Fourth BMW driving school impressions

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I admit, I am a driving school addict. This weekend was the clincher. (I just returned from a driving school at Gingerman in Michigan). I am totally addicted to the feeling I get when I nail a few turns in a row and I know that I had the right line. Our classroom instructor this weekend said it perfectly, "It is like slow dancing with someone". I get such a rush when I get the car to "dance" on the track.

This weekend was my fourth driving school, so I am far from an expert but here is what I have experienced:

Each school I get better. The percentage of the turns where I am driving the line improves. I learn to brake better. My ability to recover from mistakes improves. My ability to recognize my mistakes improves. I know my car's limits better. And I get that rush more often. As I have heard so often about improving driving skills: seat time, seat time, seat time.

My best investment in enjoying my car has been driving schools. The extra grip of my Hoosier R tires is fun but the $1,500 to $2,000 it cost for the rims and tires could get you maybe four driving schools. I know the experience of my four schools has improved my enjoyment more than the tires did. The seat time and improvement in my driving skills is also something that I will carry with me to any car I have in the future. I may put shocks on the car at some point but right now the M Coupe is a much better car than I am driver.

The skills I learned at the schools helped save my butt. About a month ago I was on the highway and hit an area of severe rain. All of a sudden the car was hydroplaning and was about 20 degrees out of line with the motion of the car. (As I learned this weekend, technically a very severe slip angle :) ) Those rainy days at the driving schools paid off. I gently got the car back in line and slowed down. BTW, rainy days at driving schools really are great teachers of smoothness.

I've gotten a variety of instructors but for the most part they were good. My worst instructor was actually a professor of engineering at a good school. He had a driving style that was just not aggressive enough for me. He did teach me alot about smoothness though. My best instructor drove a Porsche 911 and had 20 years of experience at the track we were driving. He claims I was running within two seconds of his lap times in my last session. I know I improved greatly that weekend. After the first session I had been about ready to ask for a different instructor, but I talked to him before the second session and we got things sorted out and had a great time.

I love the turns. When I think back to driving schools I remember turns. For instance, when I think back to my driving school at Michigan International Speedway I think about the very odd sensation of driving through the 18 degree banking of the speedway's turns 3 and 4 and the amazing grip that was available. Or the dive down the banking just before the speedway's turn 1 onto the flat where the second half of the 140(?) degree turn is completed. I can't even tell you exactly what my top speed was on the front straight, it was around 130.

I have met some really great people at the driving schools. Every one is having fun so I guess we are seeing each other at our bests. I have learned alot from the people I have met. There is an amazing amount of automotive knowledge accumulated in the people at the schools. Any time I have had a question or have needed to borrow something I haven't had problems finding someone to help. And I have been given some great advice that I didn't know I should have been asking for.

I have met more coupe owners at driving schools than I have seen coupes on the road. These cars seem to congregate at race tracks :)

For anyone who is contemplating going to a driving school for the first time: Just do it. I am so glad that I did. Every time I see one of the two guys who first told me about driving schools I thank them. I have had so much fun at the four schools I have attended.

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