...on that note, if I may, is anyone on the forum planning on the FT ladies' driving school this year? I'm signed up, paid for & ready to roll.....anxious to see what Nac is all about too....& wondering if there will be some more gals here along for the trip? It all happens during the 1st anniversary of when I bought the coach so should be a nice way to spend it.
Jeff and I will be in Nac for service appts just when the Ladies Driving School convenes. We should arrive sometime around the 10th or so ...
I went to Ladies Driving School 4 years ago ... it is WONDERFUL. Great teachers, great information, NO MEN ALLOWED. Some ladies were so timid that they had never sat in the driver's seat when the coach was parked. I don't drive much ... mainly a "rest stop to rest stop on the Interstate" kind of girl ... but I know that I CAN if I need to.
My DW, Jeannie, is signed up for the school. I will also be present, acting as dog sitter for Bella. We're (all 3) looking forward to it!
My beautiful bride Gerri will be there. We just bought a 96 U295 as our first RV. Just got it home and starting the cleanup and detail. She is looking forward to the training with me not present and assigned to caring for the dog, Sabre.
Welcome Alan & Gerri! We were also first-time, never-owned-a-RV-in-our-lives, buyers when we purchased our Foretravel. It is a STEEP learning curve at first, but well worth the effort. With the help of the friendly forum members you will soon feel right at home. Remember: there are NO "dumb" questions here!
My beautiful wife Terry is signed up. I will also be there doing what they allow the men to do during the school.
Larry
I don't mean to step on this post here. But man I'm one lucky guy. My wife Rita, her dad was a truck driver. She never drove her dad's trucks, but she sure never hesitated driving the motorhome. I think she was the first one to test drive it when we we're in Nacogdoches to make the purchase. In three years we've put nearly 15,000 miles on the coach, and she's responsible for about 70% of that. Even when I'm driving and she's in the passenger seat it's as though she's driving as well. Because she keeps a watchful eye out on what's going on on the road around us. She makes sure that I know what she wants me to do in all situations. I better follow those instructions or things can get ugly fast. So I mostly let her drive, a lot.
While it's no men allowed during the classes, the men participate in all the meals and social events plus special events for the men. It's a great time for ALL.
This is Martha. Roy and I will be there! I am really looking forward to gaining more knowledge and experience with our coach. While I have driven a little, I need more information and experience to feel comfortable on the road.
Mike and I will be there as well. I need to build enough confidence to take and pass the TX Class B exempt test, since we are TX residents, and we're also looking forward to meeting Foretravel folks and learning more about our wonderful coach. We've had "her" for a year, but are definitely still in learning mode.
Deb Durbin
My wife Patty and I will be there, hope there is plenty to occupy us guys while the ladies learn how to drive us around.
To ask, perhaps, a stupid question: is there any reason that there isn't also a men's driving school at FT? Reading some posts elsewhere, it is apparent that for some owners at least a Foretravel is their very first motorhome. It seems to me the best place to learn about all things Foretravel (aside from this forum), including driving, would be straight from the horse's mouth, as it were.
I tend to agree, why not. My wife said its because men don't think they need a driving school. In my case, I would have fewer marks on America if I had acquired proper training.
What is the current price of the Ladies Driving School?
$470 for a single but may be more if a husband comes along (meals, etc.) Best to call Beverly for details.
While chatting about the school at a rally last week, found several reasons for women not driving, mostly the men enjoy it so much they are reluctant to let the women drive, but some of the gals are just not all that interested....which I find perplexing! I had about an hour's lesson back in March, then caravanned right up to GA to the big FMCA convention then to a rally in April in FL, last week another (totally solo, no other FT's) in Savannah. Coach is now in ATL waiting for another rally, then on to southern AL for a month or so, & finally west to Nac for the actual driving school. It just feels natural, almost like driving a really big car. So smoothe that it doesn't really feel as big as it is I guess (at least while driving). Then when you step out & look up, well, looks a whole lot bigger! ;D
Driving will never be my favorite thing ... but I am glad to know that I CAN if I need to. However ... the comment made that many ladies do not drive because the men seem to enjoy it so much is probably pretty accurate. The REAL need is for a "Men's Passenger School" ... to help the men relax and not try and maintain a posture of being ready to jump in and wrestle the wheel from the ladies hands because of dire emergency!
I like driving, too, but I'd probably enjoy driving a motorhome more if I felt like I knew what I was doing. I don't really know how much, if any, difference there is between driving a motorhome and driving a truck while pulling a fifth-wheel, having never done the former. I'm also sure there are differences between driving a Foretravel and driving SOB. Just my $.02 which today isn't worth that much. :)
I can sleep with my wife driving the RV and she has not taken a driving course yet. She has wanted to take the one at Foretravel but it is always the same week as board meetings. She doesn't enjoy high traffic driving in the RV and that is one reason she would like to take driving lessons. I am thinking the men being a bad passenger is in the same category as women being bad drivers. I find myself cursing bad men drivers at least as often as bad women drivers.
I like driving the coach more than the cars. Joyce won't go anywhere near the wheel. Next year she is going to ladies driving school I hope.
Keith
I emailed Beverly today to save a spot for Rhonda to come again and for our daughter to make her first Nach visit but Beverly said they are full. (Our kids bought Imogene Fronk's U320 yesterday.)
We wanted to go again because it was a fun week and the class was excellent. Hopefully something will open up.
Nancy and I will be there. I'm hoping I can hang out with the guys while Nancy does the classes :)). Eating would be good too...
Hi, this is Karen. I am part of the 2014 class. Ted and I have owned our home/coach for almost 7 years and the most I have driven is in a campground to the dump station and back. Ted is a good safe driver but it is time I learn. Don't want to be sidelined if Ted is sick or under the weather. I admit I am nervous. Wonder if they issue a muzzle for the passenger husband?
@Karen No muzzles for the husbands but Jo Dean did threaten to shoot with a BB gun any man who showed up during the parking lot obstacle training. :P
see ya
ken
When Carol took the course we were having some work done on the coach and I stuck my head into the classroom to ask her a question... Almost lost my head...Jo Dean runs a tight ship... Men----don't even think of trying to find out what is going on in either the classroom or driving course...
Jean and I will be there.
We are also going to the GandVention, our first rally ever.
Looking forward to meeting y'all and learning lots and lots!
Trent