I'm doing the Two-Day M School at Thermal

[mpizutti]

Just made my reservations for the 2 Day M school at Thermal..any input from others that have done this??

[soheilmos]

Originally Posted by mpizutti

Just made my reservations for the 2 Day M school at Thermal..any input from others that have done this??

When is the class ?? I always wanted to look into it

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by mpizutti

Just made my reservations for the 2 Day M school at Thermal..any input from others that have done this??

Yes, there are lot of previous posts from people who have done the Two Day M School, both at Thermal and at Spartanburg.

[PshhhhhMW]

Originally Posted by mpizutti

Just made my reservations for the 2 Day M school at Thermal..any input from others that have done this??

Be ready for the skid pad and time attack contests!

[drroc]

Originally Posted by PshhhhhMW

Be ready for the skid pad and time attack contests!

Time attack contest is won or lost in how you do the last brake box. The trick is to hit it with the highest speed, but stop just before you hit the exit boundary. In the drag race comp, its the opposite. You want to be stopped just when the rear bumper crosses the entrance boundary.

Edit: On the skid pad, be mindful where you start. I lost because the instructor finished the race half a lap early, and my opponent was facing backwards but slightly ahead of me. If we would have continued for the remaining half a lap, I would have won. I sort of spaced out, but then it became apparent to me on video.

[Germanauto]

How much was it? Any discounts running?

Seems like you gotta book them months in advance. I'll in in LA next week, definitely a no go.

[clutchdj]

Originally Posted by mpizutti

Just made my reservations for the 2 Day M school at Thermal..any input from others that have done this??

Did the 2 day LY in SC. Sip water on breaks. Put the cell phone on mute. Absolutely have sunglasses and keep your eyes up - Keep telling yourself there are no potholes on the track. The instructors know their shit and most of them can drift; they just make it look easy so listen to them. Have fun & don’t worry so much about times just work on technique, always looking for the next apex/cone they set up.

[kss]

Anyone know when Canadian courses will be scheduled? I would have thought they’d at least have their winter driving ones offered by now.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

How much was it? Any discounts running?

Seems like you gotta book them months in advance. I'll in in LA next week, definitely a no go.

The 2 Day is $4k. You get a ~$800 voucher if you got an offer for a car control school for buying/leasing an M. Another 15% for being a BMWCCA member. This includes 2 day lodging which is on average $200 a night in the area. It also includes all meals for the weekend. I think it's was 6 meals total. Decent food too, I'd figure an easy $20 per meal for a total of $520 worth in food and lodging. Not too steep considering you get to abuse BMW's M3, M4, and M2's and have some valuable instruction as well. Oh and the swag isn't bad.

If you attend a BMW Ultimate Driving Event then you get another discount. I don't remember how much, but I booked a 1 Day with some friends which is normally $1500 I believe.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by mpizutti

Just made my reservations for the 2 Day M school at Thermal..any input from others that have done this??

They will provide water, don't drink too much or you will have to piss! Get lots of sleep so you can have all your energy, it's a fun packed two days! Take a morning dump because you don't want to miss anything. Always listen to the instructors, don't worry about going fast, follow their techniques, the speed will come with good habits. Don't bring a bag, keep it light, just bring you and what you can carry in your pocket, you will be throwing these cars around and you don't want a bag rolling around the cockpit. Other than that, just soak it all in! Have fun!

[iamwingman]

Originally Posted by drroc

Time attack contest is won or lost in how you do the last brake box. The trick is to hit it with the highest speed, but stop just before you hit the exit boundary. In the drag race comp, its the opposite. You want to be stopped just when the rear bumper crosses the entrance boundary.

Edit: On the skid pad, be mindful where you start. I lost because the instructor finished the race half a lap early, and my opponent was facing backwards but slightly ahead of me. If we would have continued for the remaining half a lap, I would have won. I sort of spaced out, but then it became apparent to me on video.

Also. If you can get away with it, hang back on your start position so you have a higher speed as you pass and trip the timer start line. It worked for me. It’s kind of cheating, but that’s racing.

[M3GymNut]

Make sure you drive alone when you hit the track with the M3/4's. The guy next to me got a panic attack and I had to go to the pit to drop him off and start over again. Poor guy. I can understand why he felt that way.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by M3GymNut

Make sure you drive alone when you hit the track with the M3/4's. The guy next to me got a panic attack and I had to go to the pit to drop him off and start over again. Poor guy. I can understand why he felt that way.

In the 1 and 2 Day M school at Thermal we were always alone in the car unless it was an instruction lap. Is it not like that for all the other locations?

[jmg]

On a side note- Do any of you guys wear that BMW M PERFORMANCE CENTER jacket they give us? I like it, but I feel like it's on the pretentious side, so it's been sitting in my closet for a year. Also, I've only taken the 2 day school, do they still give us jackets for the 1 day school?

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by jmg

On a side note- Do any of you guys wear that BMW M PERFORMANCE CENTER jacket they give us? I like it, but I feel like it's on the pretentious side, so it's been sitting in my closet for a year. Also, I've only taken the 2 day school, do they still give us jackets for the 1 day school?

Only time I wore my M shirt was Euro delivery and PCD.

My $0.02, I like the track at thermal better than the SC one.

