Rally Car Training & Evasive Maneuvers With Surefire & Team O'Neil

Intro at Team O’Neil Rally School

The video opens with the Classic Firearms crew at Team O’Neil Rally School in northern New Hampshire. Clint introduces Brent, an instructor who has been with Team O’Neil since 2012 and has raced since 2008. Brent explains that Team O’Neil operates on about 600 acres of loose-surface gravel, focused on training drivers in low-traction environments. The group consists of roughly nine or ten students, each paired closely with instructors. Clint notes the lineup of training cars, including a Subaru WRX, and the team’s excitement about the upcoming driving blocks and rally-style exercises planned for the day.

Classroom Session on Notes and Weight Transfer

In the classroom, Brent explains how rally pace notes let drivers move quickly on roads they have only seen at low speed. He emphasizes that mastering notes is essential for stage rally, even though many American drivers prefer a “drive fast, take chances” mindset. The discussion shifts to left-foot braking and proper pedal contact. Brent stresses planting the heel on the floor and using just the tip of the toe on the brake to avoid locking the wheels. He introduces weight transfer, noting that the Ford Fiestas have a small contact patch per tire, so drivers must use braking, lifting off the gas, and steering input to load the front tires and increase grip.

Skid Pad and Slalom with Left-Foot Braking

Moving outside, Brent describes the training layout: a circular skid pad and a slalom course marked with cones. Students will first apply the classroom principles on the skid pad, using left-foot braking to put weight on the front of the car, rotate the vehicle, then releasing brake pressure to shift weight rearward and straighten out. Once comfortable, they will transition to a roughly 200-yard slalom with six evenly spaced turns. The goal is to build consistency in forward-and-back weight transfer by braking in the turns, not just steering. Clint jokes about trying to catch the car in front, underscoring the competitive but instructional nature of the drill.

Applying Rally Techniques in Ford Fiestas

On the skid pad, the group trains in Ford Fiestas, which Clint calls surprisingly fun. The focus is not on holding a continuous drift but on developing left-foot braking and weight transfer skills. Brent explains that with steady steering and light throttle, the car will circle calmly, but adding more gas shifts weight to the rear and reduces front grip. To regain front traction, drivers maintain throttle and add brake pressure with the left foot, transferring weight forward. Instructors coach students to hold a constant steering angle, squeeze the brakes to initiate rotation, and release the brakes to go straight. Clint notes how braking effectively becomes the primary steering tool while the accelerator is treated almost like an on-off control.

Reverse 180s and J-Turn Practice

The training progresses to evasive-style maneuvers such as reverse 180s and J-turns. Clint reacts enthusiastically to whipping the car around, describing the reverse 180s as a good time. Instructors ride along, reminding drivers about timing, throttle application, and steering commitment during the rotation. The segment highlights how earlier lessons in left-foot braking and weight transfer carry over into these more dynamic maneuvers. Students must manage speed precisely, commit to sharp steering input at the right moment, and then recover the car smoothly. The exercises serve as a bridge between basic rally control on the skid pad and more tactical driving techniques.

Crown Vic PIT Maneuver Training

Next, the group transitions into Ford Crown Victorias equipped with reinforced steel bumpers for PIT maneuver training. Brent explains that the bumpers allow consistent, repeatable contact without excessive vehicle damage. He outlines key principles: use left-foot braking to match the speed of the target vehicle and avoid the aggressive hits often portrayed in movies. Instead, the goal is to nudge the rear quarter of the lead car and gently push it out of line. Brent emphasizes that smooth, controlled contact is more effective than trying to “slap” the other car. Clint notes how the earlier crawl-walk-run approach with left-foot braking now directly supports these PIT exercises.

Common PIT Errors and Corrections

During live PIT runs, instructors analyze mistakes in real time. In one attempt, the pursuing driver gets too deep alongside the target car, causing a secondary crash-like effect as the vehicles roll around each other’s fronts. Brent explains that entering too far forward can create a rolling T-bone and significant damage. In another pass, the driver fails to control closing speed with the brake, overruns the ideal contact point, and cannot maintain proper alignment. Coaches repeatedly stress using the gas to build speed and the left foot on the brake to fine-tune position, feel the load of the other vehicle, and lean into it just enough to rotate it without losing control.

Final Combined Drill and Wrap-Up

To close the day, Brent describes a final timed course that combines several skills. Students will link reverse 180s with the slalom patterns practiced earlier, applying weight transfer, left-foot braking, and precise steering under the pressure of a stopwatch. The event serves as a culmination of the training blocks: skid pad control, slalom consistency, reverse 180 execution, and the discipline learned from PIT maneuver practice. Clint hints at a competitive mindset for the run, while the instructors focus on seeing who can complete the course cleanly in a single attempt. The segment reinforces how structured rally-style drills can support more advanced evasive driving concepts.