an eclectic crew who wants to hit the track for the 1st time, how do we do it?

[ken_vs_ryu]

m coupe, x5, amg c36, amg c43, wrx, rx7, tt, a4, s4 owners are interested in doing a track day in the tri state area. we're all new to the track with 4 wheels. we'd like to keep it as low cost as possible.

how do we go about doing this?

[themadhatter]

I'm sure most places are closed for the winter. you have engrish town, Pocono Raceway etc.

you can always hit up a drivers school (your insurance should cover mishaps they happened). the bmw cca schedules these events on a regular basis.

I would try to run a few auto-x's before a full track event. It'll help you learn your car's limit at a lower and safer speed.

for what it's worth - keep that X5 off the track. that's like taking an Mcoupe on Safari.

I'd hate to see that thing roll....

[Stan Vaddi]

I believe Atco Raceway's 1/4 mile track is open all season, weather-permitting, and I think they occassionally run some Auto-X events there as well...

[Nike178]

Yes, u all should come down to Atco Raceway on Sunday the 12th. They were closed this past sunday but should be open the 12th. I'll be down there with my M3 but not racing it. My brother will be racing his Camaro though..

[SilverStreak]

Ooh, what time? 9am for the Test n Tune?

[Nike178]

I'm not sure what time. On Saturday, i am gonna give them a call to see if they are defenetly open for Sunday. Hopefully plans dont change. I should be down there though.

[Redfive]

Sportscar Drivers Association

I made friends with the owner of this driving school two years ago and attend one of his schools last year. The price is reasonable($150-200), they provide instructors, and you get lots of track time. Tracks include Lime Rock NHIS, and the Glen. I highly recommend it.
Most local BMW CCA chapters offer several driving schools a year, but often sell out very quickly.
BTW, no driving schools allow X5s on the track.

[topazbimma]

anybody in western New York..... chautauqua county??? And been to the New Lake Erie Raceway?????

My lake house is on lake chautauqua...and i drive past it every weekend on rt 86 (old 17)

[themadhatter]

Originally posted by Redfive
Sportscar Drivers Association

I made friends with the owner of this driving school two years ago and attend one of his schools last year. The price is reasonable($150-200), they provide instructors, and you get lots of track time. Tracks include Lime Rock NHIS, and the Glen. I highly recommend it.
Most local BMW CCA chapters offer several driving schools a year, but often sell out very quickly.
BTW, no driving schools allow X5s on the track.

I know where I'm going this summer! :

[M3RACER]

If anyone is intrested in actually using there steering wheel this sunday (Jan 12) there will be an auto-x at Meadow lands. For more info http://www.themclub.net/ . I doubt they will let the X5 in though.

[themadhatter]

in the middle of the winter? didn't it just snow?

[M3RACER]

Damn right. Since when is a little snow an inconvenience for a cone junky? I'm going thruogh withdrawal so bad I even bring a shovel and salt if needed! The snow really didn't stick, atlleast in the metro areas.

[B.Watts]

Originally posted by Redfive
BTW, no driving schools allow X5s on the track.

Who says? I've seen them on track on more than one occasion. They do just fine. There's no reason you shouldn't be allowed to take most any car to a HPDE. They are all about learning to drive what you have to its limit, be it a pickup or a McLaren F1.

Last DE I instructed at Road Atlanta, one of the instructors (who also club races) had his X5 on the track in instructor and A-group run sessions. He was faster than quite a few of the cars out there.

[Redfive]

It might be different at RA considering its only a hour drive to Spartansburg. And it was an instructor.
THe BMW CCA schools I've attended and some of the other track organizations I dealt with explictly state no X5s. It really depends on their insurance.

[B.Watts]

I'm not quite sure what being near Spartanburg would have to do with it?

And I know that all of the chapters around here are pretty strick about not letting instructors do anything that students can't do, so it wasn't an instructor thing.

It also can't be an insurance thing if you are referring to a BMW CCA school, as all the chapters run under the same insurance if I understand it correctly.

In the end, it's probably a decision for each chapter, but they are certainly not banned from every track or every organization's track days.

Heck, you've run the OLOA, so you know what kind of pace some of those guys can run an SUV around the track at.

BTW: Way to represent BMW with a unique and cool entry in the OLOA! I've followed it the last few years since Brian Smith is a friend.

[themadhatter]

bryan, what's the oloa?

[ken_vs_ryu]

atco is a drag racing track?

thanks for all the input.

i'd specially wanna see dave's sc'd z3 on the track! when, where?

[B.Watts]

Originally posted by themadhatter
bryan, what's the oloa?

One Lap of America.

www.onelapofamerica.com

[themadhatter]

gotcha, thanks.

I've always refered to it as "the one lap".

Bimmerhead has already registered again too. :

[Redfive]

Originally posted by BMWRacerITS
I'm not quite sure what being near Spartanburg would have to do with it?

And I know that all of the chapters around here are pretty strick about not letting instructors do anything that students can't do, so it wasn't an instructor thing.

Heck, you've run the OLOA, so you know what kind of pace some of those guys can run an SUV around the track at.

BTW: Way to represent BMW with a unique and cool entry in the OLOA! I've followed it the last few years since Brian Smith is a friend.

Thanks, since you're a racer, you should try the OLOA at some point. You get access to some tracks not normally open to the public. Plus when you combine driving skill with a decent car, you'll be surpirsed how many large HP cars you can beat.
I was thinking that since the plant in S.C. builds the X5, and the clubs probably pull from the BMW driving school's talent, maybe the club was more lenant. My Chapter says outright, no X5s.
I've seen an instructor run a classic Allard roadster with no roll-cage, take laps on the track.