The innovative youth driving program kartstart – made possible through the support of Toyota Canada – is expanding its reach this summer and will now help more than 1,000 children across five provinces.
“It’s important to understand safe driving techniques early and to apply them intuitively,” said Sandy Di Felice, director, external affairs, Toyota Canada Inc. “We’re pleased that the program is expanding to engage more young Canadians.”
A unique driving education program, kartstart is designed to provide children and their families with a real-world understanding of the physics behind driving a motorized vehicle. One-day courses are offered with expert instructors for children between the ages of 8-16, where youth learn by driving in go-karts themselves – a driving experience that is the first for most.
“It’s important to stress how important our safety through education program is,” said kartstart administrator Russ Bond. “Every youth that goes through our program gets a fundamental understanding of how vehicle dynamics work and they experience this in vehicles that fit them. This is what makes the program so special.”
In addition to the go-kart driving, participants are also mentored in the latest safety developments in Toyota vehicles including Toyota’s renowned Star Safety System with active and passive safety technologies. Toyota’s Star Safety System features Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology (SST).
2013 Program Schedule
Chilliwack, British Columbia
July 16
July 17
July 18
Location: Greg Moore Raceway
Calgary, Alberta
July 22
July 23
July 24
Location: Calgary Kart Club
Innisfil, ON
July 28
July 29
July 30
July 31
Location: Sunset Speedway
Montreal, QC
August 7
August 8
August 9
Location: Autodrome St-Eustache
Halifax, Nova Sotia
August 12
August 13
August 14
Location: Scotia Speed World
For more information on kartstart or to register for the program please visit: www.kartSTART.ca.
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