11-19-2019, 03:58 PM | #1 |
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BMW Driving Experience
So despite living within 30 minutes of the BMW plant, I've only done the driving experience once since they opened up and started offering it. Then it was only for about 2-3 hours or so.
Today....I had a vendor we do a lot of business with give me a pass to do it again. It goes down on December 20th, and this is a full day class. So I'm excited to see what's done differently now....and what I will get entrusted to drive.....and see what they let me thrash on the track without getting into trouble!
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11-19-2019, 04:41 PM | #2 |
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I’ve been wanting to do M school for a while. I look at the schedules and never seem to get past that point. I had a blast on the mini road course doing PCD. Can’t wait to hear about your experience!
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11-19-2019, 04:51 PM | #4 |
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I did the same thing down here at Eastern Creek, a track I have ridden hundreds of laps on.
We got M2's, M4's, the new X3 and a Mini. So glad I bought an M2, the track just showed why its so good. Absolute blast! |
12-21-2019, 03:49 AM | #7 |
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So yesterday was the event. I got to drive a Z4M Coupe, M2C, M4, M5, X6M, and an M240i.
We had groups of 8 drivers, with a total of 10 groups. Unfortunately after my passenger (who I went with) rode with me in the M4 and then Z4M....he had to bail as he got car sickness. I warned him I was going to "beat" the cars until the instructor told me to back off. So after the first 2 drives, I was on my own. All cars were awesome....the M5 is a beast. The Z4M was great as you could toss it around the road course pretty easily. We had 2 times trials in different track sections...one in the M2C, and one in the 240i. First was the M2C, and I set the record lap as the 4th driver for our group. We had 3 timed laps on this course. 2 drivers later...I hear over the radio a new track record. So my next go...new record....then he goes....he beat me. Last lap for me I best his time, and then his last lap he beats me by something like .129 of a second quicker. Same went for the racing in the 240i. Two cars on track.....I stayed out for 4- straight races as I kept winning. The last run of the day was between me and the driver from the other timed event for overall winner. 5 laps.....and according to the instructor beats me by a hair at the cone!! Oh....the other driver was none other than Edwin McCain. I got a pic with him earlier......but after the entire day.....fu@k you Edwin!!!!!! Lol.....he could really drive. Seriously though, it was an awesome day. At the very end I got to ride for 2 laps in an M5 with a professional driver through the extended course. Did I mention the M5 was a beast???? The professional driver was amazing to put it mildly! He really knew the car' limits and pushed it all the way through the course. I will definitely be doing this again!
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12-21-2019, 06:11 AM | #8 |
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You just need the M-school to get proper outta the way of a RS, no more
Just kidding.
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12-21-2019, 08:44 AM | #9 | |
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When I was able to floor it...hit 80 "ish"....then stand on the brakes for everything it had....it was a good thing my driving partner had already gotten out. That would have been the tipping point for him. That car was a lot more agile than I realized. I'm proud of the fact that I didn't knock over a single cone!
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Last edited by Rmtt; 12-21-2019 at 09:54 AM.. |
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12-21-2019, 11:56 AM | #10 |
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Nice! How much classroom time was it?
I did an event many years ago and they said since it was a private event they skipped the classroom stuff and just did the driving. Back then it was M5/M6, 335i, M roadsters, and X5. The instructors really thrash the M5s on the hot laps. We had one car blow a rear tire on the final turn because the tires were pretty much gone at the end of the day. Definitely a good experience and will have to do it again sometime soon. |
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12-21-2019, 11:59 AM | #11 | |
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After 3-4 laps in the M2C I was driving, they put me in a different car as the tire developed a bubble.
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12-21-2019, 12:08 PM | #12 |
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I think I wanna try this next year. how do you go about these classes?
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12-21-2019, 01:30 PM | #13 |
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We were signed up through a private group which is a vendor for our company. But you can signup online through the BMW North America website. They have them in SC and CA.
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12-21-2019, 01:31 PM | #14 |
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Also...on top of the car's listed....we got to drive the 850 as well!
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12-21-2019, 02:52 PM | #15 |
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Dug up a picture of the M5 losing the rear passenger. You can see some rubber mid-air and some sparks coming off the rim. Also some after pics of the wheels.
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12-21-2019, 05:41 PM | #16 | |
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12-21-2019, 05:44 PM | #17 |
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Would love to do the M track school but pricing is straight lol... $1500? bruh...
I own an M2c... this is a track day, new tires and brake fluid for my own car at homestead... much appreciated but i will pass I think this is best for people that have no sports car experience. |
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12-21-2019, 07:59 PM | #18 | |
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12-21-2019, 08:53 PM | #19 |
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Yeah, it’s not cheap and I would think twice if I had to pay myself, but as you may have read OP did it as part of a corporate event, as I did. Other people get it as part of the M drivers package or lucky ones get a voucher from BMW FS. It’s also nice to drive someone else’s car hard and learn where the limits are without having to pony up for anything that should wear, break or need replacing (i.e. tires). The non-corporate events also do a healthy amount of instruction with pro drivers, or at least they used to.
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12-22-2019, 04:56 AM | #20 | |
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12-22-2019, 06:00 AM | #21 | |
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Better their car than mine even if on a track with your own car. They told us they went through over 3,000 sets of tires a year. Plus imagine the brake pads, etc. Also you get to see the subtle differences that all the different cars offer as you got 3-5 hot laps in each model with no break inbetween. I loved the M5.....but for an all around versatile car, my pick was the M2C. I turned the fastest times in that car as it felt the most balanced to me given acceleration, braking, turn-in, etc. The Z4M was a close 2nd. The M5 would bite you if you weren't watching closely as it had so much power down the back straight....many people waited too long to brake....or didn't hit the brakes hard enough. The instructors gave us pointers and we had cones identifying our lines, but they would tell us hit the brakes as hard as you would the gas. We had plenty in our group who thought they were "fast and furious" drivers, but when DSC goes off, we had people spin completely off the track. Plus others like my driving partner found they didn't have the stomach for it. He made me promise not to tell anyone at work. Would I pay out of pocket...I don't know. I could afford to, but I live 30 minutes from the driving center and haven't yet. Shows you how cheap I am. Plus I will say again.....up yours Edwin McCain.....I want a rematch! I never would have thought he could drive like that. He was totally cool. He just happened to be performing in Greenville and than Asheville...so he stopped in as he was friends with the owner of the group that took us. Now I don't know what kind of rate the owner of the company got....but he paid for approximately 80 of us to do this. At the end...he said "I was trying to decide between this and a golf trip....but felt this would give lasting memories"....and then told us Merry Christmas! |
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12-23-2019, 06:42 AM | #22 |
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Great write and glad you had a blast. Added to my list of things to do.
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