[M3GymNut]

Originally Posted by jmg

In the 1 and 2 Day M school at Thermal we were always alone in the car unless it was an instruction lap. Is it not like that for all the other locations?

Well I live in Miami and the M Driving school was at the Homestead Speedway and there were some cars (very few) that had someone in the passenger seat and I was one of them. We would switch after our session. Maybe they didn't have enough cars?

Interesting side note that I noticed, Michelin was sponsoring the event as well and there was a representative from Michelin there. The representative noticed one of the M5's didn't have Michelins on so they had to remove the vehicle from the drag race session. It was quite interesting that back and forth...

[jmg]

Originally Posted by M3GymNut

Well I live in Miami and the M Driving school was at the Homestead Speedway and there were some cars (very few) that had someone in the passenger seat and I was one of them. We would switch after our session. Maybe they didn't have enough cars?

Interesting side note that I noticed, Michelin was sponsoring the event as well and there was a representative from Michelin there. The representative noticed one of the M5's didn't have Michelins on so they had to remove the vehicle from the drag race session. It was quite interesting that back and forth...

That's not M School. That sounds like the M Track Day which is sponsored my Michelin and you do share cars. I believe it was around $250 to attend. The 1 Day M School is/was/sometimes sponsored by Continental, you have the car to yourself and the price of admission is $1500. I would never pay $1500 to sit shotgun.

The 1 Day M School is much more comprehensive and there is no drag racing. It would be a complete waste of time to do a drag race for $1500. You get much better and deeper instruction on cornering, brake zones, recovery etc. The M Track Day is like a lighter, fun day at the track with a touch on instruction. The instructor the lead car on the back straight of Thermal paced us at 125mph. However, at the 2 Day M School all the reigns were off and we were hitting 140mph.

Keep in mind there is also an M Driver Program. Confusing. Here are the different M HPDEs in order of instruction immersion:

M Track Day - $250

M Driver's Program - $1500

1 Day M School - $1500

2 Day M School - $4000

Advanced M School - $5000

[M3GymNut]

Originally Posted by jmg

That's not M School. That sounds like the M Track Day which is sponsored my Michelin and you do share cars. I believe it was around $250 to attend. The 1 Day M School is/was/sometimes sponsored by Continental, you have the car to yourself and the price of admission is $1500. I would never pay $1500 to sit shotgun.

The 1 Day M School is much more comprehensive and there is no drag racing. It would be a complete waste of time to do a drag race for $1500. You get much better and deeper instruction on cornering, brake zones, recovery etc. The M Track Day is like a lighter, fun day at the track with a touch on instruction. The instructor the lead car on the back straight of Thermal paced us at 125mph. However, at the 2 Day M School all the reigns were off and we were hitting 140mph.

Keep in mind there is also an M Driver Program. Confusing. Here are the different M HPDEs in order of instruction immersion:

M Track Day - $250

M Driver's Program - $1500

1 Day M School - $1500

2 Day M School - $4000

Advanced M School - $5000

Well, I did the M Track Day. We also did the drag races. If you are saying the M Track day does not have drag racing that is incorrect information.

This is what I did and in this order.

1.) Drag Races (M5,M4,X6M,X5M)
2.) M3 speedway laps
3.) M4 speedway laps
4.) M2 track run (2 runs)
5.) Instructors drove M3's with me in the vehicle around speedway driving nuts and driving the vehicle to its full potential and drifting like I was in fast and the furious.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by M3GymNut

Well, I did the M Track Day. We also did the drag races.

Yeah I figured. I just did an M Track Day. Lots of fun, but I would recommend M School if you want to really develop as a driver. It's way more comprehensive and has much much more seat time.

Originally Posted by M3GymNut

If you are saying the M Track day does not have drag racing that is incorrect information.

No, I'm saying drag racing takes place at the M Track Day, but not the M Schools. It's just not a good use of time for $1500.

[M3GymNut]

Originally Posted by jmg

Yeah I figured. I just did an M Track Day. Lots of fun, but I would recommend M School if you want to really develop as a driver. It's way more comprehensive and has much much more seat time.



No, I'm saying drag racing takes place at the M Track Day, but not the M Schools. It's just not a good use of time for $1500.

Would you recommend the 1 day or the 2 day? The 2 day for $4k is how much of a difference in terms of what they offer you from the 1 day? For $4k I better come out driving like Dominic Toretto for that type of money.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by M3GymNut

Would you recommend the 1 day or the 2 day? The 2 day for $4k is how much of a difference in terms of what they offer you from the 1 day? For $4k I better come out driving like Dominic Toretto for that type of money.

I think it was worth it. I learned a lot. If you are eventually going to do the 2 day, just do it first. The first day of the 2 day M School is identical to the 1 Day M School or so I have heard.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by jmg

. The M Track Day is like a lighter, fun day at the track with a touch on instruction. The instructor the lead car on the back straight of Thermal paced us at 125mph.

I think it depends on the instructor. lead car when I did one was going for it, and it was awesome.

Those 2 day schools are the price of competition licensing schools (including use of competition prepared car), so it all depends on driver's goals. $250 m track day = yes please. $4k with no license after in street tire stock cars is more like entertainment, IMHO.