Hi All,

I will never drive at a track but am interested in learning strong driving skills for street/highway. Any recommendations for schools/classes is very welcome.

Thanks,
TerryNYC

 

I suggest joining the BMWCCA and taking a Car Control Clinic. Its not a class for street driving skills per se, but it will teach you the limitations of the car and its handling dynamics.

You can find your local chapter and check with them on any planned classes or other recommendations:

http://www.bmwcca.org

Have fun! :smile:

 

Looks like there is a membership drive going on:

http://www.bmwcca.org/members/AM/Tem...rshipDrive.cfm

If you decide to join I'd appreciate it if you could refer to my member number 183531, thanks! Valerie

 

..a little soon for me since I don't own a car yet, but now I know something more to do when I purcahse. Thank you. Terry

 

I've thought about this before, but never looked into it. I just took a quick look at the pages in the links above, and din't see anything mentioning MINIs. Does BMWCCA offer any MINI-specific benefits? Are MINIs not considered to be part of the BMW Marque by BMWCCA members?


_Dave_

 

I've heard mixed results on how MINIs are received at BMW CCA Driver's Ed events. Here in the Carolinas and Georgia, MINIs are certainly welcome at our events. In fact there are a growing number of MINIs as people catch on to how much fun they are.


As for MINI-only events, you might do a serch on Phil Wicks Driving Academy. I'm not sure whether they're doing anything on the west coast, but they are doing events here with sponsorship from local MINI dealers.

 

There may not be any purchase discounts, but from everything I've seen and heard Minis are completely welcome and included. Since each chapter is a little different it couldn't hurt to communicate with them about it and their upcoming schedule.

FYI, for an example, here is an excerpt from the Golden Gate Chapter's email on the upcoming events (you can see the description of the Car Control Clinic):

Driving Events

September 24 - Autocross. Come join your fellow BMW enthusiasts and GGC club members at this low- to medium-speed racing event, at Marina Airport. It's safe, inexpensive, and helps you discover your car's capabilities and limitations making you a safer driver on the road. Event cost is $50 online (lunch provided only with online registration). Register now. http://www.ggcbmwcca.org

October 15 - Palo Alto Back Roads Driving Tour. Come join us on a driving tour of the Mid-Peninsula and South Bay roads less traveled, from Palo Alto to the Pacific Ocean. http://www.ggcbmwcca.org

October 22 - Car Control Clinic. The Car Control Clinic is a day-long event that consists of three low-speed exercises - a skid pad, a slalom course, and a braking and accident avoidance simulation - that teach you the proper use of the steering wheel, brakes, and throttle as elements of car control. These exercises are intended to better prepare you for situations that may be encountered on the track, as well as everyday driving. Car Control Clinic fee is $80. Online registration is now open. http://www.ggcbmwcca.org

October 23 - Autocross Top Driver Shootout. This is the last autocross event of the '05 season, and it closes with our annual Top Driver Shootout. Participants are eligible to compete if they have attended a minimum of two autocrosses this year. Winner will receive a set of Hankook race tires. Event cost is $50 online / $55 onsite. http://www.ggcbmwcca.org

November 5-6 - Infineon Driving School. Come learn the art of high-performance driving at our Fall driving school being held at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. Infineon Raceway is a world-famous and challenging race track, making it a great place to learn the art of high-performance driving from the dedicated team of experienced GGC instructors. Cost is $499 for GGC members, $539 for non-members (includes a 1-year club membership). Optional $40 dinner tickets for Saturday night are available, as well as optional $17 boxed lunches for Saturday and Sunday. Applications and payment due by October 31. Online registration is now open. http://www.ggcbmwcca.org

 

Thanks guys, I'll look into the LA chapter.

I'm already signed up for the Phil Wicks Golden Jubilee Driving school event at Laguna Seca in December - can't wait!

_Dave_

 

Some BMWCCA chapters call the Car Control Clinic and Advanced Driving Skills School (ADSS) - but it's the same thing more or less. Skidpad, braking, emergency lane changes. It's a great event.

I've had no problems taking my MINI to BMW club events. But then, there are usually at least 6 MINIs out there and we tend to band together. But I've only gotten positive feedback from everyone at BMW club events (barring a few comments about how someone would "never drive a front wheel drive car").

Once people see MINIs on the track, they respect them.

 

Many thanks to all for taking the time to contribute so much in answering my question. Happy motoring to all.

Terry

 

Generally for any driver with a new car, or for those that don't have performance driving experience, a car control clinic is a great place to start.

You definitely will use the skills learned in a car control clinic. It's all basic but done under supervision in a safe environment.

And those same skills come in handy for performance driving whether on the track or at autocross. You need to be more skilled about how you drive whenever speed is increased, you have less time to react and you need to look far ahead to avoid trouble.

On the street, you'll also benefit from driving defensively. On the track the other drivers are usually more proficient and skilled but speeds can be high. On the street you can't predict what some drivers will do, you can't assume that they even can see you. Avoiding a mishap is worth the effort.

Phil Wicks driving schools offer various types of classes depending on your interest.

Some BMW CCA driving schools are geared for the young driver and they will slick down a surface to allow the driver to appreciate how little traction you can have under those conditions.:impatient

 

Thank you for the recommendations. I shall look at both and likely find courses (intentional pun) to take at both. Progress reports as there is some ;-)

 

Nice. Do you guys know of anything closer to NYC?...Rochester is kind of far from here...if you drive an aditional 2 hours you can visit Toronto!

 

i think it was automotive week or a sister publication (crain's is the publisher i believe) and a multi-page listing came up. I believe skip barber has a school in CT that was driving distance from NYC