Registrations open for "BMW M Track Days @ Sonoma Raceway"

[marvinp]

Registration

If you're interested in the full-day, I'd suggest you register quickly because those tend to fill up immediately. The notification email hasn't gone out yet and the main Track Day page isn't yet linking to the registration.

[MisterF80M3]

How are these like? I've never been but seems interesting

[Fabb]

IMO at a thousand bucks, it's better to go to 3 track days if you already own an M car.

[FriedPiston]

This is much better than Cow Palace from the last few Bay Area UDE events. The head spokesperson somehow convinced himself that the G20 M340i they had at the event was the same car as the upcoming G80 M3. He referred to it as the M3

[marvinp]

Originally Posted by MisterF80M3

How are these like? I've never been but seems interesting

If you're not someone who goes to the track, it's a fun way to drive cars fast in a safe way. When I did the half-day a year ago down in Thermal, CA, we did drag racing, lead-follow and autocross. I think the full-day includes a drifting lesson as well.

If you're someone who goes to the track and are of intermediate level or higher, it's probably not worth it.

[MisterF80M3]

Originally Posted by marvinp

If you're not someone who goes to the track, it's a fun way to drive cars fast in a safe way. When I did the half-day a year ago down in Thermal, CA, we did drag racing, lead-follow and autocross. I think the full-day includes a drifting lesson as well.

If you're someone who goes to the track and are of intermediate level or higher, it's probably not worth it.

I use to go to the drag strip and track in my previous car. I haven't done it in the f80 yet due to liability issues. I don't want to get into an accident and be out 60k if it's totaled.

How much track time do you actually get at these events? Is it M cars only or they throw in non-M cars?

Really tempting. Anyone else going?

[WESTCOASTTRADING]

ill be there at Sonoma this weekend, this track is super fun..

[CT_M3]

Originally Posted by MisterF80M3

I use to go to the drag strip and track in my previous car. I haven't done it in the f80 yet due to liability issues. I don't want to get into an accident and be out 60k if it's totaled.

How much track time do you actually get at these events? Is it M cars only or they throw in non-M cars?

Really tempting. Anyone else going?

I'm debating. Might go with a buddy of mine... thinking Thursday early session.
Get to beat on M cars... should be fun.

[JN1]

I was thinking about it only as a good way not to beat up my own car and get in some track time in a similar one.

[Aldor27]

link?

[MisterF80M3]

What's the difference between the Tuesday 8 hours $1000 vs Wed, Thurs, Friday $500 4 hours?

[marvinp]

Originally Posted by Aldor27

link?

https://mtrackdays.bmwusa.com/sonoma

[Spun Crankhub]

Ouch, a thousand bux. I was just there yesterday and paid $299. Hard pass

[MisterF80M3]

Originally Posted by Spun Crankhub

Ouch, a thousand bux. I was just there yesterday and paid $299. Hard pass

How? $299 for a full day or half?

[FriedPiston]

Gonna have to pass on this one too, Marv. Last year was fun, though! I'd consider going if they made both G80 and G82 available at Sonoma, but I'm just going to wait for the free UDE event at Cow Palace in November.

[jmg]

Some insight into the M Track Day vs M School:

Originally Posted by jmg

I've done both M Track Days and M School (both 1 and 2 Day).

The major difference between M Track Days and M School is at track days you have to share a car (not sure now since Covid) and M School you get your own. M Track Days are more casual and fun, M School is more hardcore. M Track Days is about experiencing a high performance M car on the track. M School is about how to improve in high performance driving with a bigger emphasis on proper braking, cornering, drifting and recovery techniques. They will more closely instruct your technique and help you improve as a driver. M Track Days are more about pointing you in the right direction with some adjustments to make your experience safe. M School they will push you to the edge of control if they think you show the aptitude. You are paying more for M School and you have way more seat time and thus time to really work the exercises and try them over and over.

IMHO depends on your intentions. If you want to get into tracking your car and really acquire some skills, pony up the extra $500 for the M school. If you just want to have fun and have a taste go to M Track Days. If you REALLY want to up your high performance game skip both and go straight to the 2 Day M School.

M School got me into tracking. I've been hitting HPDE's for almost two years now and I'm in the intermediate/advanced groups, outrunning Porsche GTS's and keeping up with GT3's and track prepped Miatas. My M3 is almost exclusively a track car with light suspension and brake upgrades. Track wheels, racing bucket with half cage and racing harness are the next steps.

[marvinp]

Originally Posted by FriedPiston

Gonna have to pass on this one too, Marv. Last year was fun, though! I'd consider going if they made both G80 and G82 available at Sonoma, but I'm just going to wait for the free UDE event at Cow Palace in November.

No worries man! Can't beat the value of UDE I'll probably do next year as well so I can drive the new M3/M4 on the track.

[kchan]

Originally Posted by Spun Crankhub

Ouch, a thousand bux. I was just there yesterday and paid $299. Hard pass

Any info on this?

Besides the price of $299, do you use your own car? How safe is this? One good thing now about using your own car is the COVID thing, not sure how comfortable I feel driving other cars...

I am a total beginner and was really interested in trying it out

[MisterF80M3]

Originally Posted by kchan

Any info on this?

Besides the price of $299, do you use your own car? How safe is this? One good thing now about using your own car is the COVID thing, not sure how comfortable I feel driving other cars...

I am a total beginner and was really interested in trying it out

The event is completely booked.

[shakenbake11]

Hey guys. I am registered for the event tomorrow in Sonoma. Excited.
Question - are guests allowed to come and is there a spectators area? Was thinking about brining my fiance and maybe my dog even if that is allowed??? short notice I know. Does anyone know?

[CT_M3]

I was there today. I think there were people who were not drivers but guests in attendance. There were 4 events (1) and (2) were tracking with M5s and M8s and (3) was an auto-X and the last one was a drag race. In all, I think there is a tent where guests can hang out or you could just have them ride with you as a passenger in all the events. My friend and I were both registered drivers and didn't have any guests with us but the instructors mentioned that guests can ride with you.

[shakenbake11]

Originally Posted by CT_M3

I was there today. I think there were people who were not drivers but guests in attendance. There were 4 events (1) and (2) were tracking with M5s and M8s and (3) was an auto-X and the last one was a drag race. In all, I think there is a tent where guests can hang out or you could just have them ride with you as a passenger in all the events. My friend and I were both registered drivers and didn't have any guests with us but the instructors mentioned that guests can ride with you.

Thanks! Did you do the full or half day with those activities?