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Automotive Lifestyle
AUTOS: Track Time At BMW M School
Ralph Sheheen tries out a variety of M-enhanced cars in the performance-driving course at Virginia International Raceway.
BMW's number-one high-performance driving school is called the BMW Advanced M School. The "M" part of the name should really be more like "MMMMMM" as in "MMMMMM Good," like the Campbell Soup commercials. "MMMMMM Power" or "MMMMMM Handling" also would work. So would "MMMMMM M3"!
The two-day BMW Advanced M School that I attended was at the picturesque Virginia International Raceway. The twisting and undulating circuit can be broken down into four different layouts providing a wide variety of corner and straightaway configurations to test you and your Bimmer's skills. They also have a super-soaked Skid Pad to practice your drifting.
There were 14 Joey Hand wannabes who signed up for the opportunity to wring out a fleet of BMW 1Ms, M3s and M5s. Most of the students owned a BMW or two, some of which had been heavily modified by such leading tuner companies as Dinan and Alpina. Quite a few of them were back for second, third or in one, sixth trip to the school.
After only 30 minutes in the classroom to explain how the schedule was going to work, we were broken down into three groups and spent the rest of the day driving. The BMW instructors, who all have extensive racing resumes, were able to keep us out of the boring classroom since everybody has a radio in the car. It's just like having a Spotter with you the entire time. Even while doing high-speed lead-follow exercises, the instructor you are chasing is able to correct everything from hand placement on the steering wheel to racing lines. Even where you are looking with your eyes is up for scrutiny.
After a session in the pocket-rocket 1M on the South course it's back to the pits, a quick drink of water, strap into the M3, and head out on to the North course. Repeat as often as daylight will allow. If you’re looking for a driving school with lots of track time, this is the one.
One of the challenges of the BMW Advanced M School is jumping from car to car. You might switch from the smallish 1M with its turbo spooling up 335 horsepower to the beefy M5 and its "Dear God when will this engine quit pulling" V10 churning 560 horsepower. This is actually more of a handful than the different configurations of the various circuits at VIR. You learn the track layouts pretty quickly because of all of the laps. But when you first climb out of the 1M and into the M5, you better remember that your braking points have changed.
One spot where this is quickly brought to your attention is in the High Speed Esses. In the tight and light M3, you approach flat out in fourth gear, breathe in slightly, ease back into the throttle to set the rear end and power through. In the M5, you are really moving the mail on approach in either fourth or fifth, depending on your exit out of turn 6A. That slight lift now becomes a confidence-inspiring tap of the brakes to settle the car just before returning to the throttle on turn in. Then you hang on as that big bruiser shifts it’s hips from side to side as you carve your way up to the famed Oak Tree turn.
It all makes for an action-packed day at warped speed. Many of the students climbed out of their machines soaking with sweat from pushing themselves to limits they had never seen before. Even though stock, these Ms will spend all day at triple-digit speeds. I regularly saw 150 mph at the end of the longest straight in the M5 before tossing out the anchor. Trust me, it isn't any less intense in the 1M or the M3. The speeds were only different by a couple of mph when I ran out of straightaway and began trying to shove the brake pedal through the firewall.
Not only does BMW provide an excellent on-track program, they also have the accommodations and bench racing opportunities covered with guests staying right at The Lodge at VIR. Dinner takes place on the property as well at the tasty Oak Tree Tavern. A light breakfast and a hearty lunch is also provided.
One added feature that elevates this school is the onboard Race Keeper video system mounted in each car. No need to bring your own video camera; BMW has outfitted each M school machine with 2 Race Keeper cameras and a recording system. They also provide you with a memory stick that you plug in before each session. Not only does the Race Keeper system give you tons of video to show your buddies, it also supplies an incredible amount of telemetry: Temps, MPH, G Forces from multiple angels, etc, etc from every lap. You'll be pouring over the data for days after you leave the school.
The final item on the schedule on the last day is a high-speed competition on the Patriot Course to see who is the quickest among the students. Two drivers are turned loose on the track at the same time, spaced out by about five seconds in M3s. You get two laps to lay down your best tire-smoking, power-sliding effort on the clocks. I'm proud to say that by a slim two-10ths of a second, your humble author earned P1 bragging rights. Yeah boy!!!
If you’re wondering which of the three very impressive machines from the engineers in Munich I fell in love, with it's the 414-horsepower M3 Coupe. The M3 Sedan is just as good in every department, but I just like the look of the M3 Coupe better. Especially with the Carbon Fiber roof! To make it even harder to stay with what's currently in my garage, BMW offers an aftermarket steering wheel called the BMW Performance Steering Wheel. It's straight out of F1 and extremely cool.
The M3 feels like a member of the legendary BMW racing division. The 1M's size doesn't give the feeling of a race car and the M5 is blazingly fast, but it's an Executive Cruiser. Everything about the M3 oozes race-car heritage, especially the sound of the powerful V8 engine. When you downshift with a flick of the paddles, the sound out of the exhaust makes you feel like Hans Stuck in a BMW CSL at the Nurburgring.
