M Track Day at COTA

[335pilot]

Originally Posted by 335pilot

I'll be there Sunday. So no driving of your own car at all? Thought I read that somewhere.

in order to drive your own vehicle at COTA.. one must attend an HPDE such as those that are run by BMW CCA chapters in TX

highly recommended.. [/QUOTE M3 Adjuster]



Agree! I've driven Cresson and the first Trifecta in 2013, but it's been a while, and not in my current car. Today should be fun based on the reviews so far.

(Also, we've met a few times and have several mutual friends).

[E90SLAM]

Originally Posted by LGWGN

Cool! Just seeing this, otherwise I'd have said hello. I was the solo dude in a red t-shirt.

The event was a blast! I might have paid that price just for the hotlap. We were doing 100+, sideways, INCHES from the car ahead of us. Our instructor even had to pass the car ahead...

Cheers! The only complain I've got was the record breaking heat and humidity. Also the track security won't allow anyone to enter the paddock/garage until 30 mins before your assigned session time.

I was miserable and my friend was miserable on the sidewalk after dropped off from Uber. Thankfully a fellow M picked us up and gave us a ride to the event! Flavio in the M240, thank you soooo much!!! I owe you a round!

The track was amazing and challenging! First round in M3 the instruction gave us step by step on every lap we've done. Then the second round in the M4, the instructor just kept radio silence and let us rip the track!

M2 autocross was way too short, hope it can be a bit longer. Drag race was comparatively boring but the M550i with launch control makes up for it!

Early dinner was pretty good with buffet style cuisine. Then the staff was so kind, looking for us and gave us a ride to the Uber pick up point.

We had a chat and found out the markering group will be off to the next UDE event and the rest of MTD events.

I'd definitely come back to COTA for F1 or even the next M Track Days!

[CRtoE92]

Thank you for sharing Surprised they put CF door handles for Mdriving cars perhaps because its more durable than leather ones

[dantm3]

Some pictures.. I wanted to bring my 4 year old so did not participate.. but had a blast watching and seeing all the great cars. I will sign up next time for sure!

[npcars]

Couple of ?'s:

Are all of the 'spots' spoken for?
Can one simply show up and watch?

[cayenne444]

Originally Posted by npcars

Couple of ?'s:

Are all of the 'spots' spoken for?
Can one simply show up and watch?

Hey - at the moment all spots are spoken for, however, there generally tends to be at least 1-2 people who just don't show up (family emergency, other obligations, etc) in every session.

As long as you sit through the classroom/safety talk and are ready to go at the end of it, if someone doesn't show up the team can take payment on-site and give you a spot. Just be sure to bring your license.

Show up at 8:00AM for the morning or 12:15PM for the afternoon and they'll put you on a standby list.

If not, you're welcome to spectate!

[JoeKixxon]

Hey dantm3 that's my Sakhir Orange M3 in the 2nd shot in front of the truck! (Gigi - The Grocery Getter)
That event was AWESOME. First class all the way. I had so much fun I signed up for the 2 day M school.

Enjoy it next time!! And I hope you had a great day all the same!

[mischiefbenz]

Originally Posted by rconn14

M2's have been on the track with this program in the past, they're a hoot out there..

Carbon ceramic brakes are just better suited to a track like COTA with a 140 MPH+ straight into a hairpin on the backside and a 120+ straight into a hairpin on the frontside, and unfortunately they aren't an option on the M2... hence autocross only

std. steel brakes outfitted with track pads are more than capable of handling cota.

i would advise against the carbon ceramic brakes unless you can afford $8k for replacement front rotors. most of the track rats just opt for the std. steel brakes cuz of this.

[MHOW996]

Went today as well. Had a great time!! FTD for the autocross (afternoon group) at 16.721 still need to find another 3 tenths if I'm to get to Thermal. I'll upload photos tomorrow.

[dantm3]

Originally Posted by JoeKixxon

Hey dantm3 that's my Sakhir Orange M3 in the 2nd shot in front of the truck! (Gigi - The Grocery Getter)
That event was AWESOME. First class all the way. I had so much fun I signed up for the 2 day M school.

Enjoy it next time!! And I hope you had a great day all the same!

Beautiful m3 man.. seeing all these cars made me intensify my search for a car. Love the sakhir orange m3!

[JohnG7]

I went this week also, what a blast. Best $250 I ever spent. I fell in love with the M4s, but could love an M3. Then again, any M would make me happy.

