GM’s Advanced Training Programs: Burn Baby, Burn.

Nestled in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan lies a 4,000 acre parcel of land owned by General Motors known to some as, Milford Proving Grounds, but referred to by many as, “Black Lake.” It acquired this name because when it’s wet, it looks like a big black lake which many birds flock around and try to land on. Dumb birds!

Over the past week, at Black Lake, you would have found bloggers testing out GM’s new vehicle line up as part of the 2008 Collection event. Not to mention me truly -Daniella-, on the Vehicle Dynamics Test Area, spinning out of control (...) in the “SkidMaster” during our Advanced Training Session which was one of two main parts of the GM trip.

Our advanced training consisted of collision avoidance, going about 50 mph in an Impala SS, reverse serpentine which I failed miserably especially in the massive Silverado, the reverse straight line which clearly indicated why the grass on the left side of my drive way is dieing, and the break and swerve in the grandfather of all Buicks the Lucerne.-Continued after the jump

The highlight however, was the opportunity we were given to experience the electronic stability control systems (ESC) a.k.a “stabilitrak”. ESC helps drivers maintain control of their vehicles during emergency land changes or avoidance maneuvers. The system detects any difference between the steering wheel position and the vehicles actual path. It selectively controls braking and engine power to gain control of the vehicles direction and keep it on course. GM started installing these systems on passenger cars in 97. It comes standard on about half of the 2006 and 2007 models and is projected to come standard on all the cars and light trucks sold by the end of 2010.

We all took turns as passengers in one car equipped with stabilitrak and one without. There was an obvious difference between the too. Aside from that, the GM drivers that took us out on the test let it rip and showed us what stabilitrak can really do when things get out of control.

Posted by Daniella