Take it to the Extreme
There’s a racetrack by Carstairs, Alberta?
Yes, there is! Rocky Mountain Motorsports, a 16-turn 3.5 km track, was the host for Continental Tire Canada’s latest Take it to the Extreme Event launching the ExtremeContact Sport 02 and VanContact A/S Ultra. On-track testing, technical, training, and sell features coverage made it a great learning experience. Not every day one gets to push performance tires in the pouring rain.
ExtremeContact Sport 02
The ExtremeContact Sport 02, the ultra-high performance summer tire, put through its paces in the pouring rain. The tire testing consisted of two courses: autocross on the East track layout and lead-follow on the West track layout.
Jack Carter Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 equipped with ExtremeContact Sport 02 | ©Adrien Dominguez
The first was a regular autocross track where you weave through the slaloms, execute a U-turn, accelerate and full brake at the end. The slalom was tricky due to the limited outward visibility of the used Chevrolet Camaros. The choice of using a manual or automatic Camaro was provided.
Jack Carter Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 equipped with ExtremeContact Sport 02 | ©Adrien Dominguez
With each lap around the course, I kept pushing the Camaro and tires to what the course allowed. The enhanced grip on the wet track allowed for precise steering control. The final stretch was an accelerate and apply full brake lock to experience the wet braking capabilities of the ExtremeContact Sport 02. Every time I reached the braking zone, I braked fully before the end cones. On the wet autocross course, the ExtremeContact Sport 02 performed with extreme confidence.
Ford Mustang 2.3L EcoBoost High Performance equipped with ExtremeContact Sport 02 | ©Adrien Dominguez
In the lead-follow portion on the West track layout, our instructor was in the Chevrolet C8 Corvette wrapped in the Continental Tire Livery. There were three Ford Mustang 2.3L EcoBoost High Performance. I was in the orange one. The instructor took us around the track and provided instructions on our lines and corner info to the Mustang behind him. We frequently rotated positions so everyone had an opportunity to follow behind the instructor and receive feedback. With each lap, the instructor increased speed and we all maintained our distance and pushed the Mustangs and ExtremeContact Sport 02 in the rain. It provides confidence at every turn, especially in wet conditions.
Overall, the ExtremeContact Sport 02 is an excellent confident ultra high-performance tire. If it is that good in the wet, it’ll be even better in the dry! Oh, and it has a 50 000 km limited warranty, 3-year roadside assistance and a 60-day trial, all part of the Total Confidence Plan.
VanContact A/S Ultra
Ever look at a delivery van or work van and wonder what tires they are running on? Wonder no more because the new VanContact A/S Ultra is here. Equipped on the Ram ProMaster, we set out on a friendly timed competition of an autocross that was similar to the ExtremeContact Sport 02 with two major differences. The first was that the course consisted of a slalom with a pull into a spot and then execute a perpendicular 90° back parking maneuver into the start/finish area. The second is that the load in the back, two VanContact A/S Ultra is not allowed to tip over. It was a test of smoothness, speed, and control. Throughout the day it was a fun and competitive course with various challengers with the winning time being 51.4 seconds and the tire stayed up!
VanContact A/S Ultra upright in rear of Ram ProMaster | ©Adrien Dominguez
The VanContact A/S Ultra has excellent grip, superb durability, and low rolling resistance which is ideal for the #vanlife that these Ram ProMasters and types of vehicles endure daily. It is also equipped with intelligent snow catchers and smart 3D sipes for those winter conditions along with a robust sidewall.
Ram ProMaster equipped with VanContact A/S Ultra | ©Adrien Dominguez
I was skeptical of driving a ProMaster on an autocross but thoroughly enjoyed it. Overall the new VanContact A/S Ultra serves its intended purpose very well. Next time you see that Amazon Prime delivery van out front, it might have the new VanContact A/S Ultra.
Hotlaps Anyone?
Winding up the events was an evening of hotlaps around the Rocky Mountain Motorsports full track in any of the vehicles including the Jack Carter Chevrolet C8 Corvette and Camaro ZL1 which were a blast to see go full clip around the track in the pouring rain. Even the pouring rain did not ruin anyone’s spirits as everyone was in a cheerful and engaged mood. Chatting with people from across Canada and the ContiCanada corporate team has allowed for some unique insights such as the ContiAcademy technical training, warranty programs, future launches and products. Stay tuned for new things coming soon! Being the only photographer with a camera at the event I was happy to help out with the group picture at the end of the fun-packed but cold day.
Continental Tire Canada Staff, Rocky Mountain Motorsports Staff, and Event Invitees | ©Adrien Dominguez
Product Information:
ExtremeContact Sport 02:
VanContact A/S Ultra:
Continental Tire Canada Website:
