Mercedes Benz Driving Experience 2008 - Part 1

Mercedes-Benz is a century old manufacturer which devotes itself on creating an automobile that focuses on safety. They were the first to invent and implement the ABS (Anti-lock braking system), traction control and airbags systems in automobiles. While their cars are equipped with such safety systems, not all customers actually are able to tell what benefits this system does. Therefore, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has invited its customers and fellow enthusiasts to come join them for a real-life driving experience, known as the Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience. This participation fees for this event costs RM1,800 , although some lucky people who booked a Mercedes-Benz vehicle with the dealers are invited to this event for free, on limited slots basis. I was one of the lucky ones around, as my parents have just bought the new Mercedes-Benz C200K Avantgarde with Ipoh Motors, one of the Cycle & Carriage dealers for Mercedes-Benz.

Starting off at 8 A.M. in the morning for registration, we were given out a backpack, containing goodies such as Mercedes-Benz cap, a book on safety and a Mercedes-Benz jersey. We were told to change into the jersey as the clothes are more suited for the hot weather that we are about to face. We were provided breakfast buffet early in the morning. While we have our meals, Mr. Florian Mueller of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, has given a brief presentation about the innovations and technologies that have been available in Mercedes-Benz vehicles for the past few decades. He explained that ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), a technology that detects and prevents skidding, has been around for almost 13 years. He mentions that the current Mercedes-Benz lineup is equipped with the ESP system and we will experience driving simulations, where the cars with ESP are turned on and off.

We were then introduced to four driving instructors who were wearing coloured lanyards, Nathan Pretty (Blue), Lincoln Burns (Green), Dean Fiore (Red) and Chow (Yellow). Each instructors are highly qualified and have raced in various racing scenes around the world and have gained top 3 spots in racing, notably a second-place in the Carrera Cup this year and first-place in Australian Supercar Championship. They explained the importance of under-inflated or over-inflated tires, as an under-inflated tyre would wear the threads on the side wall faster and the over-inflated tyres can cause the threads in the middle faster. This would cause the tyres to lose contact on the road when driven at higher speeds. They have provided a series of illustrations by the tyres sponsor, Michelin, discussing that bald tyres are less likely to grip the road compared to a good condition set of tyres, when travelling at 100km/h. After the briefing, we were divided into groups of the same colour lanyards.