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      04-06-2017, 09:49 AM   #1
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I just got back from the 2 day school held in Thermal, CA on 1-2 April, 2017. I thought I'd share how it went.

First - here is a video I stitched together.




I flew from Indy to Palm Springs, landing at 4PM. The hotel is quite a ways from the airport, about a 35-40 minute drive on surface streets. Renting a car turned out to be the most cost-effective ground transportation, even though the car just sat in the hotel parking lot all weekend.

Upon arrival at the Miramonte resort, I was handed an envelope with an agenda and meal vouchers, including for the meal that night. The resort is getting a bit long in the tooth, but overall it was okay. It has a nice pool. The food in the restaurant is good, but the service was a bit slow. No big deal. It would have been nice to have some way for the people in the class to meet the night before. I saw other solo travelers eating alone in the restaurant, and the next day saw they were classmates.

Saturday morning we met the hotel shuttle at 0745 for the drive to Thermal. By 0830 we were all assembled in the classroom for about 90 minutes of discussion and training. Prior reviews of the Thermal center were written before the new building was completed. The facility now is quite nice. There are a couple of classrooms on the first floor, along with a swag shop, and there is an eating area on the second floor.

The driving started around 10am. There were 11 students in the class, so we were broken into two groups. We stayed in those groups the rest of the weekend. Adjacent to the building is the short track, which only BMW uses. Throughout the first day, we were on various courses on the short track. We started out learning on a straightaway/curve combo, learning how to brake hard before the turn, hit the apex, and accelerate out the turn.

After that, we hit longer and longer stretches of track, and in the afternoon had some timed run competitions. On timed runs, you drive through an electric eye to start, and then after your lap have to stop within a box that is about two car lengths long. Lots of in-seat time on the track, which was great.

The other Day 1 activity was on the skid pad. This is very smooth concrete that is also wetted. Very slick. We learned how to correct a slide, and to briefly hold a drift. Later in the day we raced each other in a circle around the skid pad in a bracket elimination. At the end of the day we gathered for drinks and dinner on the second floor of the classroom building. We were done by 6 and back in the hotel by 7.

Day 2 started out with a very brief meeting in the classroom, but we very quickly got out on the track. Most of Day 2 is spent on one of the tracks at the Thermal Club. These tracks are much larger than the short track. Because speeds are much higher, and in some stretches there are barriers that can be hit, no timed runs are done here. It is all "follow the leader" driving.

As on Day 1, we started on doing repeat runs on small stretches of the track, learning when to brake, turn, and accelerate to get a good line. These stretches increased in length until we were making long runs around the whole track. Top speed on the long track was about 125mph, compared to about 60-65 on the short track. The M2 generally was quicker on the short track, but the longer track really allowed the M3s and M4s to shine.

Lots of track time throughout the day. 80% of the day was on the long track. We did go back to the short track for another set of timed runs in the M2s. And a brief visit to the skid pad for a cloverleaf competition. The finale of the day was hot laps with the instructors, where they tore up what was left of the tires, drifting on the long track.

The cars were great. I'm an F80 owner, and I learned a lot about my car. But I also got an appreciation for the M2. The F80s and F82s had the competition package, although they were set up with the non-ZCP 19" wheels.

Generally we'd be out on the track for 60-90 minutes at a time, coming back for water and bathroom breaks, and for the two groups to switch up cars.

General observations:

1. Great instructors
2. Perfect weather. Thermal is ungodly hot in the summer, but the rest of the year you are guaranteed sun and decent temps.
3. Nice facilities. I ran all four wheels of the track early on day 1. No big deal, you are just sliding into sand.
4. A couple of the instructors said they thought the SC facility was better for the 1 day school, but that Thermal is better for the 2 day because of the quality of the Thermal Club track.
5. The cars were well maintained and performed incredibly well. No mechanical issues at all. We drove them hard and they responded. The 3s and 4s all had CCB.

It is not a cheap class, but I'm glad I did it!

I've stitched together some video highlights.
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      04-06-2017, 12:02 PM   #2
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Thank you for the write up, makes me excited for next month.

Interesting they were all using CCBs, given prevailing forum "wisdom" maintains that they are raw garbage for track use.
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      04-06-2017, 12:24 PM   #3
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In the timed runs, you could really appreciate the consistency of the CCBs. We had to come to a full stop within a coned-off box. With the CCBs, I could initiate hard braking at the same point every time, and I'd come full stop at the same spot.