Attending the BMW Advanced M School will dent your credit card by about $4,600, but no good driving school is cheap. With BMW, I have found that you definitely get what you pay for. Whether it's their stunning M machines or their tremendous BMW Advanced M School, they're worth every penny. "MMMMMM Yeah"!
The two-day BMW Advanced M School that I attended was at the picturesque Virginia International Raceway. The twisting and undulating circuit can be broken down into four different layouts providing a wide variety of corner and straightaway configurations to test you and your Bimmer's skills. They also have a super-soaked Skid Pad to practice your drifting.
There were 14 Joey Hand wannabes who signed up for the opportunity to wring out a fleet of BMW 1Ms, M3s and M5s. Most of the students owned a BMW or two, some of which had been heavily modified by such leading tuner companies as Dinan and Alpina. Quite a few of them were back for second, third or in one, sixth trip to the school.
After only 30 minutes in the classroom to explain how the schedule was going to work, we were broken down into three groups and spent the rest of the day driving. The BMW instructors, who all have extensive racing resumes, were able to keep us out of the boring classroom since everybody has a radio in the car. It's just like having a Spotter with you the entire time. Even while doing high-speed lead-follow exercises, the instructor you are chasing is able to correct everything from hand placement on the steering wheel to racing lines. Even where you are looking with your eyes is up for scrutiny.
After a session in the pocket-rocket 1M on the South course it's back to the pits, a quick drink of water, strap into the M3, and head out on to the North course. Repeat as often as daylight will allow. If you’re looking for a driving school with lots of track time, this is the one.
One of the challenges of the BMW Advanced M School is jumping from car to car. You might switch from the smallish 1M with its turbo spooling up 335 horsepower to the beefy M5 and its "Dear God when will this engine quit pulling" V10 churning 560 horsepower. This is actually more of a handful than the different configurations of the various circuits at VIR. You learn the track layouts pretty quickly because of all of the laps. But when you first climb out of the 1M and into the M5, you better remember that your braking points have changed.
One spot where this is quickly brought to your attention is in the High Speed Esses. In the tight and light M3, you approach flat out in fourth gear, breathe in slightly, ease back into the throttle to set the rear end and power through. In the M5, you are really moving the mail on approach in either fourth or fifth, depending on your exit out of turn 6A. That slight lift now becomes a confidence-inspiring tap of the brakes to settle the car just before returning to the throttle on turn in. Then you hang on as that big bruiser shifts it’s hips from side to side as you carve your way up to the famed Oak Tree turn.
It all makes for an action-packed day at warped speed. Many of the students climbed out of their machines soaking with sweat from pushing themselves to limits they had never seen before. Even though stock, these Ms will spend all day at triple-digit speeds. I regularly saw 150 mph at the end of the longest straight in the M5 before tossing out the anchor. Trust me, it isn't any less intense in the 1M or the M3. The speeds were only different by a couple of mph when I ran out of straightaway and began trying to shove the brake pedal through the firewall.
Not only does BMW provide an excellent on-track program, they also have the accommodations and bench racing opportunities covered with guests staying right at The Lodge at VIR. Dinner takes place on the property as well at the tasty Oak Tree Tavern. A light breakfast and a hearty lunch is also provided.
One added feature that elevates this school is the onboard Race Keeper video system mounted in each car. No need to bring your own video camera; BMW has outfitted each M school machine with 2 Race Keeper cameras and a recording system. They also provide you with a memory stick that you plug in before each session. Not only does the Race Keeper system give you tons of video to show your buddies, it also supplies an incredible amount of telemetry: Temps, MPH, G Forces from multiple angels, etc, etc from every lap. You'll be pouring over the data for days after you leave the school.
The final item on the schedule on the last day is a high-speed competition on the Patriot Course to see who is the quickest among the students. Two drivers are turned loose on the track at the same time, spaced out by about five seconds in M3s. You get two laps to lay down your best tire-smoking, power-sliding effort on the clocks. I'm proud to say that by a slim two-10ths of a second, your humble author earned P1 bragging rights. Yeah boy!!!
If you’re wondering which of the three very impressive machines from the engineers in Munich I fell in love, with it's the 414-horsepower M3 Coupe. The M3 Sedan is just as good in every department, but I just like the look of the M3 Coupe better. Especially with the Carbon Fiber roof! To make it even harder to stay with what's currently in my garage, BMW offers an aftermarket steering wheel called the BMW Performance Steering Wheel. It's straight out of F1 and extremely cool.
The M3 feels like a member of the legendary BMW racing division. The 1M's size doesn't give the feeling of a race car and the M5 is blazingly fast, but it's an Executive Cruiser. Everything about the M3 oozes race-car heritage, especially the sound of the powerful V8 engine. When you downshift with a flick of the paddles, the sound out of the exhaust makes you feel like Hans Stuck in a BMW CSL at the Nurburgring.
Attending the BMW Advanced M School will dent your credit card by about $4,600, but no good driving school is cheap. With BMW, I have found that you definitely get what you pay for. Whether it's their stunning M machines or their tremendous BMW Advanced M School, they're worth every penny. "MMMMMM Yeah"!
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