Tire Rack Street Survival – Portland OR

Tire Rack Street Survival brings a hands-on driving school to Portland International Raceway for drivers aged 15 to 21 who hold a permit or license. Students drive their own vehicles with a trained coach in the passenger seat, working through exercises built on real-world scenarios.

The day mixes classroom sessions with in-car practice. Students spend about two hours across three classroom sessions learning proper seating position and hand placement, mirror placement, the contact patch of their tires, weight transfer theory, long-distance vision and situational awareness. Instructors also address driver distractions such as radios, phones and too many teens in the car.

Behind the wheel, students practice skid control on a wet skid pad, lane change and accident avoidance maneuvers, threshold braking and ABS exercises, and a slalom course to learn about weight transfer. Where possible, the program adds a two-wheels-off exercise and a tailgating exercise. A staged semi truck may be parked with cars around it to simulate highway driving, with students and adults sitting in the cab to see how little a driver can see. An air bag may be exploded to reinforce classroom lessons on hand placement.

The course costs $175. Parents are encouraged to spend the day with their student and may attend the classroom portion while instructors teach. Instructors remain available throughout the day to answer questions about the exercises. Lunch is provided for students, parents and volunteers, with educational demonstrations during the break.