When we were in the M2s with steel brakes, we all noticed that our braking point would have to get further and further back as the brakes got hotter and hotter. You could feel them softening up a bit. Not a ton of difference - we're talking maybe 10 or 20 feet, but it was detectable for sure.
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      04-06-2017, 01:21 PM   #4
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Were you only in the M2 on the short track? How much F80 time did you get on Day 1?

Edit: Did you bring your own GoPro for filming?
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      04-06-2017, 01:56 PM   #5
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Only about a quarter of the time was in the M2, if even that much. On the short track, it was a mix of all three models. On the long track, it was always M3s and M4s.

I brought a GoPro with windshield suction mount. Controlled it with my iphone.
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      04-06-2017, 03:00 PM   #6
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Nice, thank you for the write up
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      04-06-2017, 03:17 PM   #7
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Very nice post and cool video. Thank you!
Crazy slides at the end. I do not know if it is good or bad in terms of track time but it sure seems fun.
I am going to NC in June for the 2 day school so I really enjoyed your post.

Quick question: Do you use the paddles at all? I am a manual guy and just got a Gts (so no manual available) and not at all comfortable with using the paddles yet. I still have 2 months to practice on the highway if I need to...lol
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      04-06-2017, 03:20 PM   #8
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The first day I let the DCT do its thing. Especially since my focus was on braking and hitting the line properly. On the long track I started using the paddle shifters. There was more time to think about the turns. Plus, on the long track, we were dropping to 3rd or 2nd (there was some debate on this) from as high as 5th. On the short track, you're never above 3rd.
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      04-06-2017, 03:46 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Domer88 View Post
The first day I let the DCT do its thing. Especially since my focus was on braking and hitting the line properly. On the long track I started using the paddle shifters. There was more time to think about the turns. Plus, on the long track, we were dropping to 3rd or 2nd (there was some debate on this) from as high as 5th. On the short track, you're never above 3rd.
Thanks. I will start practicing. I guess letting DCT shift automatically is always best on full acceleration but the problem is right after hard braking whether it is going to give me the right gear for the turn.
I assume they do not even have any manual shift cars out there.
I have 2 months to figure it out...
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      04-06-2017, 08:37 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jpdchicago View Post
Quick question: Do you use the paddles at all? I am a manual guy and just got a Gts (so no manual available) and not at all comfortable with using the paddles yet. I still have 2 months to practice on the highway if I need to...lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by jpdchicago View Post
Thanks. I will start practicing. I guess letting DCT shift automatically is always best on full acceleration but the problem is right after hard braking whether it is going to give me the right gear for the turn.
I assume they do not even have any manual shift cars out there.
I have 2 months to figure it out...
Just put the DCT in S (manual) mode and shift manually using either the paddles or the gear selector, upshifting and downshifting just like you'd shift a manual. If you can change gears in a manual, you can do the same thing in S mode with a DCT. Don't overthink it!

I had two test drives in a DCT M4 and adapted to it almost immediately. I did the 2-day M School before our Euro Delivery and had it all figured out on the track right away. Again, don't overthink it!
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      04-07-2017, 10:23 AM   #11
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Looks like they changed up the course a little bit from when I went (i don't remember breaking the big track up in sections like in the video). Interesting that they have ZCP cars now but went with 19's, but it is likely due to tire costs/availability (not sure conti has a tire for the 20's?).

I second the comment on great instructors. They have a core group like Adam and Rob, while others seem to rotate in, but they are all great. It is expensive but I thoroughly enjoyed the several times I was able to go out to Thermal. Hopefully I can make it our there again.
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      04-07-2017, 11:15 AM   #12
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Nice write-up, thanks for sharing! I did the 2-day M school at Thermal last October and agree with your descriptions and conclusions. The North/South Palm courses really add to the experience for sure ... and they are probably wise to disallow timed laps.
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      04-07-2017, 12:17 PM   #13
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So glad you posted this...I was there too...going to pm you to exchange pics! OP's description is basically spot on...only thing I'd add is that I was gunned timers broke halfway through second groups timed runs on day 2. OP and I were in green group and timed went bust on blue group that went after us...this bummed me out because I had significantly improved from day 1 and was 3/11 in times at point Indra went belly up...hoping that'd have held!
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      04-07-2017, 12:26 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Domer88 View Post
I just got back from the 2 day school held in Thermal, CA on 1-2 April, 2017. I thought I'd share how it went.

