M Track Day at COTA

[P1]

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Went to the M Track Day at COTA today. Amazing value for $250, and spent the majority of the time in the cars. Highly recommend it! Here are some photos. My favorite car was the M3 with the M Performance bits, followed by the M4 with the M Performance bits. Lowest on my list were the M2 and M6...

I only had my iPhone with me, but probably should have brought my 5D. Oh well. Enjoy!

[zx10guy]

Maybe next year if they offer it again. I think next year is going to be a year of track events. Will be doing my annual pilgrimage to VIR for California Superbike School. Deciding if I want to do COTA with CSS again or the M Track Day at COTA (if they offer it again) after VIR. Either way I'll be on/in some form of BMW.

[SakhirM4]

Great photos - thanks for sharing!!

[Browntrash]

I'm scheduled for Sat AM but may have to miss. How were the on track sessions, lead follow with room or was it all out?

[P1]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Maybe next year if they offer it again. I think next year is going to be a year of track events. Will be doing my annual pilgrimage to VIR for California Superbike School. Deciding if I want to do COTA with CSS again or the M Track Day at COTA (if they offer it again) after VIR. Either way I'll be on/in some form of BMW.

Unless they run into some unforeseen issues, I don't see why they wouldn't offer this again. Come to COTA!

[P1]

Originally Posted by Browntrash

I'm scheduled for Sat AM but may have to miss. How were the on track sessions, lead follow with room or was it all out?

The track sessions are lead follow, but unless you're a seasoned track driver, the instructor will keep you plenty challenged. I was pushing the M3s and M4s as hard as I possibly could. Each instructor only has two cars following him/her.

[03BeastCharmer]

What about the M3/4 did you like better than the M2 on track?

[damnitBobby]

Thanks for sharing these photos! It's really helpful to see all the different colors next to each other.

Love the YMB M4 with m performance bits. The black 666M's look great with all the black pieces that come with the competition package. And the new black headlights make the car look so much more aggressive. Love it!

[SanchoDivine]

Originally Posted by 03BeastCharmer

What about the M3/4 did you like better than the M2 on track?

Only the M3 and M4 were on the COTA track. The M2 was used for a small autocross course. The M550, M6, and X6M were used for a drag strip competition between drivers. Everyone gets to drive every car. It was a really great event.

I think OP was referring to aesthetics and personal preference on which car he was more in love with. They had cars on display

[G4Z808]

question: I'm going to cota Monday for the afternoon session . Is there someplace for spouses during the day ? I want to bring my wife but I'm not sure if it's set up for spectators

[SanchoDivine]

There was also an M760i on display

[atxsk8r]

Hell yeah!

I went yesterday afternoon, awesome event and for $250, i should of booked more sessions LOL

[SanchoDivine]

Originally Posted by G4Z808

question: I'm going to cota Monday for the afternoon session . Is there someplace for spouses during the day ? I want to bring my wife but I'm not sure if it's set up for spectators

Some folks brought guest and they got to hang out where the participants were with the exception of being in the cars. One of the instructors also transported them to the autocross track to watch that event and then brought them back when we drove our M2s back. I think the guest got feed as well, BMW was out to impress!

[atxsk8r]

Originally Posted by G4Z808

question: I'm going to cota Monday for the afternoon session . Is there someplace for spouses during the day ? I want to bring my wife but I'm not sure if it's set up for spectators

Not a designated area but they have multiple areas in the shade where they can hang out, watch the action, grab food and drinks or walk around.

[Motivate]

Great photos, the event looks amazing.

For $250, do we get to drive any M car we want? Do they put an instructor in each car with you or you just follow the lead yourself?

Also, is it an exclusive event for current M car owners or anyone can attend?

[jsublime]

Originally Posted by P1et

The track sessions are lead follow, but unless you're a seasoned track driver, the instructor will keep you plenty challenged. I was pushing the M3s and M4s as hard as I possibly could. Each instructor only has two cars following him/her.

It was a great event I was there that day too. I'd say it's hit or miss on the lead follow, the first one in the M4 was fun but I think the track was full so we were only getting up to about 120 on the back straight after turn 11 because of traffic. Later in the day, some cars were getting refueled and we had a different instructor. Now that was fun! We were hitting 140 on the back straight and we even passed a group. Man those carbon ceramics are awesome. I have some gopro footage I will post up when I get a chance.

[jsublime]

Originally Posted by Motivate

Great photos, the event looks amazing.

For $250, do we get to drive any M car we want? Do they put an instructor in each car with you or you just follow the lead yourself?

Also, is it an exclusive event for current M car owners or anyone can attend?

Anyone can do it, kinda scary when you think about it. The cars are preselected, as mentioned above, we drove M2/3/4 and drag raced M6, X6M and M550. No instructor in your car, just you and a passenger following the instructor car.

[atxsk8r]

Originally Posted by jsublime

Man those carbon ceramics are awesome

Yes indeed. Flying 145 down the straight away and then slam on the brakes hard, super impressed how they handled.

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Random question but how did the cloth seats look? I imagine the seats get a lot of wear from people getting in and out. How did they look like they were holding up?

Also interesting all the comp packs are wearing the 20"s. At previous events they all wore the 19"s.

[E90SLAM]

Looking forward for tomorrow!

[P1]

Originally Posted by 03BeastCharmer

What about the M3/4 did you like better than the M2 on track?

I drove three laps in that blue M3 with all the M Performance bits on it, and six laps in the blue M4 with all the M Performance bits on it. Hands down the best part of the event. The M2 was only for the autocross event, and it just felt rather slow and basic on the inside. I cannot comment how it would have handled on the track itself, although I would have loved to be able to compare it. Between the M3 and the M4, I felt the M3 was more to my liking.

Originally Posted by G4Z808

question: I'm going to cota Monday for the afternoon session . Is there someplace for spouses during the day ? I want to bring my wife but I'm not sure if it's set up for spectators

Yes, plenty of space for a guest to hang out. It's just incredibly hot out there. It was 107F when I was there.

Originally Posted by Motivate

Great photos, the event looks amazing.

For $250, do we get to drive any M car we want? Do they put an instructor in each car with you or you just follow the lead yourself?

Also, is it an exclusive event for current M car owners or anyone can attend?

You get to drive every single M car they have, but only the M3/M4 on the actual track. You are in the car either by yourself, or with a buddy. Each time I was on the track, it was one instructor in the car in front of me, and one car behind me. He made sure the track was always available so we could go all out and never get caught behind a slower group.

Originally Posted by atxsk8r

Yes indeed. Flying 145 down the straight away and then slam on the brakes hard, super impressed how they handled.

Yes, 145mph was about as fast I got the car to go on the straights.

[LGWGN]

Originally Posted by E90SLAM

Looking forward for tomorrow!

Which part of the day are you going? I headed to the afternoon tomorrow.