this is one of the coolest schools the tarheel chapter BMW CCA does each year. the reason is that we get to use the grand east course. it is 4.2 miles it's pretty much the North and South course together without that pesky long back straight were all the high horsepower cars blow past us. you do have to be a member of the tarheel chapter of the BMW club. not sure how much that is a year, i'm a member of two chapters and i think that's 50 total.

the school is 290.00 for the full two days of driving. here's the info on the site.

http://www.tarheelbmwcca.org/springschool2006.htm

p.s. if you don't get your application postmarked on the first available day you will not get into this school. this is a great chapter and we just hosted octoberfest and lots of people want to do VIR again.

good luck, i'll be there.

warning, this is adictive and you will spend every penny you have doing it again and again.

 

See you there

 

are you driving or instructing?

 

Instructing.

 

So, how much does the reqired tech inspection usually run?

 

Dunno. I've always gotten mine done on the buddy deal. However, I have heard that some dealers will waive the cost. Maybe we could parlay our M2C2 membership with one of the local dealers.

 

if your a member of the BMW CCA or a member of M2C2 (i'm a member of both) Touring car right by charlotte will do it free.

there is a list of free places in the back of the the local chapter magazine called footnotes. i've also had an inspection done at korman autowerks in winston. depending on where you are in moorsville it might be closer.

at the dealership they charge between 100 and 150. touring car does a VERY detailed inspection and they know what to look for. they do mine 5 or 6 times a year. sorry, but it is on the far opposite side of charlotte from you. just off of 485 though.

that's also where i put my big brake kit, my exhaust system, springs ect..... i.e they've worked on MINIs.

 

It is definitely a ways away since I am actually in Morrisville, not Mooresville.

Morrisville is near Raleigh. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...60&btnG=Search

 

opps, my bad. i used to work in morrisville too. shame on me.

check with T-Hoff inc. there is one in ral. and one in durham.

 

Hey, no problem. People do it all teh time.

SO, how is tire wear at VIR. I am just about down to the wear indicators on my Pirelli run flats after 20k miles so I will be buying new tires soon. I hear that it is not a good idea to use new tires on a track.Would I be asking to burn a set out if I got tires in the next week or so and put only a couple thousand miles on them before hte event?

Should I try to buy another set just to use on the track (which will greatly increase my costs, it is a stretch convincing the wife as it is) Or can I keep the Pirellis and then use them for the track if they are very close to the indicators (possibly even a spot or 2 are pretty much there)?

 

here is the site link:

http://www.tarheelbmwcca.org/CAR%20PREPARATION.doc

it says you must have 1/16th of an inch to pas inspection.

i'd say go with the runflats if you can. they are loud and heavy but they'll be fine for your first couple schools. the only problem with full tread tires is that they will wear each tread block unevenly and it will take a few months of regular driving to get them all even and smoth again.

 

LeeL,

Without seeing your tires it's hard to say. The 1/16" rule bluesmini quoted is a good approach. If you can manage to wait until after the school to replace the tires, you should. The worn tires will preform better than new full tread depth tires, and the new tires will suffer the uneven, accelerated wear bluesmini mentioned. But to answer your question, it won't kill the new tires, because VIR is easy on tires.

 

OK, I was thinking of going ahead and getting the new tires, and then switch them back for the school.

Hey, I figure if I start with the run flats that do not have great grip it will be all teh better for learning, right?

 

Right Learning good techniques and skills is what it's all about. See you there.