BMW Ultimate Driving Event

[CAVU]

Originally Posted by Overpar56

So how does one find out local events and get an invite? I did a quick search and not much popped up. I'm sure they do major cities like NYC/NJ, Chicago and LA but us poor folks in the eastern half of the Midwest (AKA Outer Mongolia) don't get them?

I think the absence of BMW NA support at the Cincinnati Auto Expo might be a good indication that our local market doesn't rank high on their list of marketing priorities.

Originally Posted by Overpar56

Mid Ohio is about 3 hrs from me. I thought about joining BMW CCA. Mid Ohio is a pretty good track. I've been on the spectator side a lot of times doing photography but don't know it from the drivers side. But I rather beat up a BMW vehicle than mine.

+1 on that!!! I am considering singing up for the BMW CCA event at Mid Ohio in August, but when I add up my likely expenses related to attending, I'm nearly at $3K. We can sign up for the BMW CCA 2-day M school in Spartanburg for the same money... and not beat up our cars!

[Overpar56]

Rick,

Doing the MidOhio event would be one way for me to lose the run flats quicker.

[JimD]

The performance center had manuals when they had the 1Ms. I wanted to sign up for another M school partially to get to drive a 1M but didn't find the time (and money). I got several hot laps from the instructors and they were fun. The instructor who drove it wanted to beat the time of the instructor in the M3. He did but the difference was slight.

I searched all over SC wanting to drive a BMW manual before ordering mine. I found a 3 series coupe with a manual and drove it. One in a state isn't much.

[IEDEI]

i will be at the NJ one tomorrow at 2pm!

am ready to give those 2ers HELL. if they let me..lol

[IEDEI]

which one of you is this? here at the event right now? deep sea blue 135is. reminds me of my old car

[FactorX81]

I went Friday and had a good time. Those 228s had a lot of pep I was impressed.

[Worra]

Originally Posted by AGAV13

No I specifically asked and they said they never bring manuals to these events. They are too worried about the transmissions and for insurance purposes.

That's terrible, yet unsurprising news. I'm heading up to Alameda in a few hours to AutoX a 2-series at the 1:30 session.

Anyone else done the SF stop for this event yet?

[Worra]

Definitely had a good time. The 228i definitely has a bit of go to it once it's moving (which takes a while). The steering was the biggest issue for me, without any road feel, its really hard to judge when your tires are starting to lose grip (especially in an unfamiliar car). That said, I still had a blast, and I got to sit in the i8 :O

Did any of you get a little youtube video of one of your laps? They did a little marketing thingydoo where they mix your footage into a video and email it to you.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by Worra

Definitely had a good time. The 228i definitely has a bit of go to it once it's moving (which takes a while). The steering was the biggest issue for me, without any road feel, its really hard to judge when your tires are starting to lose grip (especially in an unfamiliar car). That said, I still had a blast, and I got to sit in the i8 :O

Did any of you get a little youtube video of one of your laps? They did a little marketing thingydoo where they mix your footage into a video and email it to you.

I came in 1st place in my group. Hated the 228....steered like an elephant. I did have a lot of fun anyways....the i8 is crazy right? lol. I did NOT get any video!!! very cool. so where's your video man?

[gregthegr8]

I didn't get a video, but got a picture at the end of my lap, though it was more like halfway through it. The steering sucked and had very little feel.

[Worra]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

I came in 1st place in my group. Hated the 228....steered like an elephant. I did have a lot of fun anyways....the i8 is crazy right? lol. I did NOT get any video!!! very cool. so where's your video man?

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by Worra

lol nice. I think you broke that woman's neck in the backseat!

[Worra]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

lol nice. I think you broke that woman's neck in the backseat!

I think that must have been the chicane

[Diver]

Originally Posted by Qunadry

Has anyone been to one of these events where a manual transmission car was part of the fleet? I have never seen a manual transmission in my dealers inventory. All of my cars had to be factory ordered to get a manual, as well as not having navigation, comfort access, heated steering wheel, etc.

Demand for MT cars is very low with less than 10% being sold that way. Around here dealer inventory usually did not include nav or the heated steering wheel, but most cars had the $650 BMW assist which has lost most of its value in this smart phone enabled world. BMW assist was the only thing that I would have deleted if I had ordered my car instead of buying from dealer inventory. It did not have comfort access either.

[Qunadry]

Originally Posted by Diver

Demand for MT cars is very low with less than 10% being sold that way. Around here dealer inventory usually did not include nav or the heated steering wheel, but most cars had the $650 BMW assist which has lost most of its value in this smart phone enabled world. BMW assist was the only thing that I would have deleted if I had ordered my car instead of buying from dealer inventory. It did not have comfort access either.

Just a matter of time before we program the car to our destination and then settle back and watch a video or text. What is scary is that some people drive like that is the case now.

[patricksr]

I went to the SF event yesterday (the 19th). The 228 was a blast, though slower than my 135, I liked that the acceleration was more linear with very little noticeable turbo lag. Finished 2nd in my group in the AX event.