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      07-29-2018, 09:37 AM   #1
Fugly M3
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BMW M Expert Training Nürburgring Nordschleife M4 2 Day Lapping! PICS AND VIDS

Hi everyone!

As some of you may have seen, last year I did the BMW M Fascination Nordschleife 2 day training at the Nürburgring with Laura Hayes and Donnie Isley willwin2day. Link here: https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1417300

This afternoon, I'm off to Europe for the M Expert Nordschleife Training for what is supposed to be 2 days of lapping sessions.

We all arrive tomorrow, Monday, 7/30, for the welcome dinner at the Pistenklause.

Tuesday, 7/31 is an open/rest day. I think some of us may coordinate a trip to Bastogne, Belgium to see the WWII site. Or, we may do Touristfahrten, or possibly some other shenanigans.

Wednesday, 08/01 and Thursday 08/02 are driving days!

Friday, 08/03 is departure . I'll be off to London for two nights en route back to LA...the things you have to do routing wise to get a decent seat at a great fare! (I'm low on points and saver awards are hard to come by this time of year so I had to go premium economy on separate tickets...but this is for another forum).

The M Expert training is usually a one-day course from what I can tell, with prices ranging between EUR 1790-2290, depending on car. We're doing 2 days of it (thank you Donnie!) in M4s and we get 4 nights at the Lindner Hotel plus almost all meals. Total cost was $5695, excluding airfare/rental car. Not cheap, but totally reasonable when you consider what you get! With the European Delivery insurance botch job of late, this is probably the best way to get to experience the Ring in an M car.

Teaser pic below. More pics and vids to come!

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Last edited by Fugly M3; 08-04-2018 at 11:01 AM..
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      07-30-2018, 09:33 AM   #2
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Enjoy, it's the greatest Racetrack on this planet, especially for cars liker ours... ;-) I don't think that you'll have to deal with rain/wet conditions, forecast looks pretty good...
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      07-31-2018, 09:29 PM   #3
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Day 1 - Arrival

Day 1 was arrival and dinner at the Pistenkaluse...the typical order is the steak on a stein (hot stone) with chips (fries)...sorry no pics.

Arrival!

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Walking to dinner

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View from room

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      07-31-2018, 11:37 PM   #4
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Day 2

Day 2 we were free to acclimate. My day almost always starts with a run at sunrise...today was no different...and then put on a show in the Eiffels.

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The M5s they have this year are like a taste-the-rainbow skittles collection. Then we have an Individual Speed Yellow (Porsche color) M3 and a Santorini Blue one as well!

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A couple groups of us went to the WWII Battle of the Bulge Memorial at Bastogne, Belgium...very worthwhile!

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One in our group took European Delivery of one of the first i8 Spyders!

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Before dinner, we had a briefing tonight that basically covered the typical pre-track training items. Tomorrow the driving begins!

Last edited by Fugly M3; 08-03-2018 at 02:46 PM..
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      08-03-2018, 05:56 AM   #5
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Day 3 - First Driving Day...RAIN!

It's finally Day 3 and our first driving day. As always, my day starts with a spectacular and peaceful run through and around Nurburg.

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Then its breakfast and time to go!

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My Car for Day 1...eine Mineralweisse M4C!

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We did theory last night and in theory we have an introduction lap before slalom and braking exercises...relative to last year, the intro lap seems almost flat out!

We then start the lapping which goes for the rest of the day, save for lunch, with each of us (two per car) switching off after 2 laps each. After the first set of laps it begins to RAIN and it gets real, real slippery...this place is nuts in the rain. Once we get the vids back...you should be able to see some good slippage. Thankfully the cars have the nannies going to save us.

We had out fastest lap in the second to last sub-group of the day...our second lap in that go was somewhere in the mid-8 minute range BTG!

We were doing well in the last of the laps but then one of us lost two wheels (off the track). He did a stellar correction job from what was said by others (I didn't see the event), but we were penalized with half a lap or so of slow go by our instructor, Sebastian. Sebastian was awesome btw!

In total, I believe I counted 13 laps, including the one warm up. 6 each before and after lunch. Some photos for you enjoyment:

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And, of course, our "Expert Certification"

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Last edited by Fugly M3; 11-10-2018 at 10:19 PM..
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      08-03-2018, 06:12 AM   #6
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Great Pics, looks like fun. I'll be going there on 24th of August, Trackday. Hope you guys survived the green hell with no bigger issues ;-)
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      08-03-2018, 06:18 AM   #7
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Day 4 - Drive Day 2 - Loosey Goosey, Lead Car Shenanigans!

Day 4 brings another mind-clearing morning run...we need to be on our game today...it's hot, clear and dry!

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We start with the same intro lap and some slalom and braking work...then we head right to the laps. The groups have been mildly shuffled so as to place drivers of equal paces and abilities together...for me this meant moving to a quicker group...no complaints there! We also have new cars! This time it's a Grigio Telesto M4C...and our leader, Fritz, is driving an individual Speed Yellow (Porsche Color) F80!

