SAE Driving Experience to be Held at Belle Isle During SAE 2001 World Congress

    WARRENDALE, Pa., Feb. 16 The Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE International) Driving Experience will be held on Detroit's
Belle Isle, March 5 and 6 during the SAE 2001 World Congress held at Cobo
Center, Detroit, Michigan, March 5-8.
    Three tracks will be laid out on roads on the isle for braking, traction
control, and suspension and handling.  SAE expects to have 10-15 different
vehicles at the event to give participants a once-in-a-lifetime chance to
drive a variety of vehicles under different driving conditions.  The event is
sponsored in part by electronic chassis systems supplier Continental.
    Last year, the Driving Experience was held for the first time at the
Pontiac Silverdome and featured cars such as the Mustang GT, the Mercedes M
Class, the Volkswagen Beetle, the Chrysler 300M, and the BMW M Coupe.
    There are two sessions daily, one from 9 a.m. to noon and the second from
1-4 p.m.  There is no charge for this event, which is available to registered
attendees at the SAE Congress.  A shuttle service will be available to take
participants from Cobo Center to Belle Isle and return.
    This type of behind-the-wheel experience is only found at exclusive and
expensive driving schools.  Drivers will get real-time feedback on their
driving technique from a professional driver and will be able to talk with
Continental representatives whose technology is being demonstrated in the
vehicle or on the track.
    For more information on the SAE 2001 World Congress, call 1-877-SAE-CONG
(723-2664); outside the U.S. and Canada, call 1-724-772-4027.  To register for
SAE 2001 World Congress, visit the SAE website at http://www.sae.org/congress.