BMW M Driving School -- The Rush...
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,854
Likes: 0
From: IL
Very nice write-up..... Interesting the changes in the program for those with the M3 vs. the M5 (our hot lap was with the M5).
Here is another write-up by a guy that was in school with me
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e60...hd-videos.html
It is loaded with videos taken by him and his wife using their Nikon D90. They blow away the in car video that you will get shortly. My favorite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz5BC...layer_embedded
has me screaming like a girl - I should also note that my class was done in the rain as was my hot lap. The rain actually made the day MORE FUN and I honestly can not believe how fast they can take these cars around the track - even in the wet. Oh yea, at one point he has us power sliding at approx 100mph - I kept thinking "Is this car going to catch and flip?" - hint, you hear me say "no way, no way!" - which is my way of saying "no way am I going to live through this"
Henry, I agree with your comments about the SMG - except I think those cars are "fixed" in such a way that they are crippled. Note the video above and how hard the car shifts - it did not do that for me when I was driving (shifts were slow and I so wished for my 6-speed).
The factory tour was amazing as well and no, I will never buy a first year car - the complexity of the build process is mind boggling and it must take at least a year to get it right.
Here is another write-up by a guy that was in school with me
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e60...hd-videos.html
It is loaded with videos taken by him and his wife using their Nikon D90. They blow away the in car video that you will get shortly. My favorite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz5BC...layer_embedded
has me screaming like a girl - I should also note that my class was done in the rain as was my hot lap. The rain actually made the day MORE FUN and I honestly can not believe how fast they can take these cars around the track - even in the wet. Oh yea, at one point he has us power sliding at approx 100mph - I kept thinking "Is this car going to catch and flip?" - hint, you hear me say "no way, no way!" - which is my way of saying "no way am I going to live through this"
Henry, I agree with your comments about the SMG - except I think those cars are "fixed" in such a way that they are crippled. Note the video above and how hard the car shifts - it did not do that for me when I was driving (shifts were slow and I so wished for my 6-speed).
The factory tour was amazing as well and no, I will never buy a first year car - the complexity of the build process is mind boggling and it must take at least a year to get it right.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,223
Likes: 220
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Nice write-up, Henry. 
I've sampled and test-driven some Ms over the years, but not under those conditions. That must have been quite an experience. It's neat that you and Dave knew the same instructors.
I still like the 335xi, though....for the money, hands-down my favorite Bimmer for street driving, but, even though I myself haven't had an M3 on a track, there's no question that the M3 would better than the 335 there.
I've sampled and test-driven some Ms over the years, but not under those conditions. That must have been quite an experience. It's neat that you and Dave knew the same instructors. I still like the 335xi, though....for the money, hands-down my favorite Bimmer for street driving, but, even though I myself haven't had an M3 on a track, there's no question that the M3 would better than the 335 there.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 81,772
Likes: 349
From: Lovely OC
Very nice write-up..... Interesting the changes in the program for those with the M3 vs. the M5 (our hot lap was with the M5).
Here is another write-up by a guy that was in school with me
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e60...hd-videos.html
It is loaded with videos taken by him and his wife using their Nikon D90. They blow away the in car video that you will get shortly. My favorite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz5BC...layer_embedded
has me screaming like a girl - I should also note that my class was done in the rain as was my hot lap. The rain actually made the day MORE FUN and I honestly can not believe how fast they can take these cars around the track - even in the wet. Oh yea, at one point he has us power sliding at approx 100mph - I kept thinking "Is this car going to catch and flip?" - hint, you hear me say "no way, no way!" - which is my way of saying "no way am I going to live through this"
Henry, I agree with your comments about the SMG - except I think those cars are "fixed" in such a way that they are crippled. Note the video above and how hard the car shifts - it did not do that for me when I was driving (shifts were slow and I so wished for my 6-speed).
The factory tour was amazing as well and no, I will never buy a first year car - the complexity of the build process is mind boggling and it must take at least a year to get it right.
Here is another write-up by a guy that was in school with me
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e60...hd-videos.html
It is loaded with videos taken by him and his wife using their Nikon D90. They blow away the in car video that you will get shortly. My favorite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz5BC...layer_embedded
has me screaming like a girl - I should also note that my class was done in the rain as was my hot lap. The rain actually made the day MORE FUN and I honestly can not believe how fast they can take these cars around the track - even in the wet. Oh yea, at one point he has us power sliding at approx 100mph - I kept thinking "Is this car going to catch and flip?" - hint, you hear me say "no way, no way!" - which is my way of saying "no way am I going to live through this"
Henry, I agree with your comments about the SMG - except I think those cars are "fixed" in such a way that they are crippled. Note the video above and how hard the car shifts - it did not do that for me when I was driving (shifts were slow and I so wished for my 6-speed).
The factory tour was amazing as well and no, I will never buy a first year car - the complexity of the build process is mind boggling and it must take at least a year to get it right.
our final hot lap was exactly the same route as yours, that's the route they use for day 2 tracking (2-day m school). another great write up there. i can see that they changed a few courses.
the m5 track run, ours was much longer (ours extended all the way to the skid pad area as well) and we were able to hit 4th, spacing was a bit better as well, from the video seems like you were too crowded and often had to brake for the car up front.
and yeah, from the video can definitely see how bad the smg shifts. really slow and hard. seeing the video can totally get back how i felt when i was driving the m5 and m6.
it's really nice the guy's wife was able to use the d90 and take all the videos, i guess i will have to see how bad my video is going to be, hahaha...
but yeah, the hot lap was so much fun!!!! it's always nice seeing how these pros drive. really, during the hot lap i was paying close attention to how they drive and how they "look" and how they transition between brakes and gas.... sick!
my m3 lease is ending end of 2011, new m5 is probably out some time late 2011, so that means i will have 1 yr of "vacuum" time?
oh and i also have to thank you doug for talking me into the m cars. zero, absolute zero, regret
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 81,772
Likes: 349
From: Lovely OC
Nice write-up, Henry. I've sampled and test-driven some Ms over the years, but not under those conditions. That must have been quite an experience. It's neat that you and Dave knew the same instructors.
I still like the 335xi, though....for the money, hands-down my favorite Bimmer for street driving, but, even though I myself haven't had an M3 on a track, there's no question that the M3 would better than the 335 there.
I've sampled and test-driven some Ms over the years, but not under those conditions. That must have been quite an experience. It's neat that you and Dave knew the same instructors. I still like the 335xi, though....for the money, hands-down my favorite Bimmer for street driving, but, even though I myself haven't had an M3 on a track, there's no question that the M3 would better than the 335 there.
after the m school i learned a lot and think i improved my driving. i also noticed that driving a fast car doesn't mean you know how to drive. i just wish more m car drives (or high performance car drivers) really drive their cars the way they are supposed to be (when safe). accelerate hard, brake hard. i was surprised to see how many people they don't dare to redline before shifting and brake very hard when you brake -- not even when driving m school cars
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: CA
Wow, cool report! Have any pics of the plane landing experience?
Also got me thinking of the times I've been to the Audi Driving Experience at Fontana. Seems like they do the same type of program, but in a shorter timeframe. Also no cost for it. Pretty trick either way!
Also got me thinking of the times I've been to the Audi Driving Experience at Fontana. Seems like they do the same type of program, but in a shorter timeframe. Also no cost for it. Pretty trick either way!
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