It is not a cheap class, but I'm glad I did it!

I've stitched together some video highlights.
I get very very car sick when other people are driving. ALways had issues on long road trips as a kid, etc.

I have done track days and typically, the instructor takes you around a few laps to get an idea of the course before you start. I typically am sick for the ENTIRE day from a 10 min drive in the morning where I am NOT the driver.

What is the situation with M school? Are you frequently a passenger? I see in the video you do some laps with the instructor driving.
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      04-07-2017, 12:34 PM   #15
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I brought ginger gum and a prescription anti-nausea med just in case, but never needed it.

Generally you start out a new session with a run in the instructor's car, but that is maybe 5 minutes at the most. You can opt out of the hot laps at the end of each day, because those are just for show.
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      04-07-2017, 12:34 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by frankiebones View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Domer88 View Post
I just got back from the 2 day school held in Thermal, CA on 1-2 April, 2017. I thought I'd share how it went.

It is not a cheap class, but I'm glad I did it!

I've stitched together some video highlights.
I get very very car sick when other people are driving. ALways had issues on long road trips as a kid, etc.

I have done track days and typically, the instructor takes you around a few laps to get an idea of the course before you start. I typically am sick for the ENTIRE day from a 10 min drive in the morning where I am NOT the driver.

What is the situation with M school? Are you frequently a passenger? I see in the video you do some laps with the instructor driving.
If you get car sick that easily my guess is you may have been done. You probably could've turned down the instructor ride though.
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      04-07-2017, 12:56 PM   #17
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Another thing I'll add. The course is incredible in that it takes 15 (in our case 11) people from all levels and experiences of driving and is able to get them all somewhat close to each other by the end. Certainly, some are quicker and more aggressive than others but the instructors do a phenomenal job with everyone. We had an 18 year old girl in our class and she did just fine. We also had someone who probably had done something like this before, as his times were a good two seconds above the rest (that or he chose the wrong career).

In the past I've seen complaints about the instructors not being in the cars and rather over the radios but I didn't find it to be too much of an issue in terms of instruction. They do a bang up job.

And I can't echo op enough...lots of seat time. We were exhausted by end of day 2. Personally, I can't wait to do the advanced school...and then probably the Nürburgring school...yes they offer that!
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      04-07-2017, 01:50 PM   #18
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Thanks for the info, going there at the end of October, you answered a lot of questions.
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      04-07-2017, 02:04 PM   #19
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Too bad they no longer have this up in Canada. BMW Canada are you reading!?
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      04-07-2017, 02:21 PM   #20
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Domer,

Thank you for the great write-up and the cool video! I was in the same class as you but in the other group. Overall, and as you mentioned, this was a fantastic experience and if you can afford it, you should do it. It truly shows you what these cars are capable of and if you are an ///M owner, you should get to know the limits of your car in a safe environment like the tracks we spent time on.

Quote:
Originally Posted by E46M54325Ci View Post
We also had someone who probably had done something like this before, as his times were a good two seconds above the rest (that or he chose the wrong career).
I promise you this was my first time in a class like this, but I totally agree with you: I definitely did choose the wrong career!
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      04-07-2017, 02:37 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lcfking80 View Post
Domer,

Thank you for the great write-up and the cool video! I was in the same class as you but in the other group. Overall, and as you mentioned, this was a fantastic experience and if you can afford it, you should do it. It truly shows you what these cars are capable of and if you are an ///M owner, you should get to know the limits of your car in a safe environment like the tracks we spent time on.

Quote:
Originally Posted by E46M54325Ci View Post
We also had someone who probably had done something like this before, as his times were a good two seconds above the rest (that or he chose the wrong career).
I promise you this was my first time in a class like this, but I totally agree with you: I definitely did choose the wrong career!
I was hoping you'd chime in! I had to give you a hard time...just glad you're now here to defend yourself!
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      04-07-2017, 03:54 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by modkrazy View Post
Thank you for the write up, makes me excited for next month.

Interesting they were all using CCBs, given prevailing forum "wisdom" maintains that they are raw garbage for track use.
Thermal and BMW performance center rock.
So fun.
Skid pad is what's up !
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