[Enkur]

I am waiting for the COTA sign up to open. My boss was there last year and said it was a blast.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Enkur

I am waiting for the COTA sign up to open. My boss was there last year and said it was a blast.

You can sign up for open track days at COTA with several organizations. Here's one:

https://shop.edgeaddicts.com/COTA-Ma...OTA-May-14.htm

[MHOW996]

Going here next Wednesday:

https://bmwperformancecenter.com/mschool/m4gt4/

Used my $999 owners return credit toward payment for it.

[BMWRacer523]

Originally Posted by vj123

Are you sure that it was a M5cs and not a M5c?

You're right. M5 Comp.

[calbears]

Originally Posted by MHOW996

Going here next Wednesday:

https://bmwperformancecenter.com/mschool/m4gt4/

Used my $999 owners return credit toward payment for it.

You'll have a good time. Did this at Indy last summer

[BMWRacer523]

Originally Posted by Enkur

I am waiting for the COTA sign up to open. My boss was there last year and said it was a blast.

Been at COTA for a private event with M Performance School and was a hoot. Also raced it in an e36 but wasn't as fun. That track needs serious horsepower!

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by jmg

I've attended one of these. If you've never tracked before, this is an excellent way to dip your toe in high performance driving and get a small taste of the M School they offer at the BMW Performance Centers.

The autocross is fun and the lead follow will get your adrenaline pumping if you explore the limits and the instructor feels you are progressing. They will go as fast as they feel you are capable of.

The drag race, however, is largely a waste of time from a learning perspective unless you count the box at then end where you have to stop the car within the box for your time to count.

For the price it isn't bad since you aren't buying your own tires and you are getting decent instruction. I'd call this an intro to a beginner's course. For anyone who really wants to develop as a driver, though, the M School is the way to go. You will leave M School at about an intermediate level depending on how much you are willing to soak up and respond to the course.

For anyone who already has some track days under their belt, $500 for a half day is a bit steep since you can get a full day racing your own car at a world class track like Laguna Seca for around that price, albeit without instruction, but with much more seat time.

Any reason to do the 2 day M school versus 1 day for someone like me who's only done like 2 autox events (not in BMWs)?

[calbears]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

Any reason to do the 2 day M school versus 1 day for someone like me who's only done like 2 autox events (not in BMWs)?

Do the 2 day if you can. You get much more track time (1 more day!). 2nd day is mostly spent on the track with a skid pad session and autocross timed event.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by calbears

Do the 2 day if you can. You get much more track time (1 more day!). 2nd day is mostly spent on the track with a skid pad session and autocross timed event.

That's what I was thinking. 1 day seems too short to cram all that in, and get seat time. Thanks!

[Niko ZV]

Thank you.

[derbo]

Typically they open up a month in a half in advanced. The first day (Tuesday) usually is the full day and fills up the fastest. I'm signed up for Sonoma next month just for the hell of it!

I've done the 2-day M school at Thermal in 2020 and Laguna Seca Full M track day last year. I've been doing HPDEs since 2012 and still enjoyed the days for a few reasons.

1. limited instruction, but track time in not your car! The instructors will pick up the pace if they see you have experience on the track. At Laguna Seca, there was two student cars per instructor car doing lead follows. I would say the pace of the instructor was in the 1:50 range. Not overly fast, but not terribly slow either. YMMV on this one. During the M School event, I ended up having an M4 CEL and the cluster lit like a christmas tree. I pitted and the tech gave me a new M4 to go on my way. That's just awesome haha.

2. Good way to test out a new track you never been to before. I would like to try COTA one day and this sounds like a cool way to do it. Fly to Austin, try this out, and enjoy Austin for the week/weekend.

3. Good way to test out the new BMW M cars if you never driven them. I never driven G80s prior to Laguna and it was cool to see it on my home turf. F90 was a hoot too.

4. If you are comparing the price to a regular HPDE, you need to factor in track insurance (if you buy that), gas, brakes, tires costs (even if it is fractions of total cost) and it could come out very close. It's nice to do an arrive and drive.

I enjoy these as a way to see local tracks with the newest M models.

The 2-day M school is fun and I look forward to signing up for the Advanced M school 2day in the future and probably the GT4 one too.

[DaiLyCS]

Just signed up half day for my wife and I and hopefully she will like it, so we can do more track day and she can actually drive it too

[KHATTI]

Wait so no COTA?

[jmg]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

Any reason to do the 2 day M school versus 1 day for someone like me who's only done like 2 autox events (not in BMWs)?

If you ever want to do the 2 Day, just skip the 1 Day. The first day of the 2 Day is identical to the 1 Day.

[derbo]

Originally Posted by KHATTI

Wait so no COTA?

It's not open yet.

COTA is July 7th-11th.

I would start checking last week of May when they open up if not earlier. My guess is probably 5/27, 5/30 (memorial day tho) or 5/31. The email blast they send usually is later than when it opens and the full day is full by the time you get that email.

[vipergt831]

Thanks for posting this! Signed up for the NY reminder.

[Limegrntaln]

I wanna sign up for the May 10-15th at Sonoma. I'm having a little outpatient surgery on the 9th and not sure I'll feel up to it.

I still haven't heard anything about my M Drivers Package track day. Not sure what I need from the dealer. Can I use this day, in lieu of paying?

I don't mind paying, and I'd much rather use their cars and their tires.

[jyjttom]

I'm signed up. Can't wait

[FreudeamFahren18]

Originally Posted by snareman

Bummer. That's where I fell in love with the M8

Crazy i took similar picture at the same event

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

I wanna sign up for the May 10-15th at Sonoma. I'm having a little outpatient surgery on the 9th and not sure I'll feel up to it.

I still haven't heard anything about my M Drivers Package track day. Not sure what I need from the dealer. Can I use this day, in lieu of paying?

I don't mind paying, and I'd much rather use their cars and their tires.

Just call 1-888-345-4269 and give them your VIN and they will look it up and give you your options. I HIGHLY recommend transferring your credits to the 1 Day M School. It's the same price so you don't pay out of pocket but it's the much more high performance driving experience. I've done the same but upgraded to the 2 Day M School.

[Limegrntaln]

Originally Posted by jmg

Just call 1-888-345-4269 and give them your VIN and they will look it up and give you your options. I HIGHLY recommend transferring your credits to the 1 Day M School. It's the same price so you don't pay out of pocket but it's the much more high performance driving experience. I've done the same but upgraded to the 2 Day M School.

It looks like all that's coming to my area are half days. Unless I'm missing something. I'll call them and find out. Thanks for the number.

[couchflyer]

I'm going to Indy event in August. Really looking forward to it.