HDPE?

[Bimmer-Bob]

My BMWCCA chapter is having an upcoming HDPE and I was considering doing it. It would be my first, so I had a few questions.

The registration gives info about helmet requirements, but doesn't mention anything about rental cost - should I assume drivers must provide their own?

Are novices given a pretty good amount of instruction? What can I expect as a newbie?

Finally, is there an appreciable inherent risk of damage to my car? This is my daily driver, and I'm not at the point in my life where I can really afford costly repairs that likely won't be covered by insurance.

Oh, and if anyone here is from the Tejas Chapter and is going to the event at Harris Hill Road, that's what I'm talking about.

Thanks!

[Focusedintntions]

Generally drivers to provide their own helmet, however, being your first time and not sure you'll like it, I'd recommend maybe posting on the cca forums to borrow one if you can. As a novice you'll receive a ton of instruction, and in all honesty, your first/day time you'll be almost over whelmed by all information you're going to have to process. Its fantastic! Expect to start off slower and work your way up with speed as the instructor gains familiarity with how well you control the car. How fast you progress will purely depend on your skill and how well you respond to his instructions.

As far as possibly wrecking your DD, not going to lie, there is always a chance. However, if you don't do anything stupid and take heed to what you instructor says, you'll be fine. Instructors practice a safety first mentality and will keep you within your limits.

Bottom line, do it, listen to your instructor, remember you're learning and don't go out all mario andretti like. You won't regret that you did, it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on

[TX78666]

I'm sure it varies, but the two organizations I have done it with have helmets available.

There is a risk of damage to the vehicle, but in the novice groups, the risk (IMO) is minimal. Also, my insurance covers it. You should check yours.

My wife and I are hooked. We just did another this past weekend (videos in another thread), and we have registered for three more. We'll probably do one every couple of months.

Definitely check out Drivers Edge. They are extremely professional, very safety minded, and they run events in College Station, Houston, and just south of the DFW area.

[TX78666]

Got any details on the Harris Hill event? We'd probably go, but I don't know anything about the event. I've driven there a couple of times.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Thanks for the replies so far, guys. I'm thinking I'm going to go ahead and do this - I've always been meaning to and this one just sort of snuck up on me, but the cost seems reasonable enough and it's only an hour away, so I can't really think of a reason not to do it.

Anyway, here's more specific info about the event. For some reason I can't hyperlink directly to the page, but look for the "Events" tab and then you'll see the HDPE. Then just click "Details." http://www.tejaschapter.org/tejas.html

[TX78666]

Hmmm. $205 isn't too bad. I'll have to see if we can get in, and whether my wife and I each need BMWCCA memberships.

[TX78666]

We're about to get memberships at Harris Hill.

[Bimmer-Bob]

^ That's a bit more pricey than $205.

Seriously, though, if you live in the area and want to track (a lot), it's sort of a no-brainer if you can swing it.

[TX78666]

I live 5 minutes from the track. A Drivers Edge event is $300 for each of us, so $600, plus $300 for a hotel, plus $100 for gas to get there and back. It doesn't take too many of those, to equal a track membership.

Plus, there is the appeal of hitting the track for 30 minutes after work.

[TX78666]

It's not the best track around, though.

[RoundelM3]

I'll be at the event, but not participating other than as a helper with the event activities. It's not wheel-to-wheel racing, but you are out on the track with other cars. As with any other driving event, there's always the possiblity of damage to your car - whether from collision or debris, etc. Last year's event went very well with no mishaps. You'll enjoy it for sure!

[TX78666]

In.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by TX78666

In.

Same here. See you guys at the track!

[TX78666]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

Same here. See you guys at the track!

Forgot all about this thread. Did you make it out? We saw quite a few 1-ers out there today. Had a great time.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by TX78666

Forgot all about this thread.

Me too!

Did you make it out? We saw quite a few 1-ers out there today. Had a great time.

Yeah, I did make it out. Red 128i, ran in the novice group. How about you? Must have been at least Novice+, because I think mine was the only 1er in Novice.