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It's the same 4 cars behind the leader, and we switch drivers after two laps each. We got 4 laps each in the morning and 8 each in the afternoon, not including the warm up lap...so 13 total, the same as the day before.

Some Shots - the line is not being followed in the third shot!

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However, unlike the day before, we're moving from the start today. For me, the fastest times came in the afternoon, just after lunch and on the second go a bit later than that. In the second lap of the first go...Laura Hayes timed us at 8:31...this is confirmed by my video, which I hope to have for you all soon! That wasn't all though...we were damn near 250 KPH heading into the Swedish Cross (last I saw was 244-245) and I guess I was a little left...what felt like some minor movement over the crest was apparently much more from behind...I was told "I couldn't see any daylight between your tires and the track, but they certainly weren't bearing any load!" Thankfully, I corrected without issue. I had a second close call in one of the chicanes on the backside of the track where the car started to slip left and right, but managed to get that back too!

On the second lap of the second round after lunch, we did a BTG of 8:27...this time I borrowed a lap timer app and I have a picture of that success, with videos coming. This lap was relatively clean and tidy...or at least as much so as it can be for us. The best groups were doing 8:20-8:21 range on day 2. The worst were around 9 minutes.

Proof is in the pudding...eh...photo!

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Perhaps the most interesting point of the day came at the end, when we were heading out for our final two laps. I was handed a car with 58k in range...we were told to shift early and keep it mellow...which we did...we were around 9 on the first lap. We did a fuel check and Fritz determined I wouldn't make it with 28k in range. So, he says, "okay you drive my car in the lead, I sit in passenger seat, yea." In my head, it was ohhh $H!!!!T! But the words that came out were "OKAY!" I just wanted to drive the Speed Yellow F80 tbh!

Well, nothing could have been more humbling. All those great lines and entry and exit points you have behind the lead car...gone when you're running the show. I didn't know during the lap that Fritz left the mic on the whole time. Laura was back in another car giving pointers, but really just laughing at me the whole time.

We start the lap and Fritz tells me to watch the mirrors so he can give instructions...he also doesn't do any of the laps with the air on, so I am sweating bullets and burning up!

Some of Fritz's memorable gems...entering the Fox Hole...Fritz says, "Where are you going?" I reply, "This is not the line?" Fritz says, "NO, THIS IS NOT THE LINE." Later he says, where have you been the last few days! But the best was heading out of Lauda and into Bergwerk when he turns to be and says, "well, are you going to brake?" He finishes..."Well, now we measure your lap with a calendar, yea?"

In all reality it was still around 9 minutes and I made it through okay, but it was totally humbling and eye-opening. I have mad respect for this place and the instructors after that. Still got my certs!

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Pictures and more to come shortly...stay tuned.

Last edited by Fugly M3; 11-10-2018 at 10:21 PM..
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      08-03-2018, 02:55 PM   #8
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Videos!

Now that we've sad goodbye to the Ring for another year, it's time to enjoy the videos. I got three two-lap go-rounds on my iPhone, the second of which below has an 8:31 BTG time for the second lap...and also the almost-moment moments mentioned above! Still waiting on the8:27 BTG video and the video from behind as I drove the lead car. Those will be real treats!






Last edited by Fugly M3; 08-03-2018 at 04:14 PM..
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      08-15-2018, 07:00 AM   #9
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BMW M Expert Training Nordschleife 2018

Quote:
Originally Posted by E46M54325Ci View Post
Day 4 brings another mind-clearing morning run...we need to be on our game today...it's hot, clear and dry!

This time it's a Grigio Telesto M4C...and our leader, Fritz, is driving an individual Speed Yellow (Porsche Color) F80!
You can see your group in this vid. And a picture of the interior with speed yellow colored trim in the instructor car.

Attached Images
 

Last edited by kami3...; 05-12-2020 at 11:30 PM..
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      08-15-2018, 08:40 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kami3... View Post
You can see your group in this vid. And picture of the interior with speed yellow colored trim in the instructor car.

Haha! you guys were moving! That was definitely us...or half of us on day 2. The speed yellow car is pure
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      08-23-2018, 04:00 PM   #11
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Onboard vid could be downloaded at the BMW Driving Experience customer portal site.

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      08-23-2018, 05:59 PM   #12
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Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
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      09-17-2018, 11:12 PM   #13
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Finally got my last two videos!

The best lap...8:27 ish BTG...it was quick...142 at the Schweudenkreuze (Swedish Cross)! This is such an incredible experience and I feel so fortunate to be able to have done it.



And another lap at 8:39



More pics to sort through and post soon!

Last edited by Fugly M3; 09-17-2018 at 11:47 PM..
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      09-22-2018, 10:23 PM   #14
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Hi Res Shots

Hi Res Shots from BMW pro photographer below

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