[blanquito]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Hi everyone,

I finished my day at BMW M track days down at Homestead-Miami speedway. Story short, it was amazing!! Tons of seat time between the three events.

Here is my run down of the day:

Everything starts with a quick safety and driving brief. Instructor was funny but nothing really new here. Quick talk of cornering, braking, and picking a racing line. Then off to the events. (Coffee and light food options were also available)

Event one: drag racing
"Pinks style" drag race with a stop box at the end. Everyone gets one race per car. Cars to drive were X6M, M5, M6 convertible (top down!). The M5 and M6 both had ceramic brakes. It was interesting to see stopping distances decrease as they came up to temperature. Wow these cars have short braking distances! The X6M is no slouch either. It held its own nicely.

Event two: lead/follow lapping
Put on some helmets and it's time for the part I was most excited about. They start us out in M2s (instructors were in M235is . They take us out on the track right away. By the second corner we were at speed. I didn't expect the pace to be so fast on the first lap!! That was cool. The course was a modified version of the road course at Homestead-Miami speedway. They added in the banked turns of 3 and 4 of the nascar oval. Those were more fun than expected. 18-20 degrees of banking feels wild. Drivers cycle and take turns as the car immediately following the instructor. Complete 4-5 laps and then swap with the passenger.

M235i in capable hands is quick! The instructors would end up with huge leads after the more technical turn sections.

Then they have us hop into an M3 or M4 and do the same drill. This time they have us set the car to M1 (preset with max throttle response and firmest suspension and such). My car had the M performance exhaust - very nice!

One person had an issue at this point and went off the track. Talking with the instructors later, they said the car had a "chassis stabilization" error while driving. When this happens the computer turns off DSC and other nanny features!! they ended up spinning into a wall! Damage seemed minor though.

I have seen this error pop up on threads before, didn't know how it would affect the car though.

Seat time in the M3/M4 was the same as in the M2. I was impressed. Way more laps than expected.

Event three: autocross!
Once again in the M4, this time car was set to MDM and required use of paddle shifters!! Love it.

The course was short and had a stop box finish. Penalties were in effect. We got three laps. Times for this were from the mid 15s to high 18s. I came in with a mid 16 - I was excited.

Now it's time for an instructor hot lap. We pile into an M3 and set off. This was humbling. I had personal confidence and felt I was "putting in work"... So much room to grow. These cars are phenomenal. First time hard braking nearly had my face into the dash. It's everything and more of those videos on YouTube. Our car started to shred a rear wheel. The driver was not phased one bit. When we get out, a chunk of tire about the size of my palm was gone and cords exposed. Wow.

Then it was off to lunch. BMW did not skimp. Steak sandwich or chicken and tons of other stuff in what has to be the coolest lunch box! Steak was perfect and thick. Very nice touch.

Sadly that was it. Not a bad way to spend the morning!!

(Typed from my cell phone. Sorry for the small grammar errors)


Photos:

Note the M4 GTS. So sexy

M2s with a M235i leader

Autocross at a distance

Autocross and an i8

Lunch

Thanks BMW, but do I really have to leave?!






















Some more photos by brrgofast and ric124:

[Cattivo]

I'll be there in 3 weeks can't wait

[Vitacura]

Sounds like a great time, sooo... where are the pics?

[tdott]

Nice!, I'm going on Thursday! Can't wait.

[blanquito]

.

[RedGT3]

Nice I'm going tomorrow.

[NOJODA]

Nice, I had fun too!

My event order was different but all in all amazing event!


I'd even pay to do it again! Definitely events like these is what bmw lifestyle is all about!

[Brandenmet]

A lot of fun , thankfully no rain when I went

[Bols]

Niiice!!

I've just done the same but at Spa-francorchamps with an M2, M3 standard and M3 competition package with M-perf Exhaust

All I can say is if you have the time and you can afford it, do one of the M Track Days IMMEDIATELY!!

As mentioned it's pretty important that you're not afraid of going fast!! (Instructors will guide you off the track if you go too slow, especially seeing we had other GT Sport traffic around us (911s, Ferraris,...)

We had 2 trains (4 drivers) one with an M4 convert (instructor) leading the M2 and an M4 standard. The other an F10 M5 leading the M3 and M3 ZCP!

3 sessions of 35 minutes in 3 cars of our choosing with a driver switch after about 15min. First session was dry, second was moist, third was full on rain!

The GTS was there as well damn the OLEDs look so nice! And the wheels are much nicer in person than in pics

Anyways the ZCP is so much more car (aggressive) than the OEM package it's insane!! Handling, response, and let's not forget the SOUND! No hate on that sound you just can't Got to drive it in the full on rain which was really engaging had the back slide a bit twice! Instructor saw it in his rearview mirror and showed me how to correct to the ideal (wet) line next lap!

Was also amazing how when it's dry the other guys try to blast past you no matter the manoeuvre they have to pull, but the second it started raining we were catching up with em all When the instructor says "okay let's pick up the pace, be sure to avoid understeer here or you're going right into the side of that Ferrari" you get your focus on lol

sooo yeah in short: DO IT! Not a lot of other car manufacturers allow you to have so much fun... we all know no electric car owners get these kind of privileges with their ride

[nathan.r007]

Is there anyway to register for a session this week? All of the sessions say they are full.

I've tried to call the number on the first page but it doesn't ring which is odd.

I LOVE when they Do these sessions and I've been dying to drive an M on the track down in Miami.

Anyone have any idea that would help I would GREATLY appreciate it. My girlfriend and I would love to try this.

[spuntyb]

Awesome! Can't wait to do one of these...

[H2887]

Nice post,i attended on day one,it was a blast,especially the run behind the instructor in the M2,i think i was doing at least 130mph on the bank turn

[trucheli]

Originally Posted by nathan.r007

Is there anyway to register for a session this week? All of the sessions say they are full.

I've tried to call the number on the first page but it doesn't ring which is odd.

I LOVE when they Do these sessions and I've been dying to drive an M on the track down in Miami.

Anyone have any idea that would help I would GREATLY appreciate it. My girlfriend and I would love to try this.

Just go there and tell them that you are not registered and would like to be put on standby. I am sure they will accommodate you.

I went with my wife as the only one registered and she was able to drive too.

[vexingv]

looks like an awesome time. it seems i missed this even when it was in my area (Northeast/Lime Rock). out of curiosity, when did registration open for this event? is it an annual event that occurs around this time of year (ie. summer)?

[iRyan_3]

Nice....I tried to sign up but they told me they're all booked up

[PawnStar]

Originally Posted by Cattivo

I'll be there in 3 weeks can't wait

At Homestead in 3 weeks? For what?

[E46M3forRay]

I signed up for the one in Thermal, CA in about a month. If this is the same event that I'm expecting of going, then I'm super stoked !!!

[MSCD]

Great photos. Congrats, sounds like a blast.

[AwesomeM3]

Looks like an awesome event! Too bad BMW couldn't arrange an M Track Day here in NJ at NJMP.

[ASAP]

I was there as well, an absolutely outstanding event... whats even more shocking is that it was free... big props to bmw... these events are great because you get to compare the cars and see which one truly suits you best. I learned absolutely everything I needed to learn about the entire lineup.

[KroLeXz]

I had a blast! I also got the fastest time for my group

You can hear my manly cheer at the end when I realize my 15.3 time was best time of the day.

[Don N.]

Looks like a good time!