Intend to do a minimum of one M observe day and plan to put in writing about it.
Am nonetheless dithering on the M Driver’s Bundle, which features a observe day bundle however will purchase a minimum of one observe college occasion even when I don’t get that. Am ready on an ordered ’22 M4Cx, simply went again to standing 112, Scheduled for Manufacturing for the third time and am now set for construct week 20.
For context, am an ex-MBZ fan-boy that grew up round Indy and Midget race tracks the place my father was a mechanic.
Did the Russell Racing College Excessive Efficiency Course in my very own ’01 CLK55 AMG at Infineon / Sears Level raceway. I don’t bear in mind any BMWs however there likely have been some. In aggressive lead-follow kind occasions I used to be paired first with a Viper pushed by a knuckle-head who had an excessive amount of energy and too little management. He spun out twice attempting to match me within the twisty bits earlier than the instructors paired him as a substitute with a Corvette so “nothing unhealthy would occur.” I used to be then paired with a Lexus SC430, which was near my suspension however under no circumstances my energy. The general theme was to study excessive efficiency driving in our personal vehicles, with loads of road security content material, and I discovered quite a bit. Extremely beneficial class.
I later managed to get onto the invite checklist (each luck and exhausting work) for the AMG Problem, because it was actually named again then. This was and its present AMG Driving Academy equal seems to be much like the M college. I attended 5 Problem occasions in 2006-2008. These have been all day occasions in manufacturing facility vehicles of each present AMG mannequin. These included 3 normal and a pair of superior occasions. The usual (primary) ones have been extra enjoyable (e.g., study extra, no silly questions, much less ego; no Beverly Hills plastic surgeons having a prissy match once they get a ‘cone killer award’ in autocross and so they thought they have been superior drivers as a result of their on a regular basis trip is an S600).
These ran $1,200-$1,400 however some years the producer gave out vouchers for the value that have been relevant to any MBZ dealership new buy (not simply AMG). The codecs modified barely yearly however at all times included highway course, autocross, and moist skid pad. If the observe had excessive pace functionality, we have been requested to not exceed 155 mph however the instructors weren’t so restricted and 175 mph sizzling laps in SLRs and SL600s have been offered for “educational functions.” FYI, loads of the instructors have been skilled or ex- drivers who instructed at occasions for a number of manufactures (however weren’t alleged to say so, and completely to not title what they drove frequently).
Many tracks have been accessible however I solely attended west coast occasions. At first this meant California Speedway (now Auto Membership Speedway) in Fontana, east of Los Angeles. It has a giant oval that for some occasions was used as that and for others was mixed with the highway course part. Over the past occasion there (2007) two bozos (all the pieces about them reeked of unhealthy information) ‘kissed the wall’ at 130 mph in an E63 on their first set of massive oval laps. This seems to be why the California occasion was moved in 2008 to Thunderhill Raceway, north of Sacramento. Most speeds there have been quite a bit much less and I’m certain I by no means topped 125, nevertheless it was nonetheless a enjoyable occasion and the observe had elevation adjustments which I had not skilled.
Quick ahead to 2018, my new ’18 C63s got here with a free day on the AMG Driving Academy. This was good as a result of I received to drive the total vary of AMGs at Lagona Seca Raceway nevertheless it sucked due to what such occasions had change into. E.g, an expensively catered semi-sales occasion the place lots of the different individuals had purchased AMG’s as a result of they might and solely got here as a result of the occasion was free to them. The primary half of the day the instructors spent babying issues down for idiots that shouldn’t be on any roadway, till half the category dropped out (with a number of attendees keen to promote their AMGs parked out within the parking zone on the spot as a result of they have been now frightened of their vehicles capabilities — go house to Hollywood Blvd. or Lombard St., the place nothing is posted over 35 mph; please don’t attempt canyon carving above Malibu or drive Hyw 2 above Pasadena; an early Sunday morning (Century Membership time slot) drive on route 84 to La Honda, above Palo Alto, could be a traumatic and seat wetting occasion for such folks).
Anyway, blissful to be right here. BMW, please give me the keys to my new automotive so I can begin to say good issues about it.
