Joe Coonan has been a Pro Driver involved in the Ride and Drive Industry and driver development arena for the last twenty years with product launches, consumer and marketing events. His background and experience as a Pro Driver , race school instructor and coach make him ideally suited to provide instruction to teenagers and provide training guidance to parents.
"First, let me say a HUGE thank you for creating the "Put On The Brakes" program. Our youngest daughter, Tessa, went through the training held last year in Irvine, CA. Because I wasn’t working at the time, we couldn’t afford Master Drive (the program we’d put our older daughter through) and a friend recommended your program to us. We signed her up immediately and were so thankful that she had the training that made us comfortable with her driving. Last Friday, my other daughter (Aspen’s) car, a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, broke down and we learned that it needed thousands of dollars of work. She’s attending Bible Institute with plans on becoming a worship leader in church… and, again, money was an issue. But my husband said we should look at Kia because that’s the car he’d driven in the Brakes program and it was affordable and a good car. So, we looked and we bought! She’s the proud owner of a 2015 Kia Soul - she’s making the payments herself, too! If it hadn’t been for Kia’s support of the Brakes program - we wouldn’t be owners of a Kia - please let them know that their support of programs like yours has a tremendous impact on the next generation of drivers. Thanks so much for your help in ensuring our girls are safe when they drive. We so appreciate it! We know your story - but we can’t imagine your loss. Our hearts are full when we think of the significant contribution you’re making into the lives of families across America as a result of the loss of your boys. We pray for you and your family!"
-Judi Chimits (and Bob)
"Thank you for forwarding Emma's letter to me. It looked like she wrote straight from her heart and that is what is most important !!!........her handwriting is another story :-O Very honestly, I was immensely impressed by the amount of thought and effort that everyone at BRAKES put into the course. When we first arrived, just seeing the untold number of cones set up along the course routes was an eye opener. At age 55, I would have approached each of the exercises with real trepidation. I can only imagine what was going through the students minds when they were asked to hop in the drivers seat and hit the pedal !! In the end, what said it all, though, were the smiles on the student's faces as they completed their respective sections of the course. If you gave them the option to keep driving for another three hours, I don't believe you would have had any of the students turn down your offer. Again, please thank everyone at BRAKES for a job well done and for bringing the program to Ocoee. "
-Brian K
