’ll see drivers working with instructors on the drills, and you’ll hear what they have to say about the training.
 
Can parents take the course?
Of course, and it's a good idea. Today's cars require a very different response to an emergency than was appropriate before Anti-Lock and Stability Control; you might want to practice a little before that deer shows up in the headlights. But you don’t have to take the course to be involved. We recommend, but do not require, that at least one parent attend with their newly licensed drivers, participate in the discussions and ride in the cars with the instructors on drill demonstration runs if they wish.  A parent or guardian must be present with permitted but unlicensed drivers.
 
Do we use your cars or our cars?
Only our cars are used in training.
 
Do I have to pre-pay?
No. You may pay when you register, but you don’t need to pay until you arrive at the site, with cash, check or credit card. If you pre-pay and do not attend your scheduled session, your money will be refunded in full or applied to a future date of your choice.
 
What if it is raining/snowing the day of my session?
We always run scheduled programs, and do not cancel because of rain. If it is snowing, we will be there running the program and taking advantage of the conditions, but there are important things we can’t do on a snow-covered runway. So in addition to training in snow all day, attendees are offered a spot on another day of their choosing at no additional cost. All who are scheduled but don’t show up for whatever reason may either reschedule on the website or receive a full refund. Notification that you will not be attending is helpful, but not required for a refund.
 
What about lunch?
Since Covid, our menu has been reduced to coffee, water and a bowl of fruit.  You may want to bring a snack. There’s time to eat while others are driving.

How much hands-on time is there?
There are normally four drivers per car, and usually each car has its own course, so there is no waiting in line. The instructor stays with you in the car, and your turn lasts as long as it takes to gain confidence and competence with the skill, plus practice time.
 
How big are the classes?
We do our best to limit attendance to twelve per session. If we have a few more, we add staff and another car.
 
Will I be eligible for an insurance discount?
It depends on your agent and your carrier. We have agencies and carriers that regularly send us drivers and pay for all or most of the training, but most don’t.
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Our new driver already had a bad crash and is nervous. Will this be too much for him/her right now?
Two things. First, the training is self-paced. The instructors are very good at finding the best way to build confidence and skills in each individual, and everyone is different.
Second, if you feel that your new driver isn’t really there yet at the end of the day, we encourage you to come back at no additional cost as many times as necessary to build the skills and confidence that a good driver needs. We see a lot of drivers who have experienced a crash and being traumatized is common. We’ve also seen a few tears, a lot of bravery and some big smiles when a driver faced his or her fears and pushed ahead to learn skills that every responsible driver needs. It’s why we do this.

​Is it fun?
Most people have a great time. Even if you’re not having a great time every minute (see above), it’s still important. We don’t do it for its entertainment value, but people generally enjoy personal achievement.
 
Do people get car sick?
People who are prone to carsickness anyway may want to take precautions, such as Dramamine. If that’s you, tell us. Most people don’t have trouble when they’re driving, but riding on the demonstration runs can be a problem. If we know, we can make sure you have very gentle demonstration runs. We don’t want anyone to be uncomfortable.