Anyway, I had a great time. Learned a ton. My instructor was pretty phenomenal. He had me progressing pretty quick. On the last run, I lapped the entire field, including a 335i and an E46 Dinan M3. Sweet! As you know, the track is pretty tight, so not a ton of opportunity for the faster cars to muscle their way around on sheer horsepower alone.

I'm sorry I didn't go around and introduce myself to the other 1er guys - I guess I was pretty wrapped up in my own thing.

By the way, did you see the trio of 1M's parked on grid? A VO, AW, and JB - I think they were all instructor cars, maybe? Would've made a neat pic, oh well.

Speaking of pics, I saw some guys shooting the run groups. Did you here anything about if they were gonna post anywhere? I'm thinking some will definitely show up in the chapter newsletter, but I don't wanna wait that long!

Take care.

[TX78666]

I was Novice+. My wife too. She was in a 4 door e46. Her instructor wants her to move to intermediate. She's ridiculously fast, and very consistent.

I had an M5 pass me, then after I chased it for a couple of laps, it finally spun in front of me, right after the dam turn (with the water). It was far enough past the water, that I don't think that was what caused the spin. Either way, that counts as a pass, :-)

We got some great instruction before our last session, including a trick for Santa Rita (turn 4, at the top of the hill, after the longest straight). Instead of staying to the left of the straight, come across, on a VERY gradual diagonal, so that you are on the right side when you reach the corner. Brake in a straight line, up into, and slightly past the corner, then snap the car around, for the tighter part of the turn. It was amazing how many people I caught there,

I figured the 128 would do well at the track. Check out thedriversedge.net, for a great organization, that has two day events about once a month. Glad you had a good time. These cars are a blast at the track.

[TX78666]

I did see the 1Ms. Very nice. My wife and I were actually drawn to the old M6 that was for sale. That's onoe of our favorite designs.

I haven't heard where they might post the pics. I'll be watching for them, though.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Yeah, that old M6 was sweet. I was hoping to see it out on the track, but no such luck. I think the owner just had it out there to show it off, as it's for sale. I want to say it was owned by Lee, the guy who owns Black Forest Motorwerks in Austin, but I'm not sure.

Santa Rita was a bitch. From the very beginning, my instructor was showing me the line as a very late apex, staying to the left until deep into the turn. I think I pulled it off correctly a couple of times, and definitely dogged a few cars ahead of me that were approaching it differently, but it was a tough turn nonetheless. I'd say more often than not I came in too fast, but my suspension and tires (Bilstein PSS9's and Michelin PSS's) along with generous throttle input, got me around okay.

If anything, my biggest weakness today was overcooking turns and relying on throttle steer to get me through. It worked, but I think I was scrubbing too much time off just trying to power through rather than approaching things with a bit more finesse. My instructor kept telling me I was trying to autocross it too much, lol. Although in general, he seemed to think that my (admittedly limited, as I kept trying to remind him) autocross experience was an advantage.

I had a Mini spin out right in front of me in the dam turn. It was a little scary, as I was in the middle of the turn and didn't want to lift off the throttle too much, but I managed to avoid catastrophe. Other than that hiccup, I'd say he was one of the better drivers in my run group, too.

[TX78666]

Had to edit my post. Typo re: Santa Rita.

My instructor had me stay left, then come across just as I approached the corner, straighten out across the beginning of the corner, brake, then just stay glued to the right. I actually went off into the wildflowers once, because I didn't brake enough. The line from the classrom was much easier to nail.

My biggest problem was carrying too much speed into turn 7.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by TX78666

My biggest problem was carrying too much speed into turn 7.

Yeah, me too. Turn 6 was basically a full throttle turn, so it was easy to come into turn 7 too quickly. Although the exit was pretty generous - on my best runs I took advantage of the whole track, not so much every time, though.

Eventually I learned to haul ass through the inside of turn 9, even though it was bumpy, I think it got me around much quicker and set me up nicely for turn 10, which I basically just drifted through - kind of scary, but it was pretty wide thanks to the pit entrance.