As a matter of fact, I'm looking every chance I get... Wife hasn't even hinted at a no (not that it would matter, much).

Everything at COTA was first class, wish I could have done this 30 years back, oh well.

Kinda scared to buy a used M3/M4 after the way I treated their cars, damn what fun. Sadly, my skill level is not what it was (but I smiled like Jack all the slow drive home). Great event and lots of good people enjoying themselves made it better, but dam it was hot! Texas in July, yep.

[P1]

Originally Posted by dantm3

Beautiful m3 man.. seeing all these cars made me intensify my search for a car. Love the sakhir orange m3!

I swear, if they would have had BMW sales folks at the event, I'm sure quite a few people would have gladly traded in whatever they rolled up with in order to drive home in an M!

[LGWGN]

Originally Posted by MHOW996

Went today as well. Had a great time!! FTD for the autocross (afternoon group) at 16.721 still need to find another 3 tenths if I'm to get to Thermal. I'll upload photos tomorrow.

I actually got to watch the guy set the current COTA best time. Both of his runs were low 16.x.

[JohnG7]

Originally Posted by P1et

You summer it up perfectly. Could not agree more with you said above! When the instructor said "these aren't your cars, so let's have some fun", I knew we were in for a good time!

Thanks for the great pics OP, and others posting. My batteries were exhausted before I could get any good pics.

The M4 I was in appeared new, but I didn't catch mileage (way too busy) but noticed in one pic the M4 had less than 1000 miles. I guess no warranty issues?

I was pleasantly surprised at the instructors allowing us to use our senses, they always did seem in control of their groups. I'm kinda new to the selectors in these, I was far from perfect as I got the hang (somewhat). The M4 I had seemed to have more power than my M3 I drove later on- I think the tires were goo-eyer by then (all were pushed hard all day). Wish I could say I was one of the best, I won't.

I never knew what I was missing, never too late. Thanks OP

[E90SLAM]

I chatted with the marketing staff from the event when he gave us the ride.

The cars were delivered from the previous MTD event to COTA weeks ago.
The COTA event was originally set up for about 58 people, but due to the popularity, the added 8 people for each session. So BMWNA had to throw in several more cars.

That's why you see some cars that had less than 1,000 miles on the ODO, they might be the newer ones or probably spare backup. Most of the cars I observed briefly ranges about 1,500 - 3,000 ish miles.

These cars will be most likely be auctioned or put into second hand market (e.g. Carmax). If you checked any carfax and the previous owner was registered in Woodcliff Lake, NJ. And CPO miles ranges about 4-5,000. Be aware these are the cars we had so much fun with.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Texas F1

I hope the OP is okay with adding photos to this thread. These are from this morning's session at COTA. Other than a couple shots of my white 1M, the others are representative of what you'd see at the track. I left around 11:00 a.m. and the temperature was already hitting 95 degrees and rising. If they do this again next summer and you get a choice of sessions, try for the morning group!

Great photos Scott !

[Vintage]

I ran a 15.932 in my last run - DIDN'T count though as it was my last COTA Xcross run, 4 of 4 and only your first 2 times count.

[DCM2]

Went Sunday morning as well!

First time on the track but didn't feel like a burden to the group. I had a ton of fun at every station but the most memorable was definitely the instructor hot lap. The way they toss these cars is absolutely incredible. I can still feel the adrenaline whenever I watch my videos.

The fact that you can drive the sh*t out of their cars on COTA of all places was worth the $250 alone.

Would do again in a heartbeat!

[M-Pilot]

Just curious why BMW decided to put on M mirrors on the red 340i. It looks pretty good. I'm just wondering if it's something that can be ordered as an "M Performance" accessory now for F30/F32.

[JoeKixxon]

As a follow up to driving on the track, and especially after the instructor hot lap... I had a new respect for my M3 on the drive home. I was like "you can do that, girl ?!!"

[_Mbition]

I would've paid the 250 for a day at this track again...

[GVN*2FLY]

I went to the early session today and the instructors lamented about how hot it was this past weekend.

Very much enjoyed the M3s and M4s on the big track. Paired up with another HPDE friend from here in Texas, and while we staggered in the M3s/4s to try to get a 'faster' grouping, the 2 guys in the other car were awful (slow and still managed to massively understeer through more than a couple of turns) and put a damper on the experience.

All in all, an unbelievable track and the instructor-driven hot lap was a blast even with 4 people in the car. Encourage all fans of M to take one of these in if given the opportunity.