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      04-19-2017, 04:01 PM   #45
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wingman335 View Post
Just signed up for the COTA track. Have done autocross once and never been on a track, so I figured I might spend the $250 bucks to get to drive on an international track with someone else's car!
As we advertise for our local chapter Experience events:
  • "Not your tires, not your brakes, not your gas, not your car!"
  • "The most fun you can have in someone else's car!"
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      04-19-2017, 04:17 PM   #46
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeroblade View Post
Saw the email for this and knowing how quickly they fill up I became flustered tried to register lol. After fighting with the site and my credit card protection fraud kicking in, finally got in for a Sat AM session at Monticello.

I did the free event at LimeRock last year too and loved it. I was sad to see it costs $250 but its still totally worth it. Considering a 2 Day M school costs $3k, 1 Day $1.5k, Car Control Clincs $750, $250 is freaking bargain. Yeah it sucks its not free but I guess they wanted to see if they'd make any money off it and hit gold.
$250 definitely only covers a fraction of the costs, it's expensive to run a track day like this and when it was free people would just sign up on a whim and then not show up. Charging ensures that spots won't go wasted and all of the serious enthusiasts that want to go won't miss out on empty spots
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      04-19-2017, 04:25 PM   #47
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TurboSid View Post
I went. Was worth it for free. Not worth it for 250.
+1.
I did it last year @LRP, and had fun.
The track time is way too limited (autoX and a (stupid) drag-race are mixed in) to justify the paying (roughly) the same price of a full-day BMW CCA DE.


Quote:
Originally Posted by rconn14 View Post
Do you have any threads/reviews/info on the M Experience events you did with CCA?

Anybody go to this last year?
Yes, here:
http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...php?p=20242656


Quote:
Originally Posted by aerostar View Post
Is it good for a beginner at the track?

I feel like I'm going to total the car during autox.
Frankly - no, it is not.
This is a 95% marketing/sales event, and 5% driver education.

The level of instruction is somewhere between rudimentary and non-existent. It's just an opportunity to thrash someone else's (BMW NA) cars on track, at an autoX course, and accelerating up/down a drag strip.

If you are in a market for an ///M car and want to side-by-side compare them on track at 6/10th driving, or just have fun in someone else's car, this will work out great.

If you actually want to learn how to drive cars on track, or how to autoX better, you will be sorely disappointed.
You will learn 10x for the same $$ at a BMW CCA HPDE!

a
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      04-19-2017, 05:15 PM   #48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aerostar View Post
Is it good for a beginner at the track?
Quote:
Originally Posted by afadeev View Post
Frankly - no, it is not.
This is a 95% marketing/sales event, and 5% driver education.

The level of instruction is somewhere between rudimentary and non-existent. It's just an opportunity to thrash someone else's (BMW NA) cars on track, at an autoX course, and accelerating up/down a drag strip.

If you are in a market for an ///M car and want to side-by-side compare them on track at 6/10th driving, or just have fun in someone else's car, this will work out great.

If you actually want to learn how to drive cars on track, or how to autoX better, you will be sorely disappointed.
You will learn 10x for the same $$ at a BMW CCA HPDE!
This is a significantly cheaper way to experience driving on a track for the first time than a BMW CCA HPDE. There's no way that you can find another way to drive an M3/M4 on a track for the first time at this price. And this isn't focused on instruction, which you can't possibly do in a half-day, it's about the initial experience.

One of the primary advantages is that it is not your car! Not your tires, not your gas, not your brakes!

A BMW CCA HPDE is usually two days, is much more expensive than $250 (my last weekend at Laguna Seca was $675, my last weekend at Buttonwillow was $425), requires a tech inspection that can cost up to $100, and will significantly wear your front tires and your brakes. For piece of mind, track insurance from Lockton for an M3/M4 for two days will cost upwards of $450. That's a big buy in if you don't even know if you're going to like it. This is dipping your toe in the water and maybe wading in compared to jumping in the deep end. I had a friend who was excited about his first track weekend, drove three of four sessions the first day then decided it wasn't for him, way above his comfort level. Hasn't been to the track since.

That is not to say that I'm against BMW CCA HPDEs, on the contrary, I've done many of them over the last seven years, but this is the next step, if you find that you really do enjoy driving on a track. And there's no cheaper way to experience this than the M Track Days. Previously, it was free, and that was absolutely a no-brainer, but you still can't drive on a track anywhere else for $250.

Our local BMW CCA chapter has done 4 of these (called "Experience" events) in the last 2.5 years (at a slightly lower cost), and have sold out 100 seats at every one of them with wait lists. Even the hard-core track junkies attend because it's a great bang for the buck.
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Last edited by SD ///M4; 04-19-2017 at 05:42 PM..
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      04-19-2017, 06:13 PM   #49
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Taking a friend down to Homestead on 6/12.
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      04-19-2017, 07:49 PM   #50
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If you want to take your car on a race track then it is a fun event. You may hit 100 mph and you get to do stuff in your car you may never do on roads. If you have been on track and your looking to improve you skills then HPDE will be more your speed.
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      04-19-2017, 08:31 PM   #51
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Just signed up for the Saturday morning session at Homestead.
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      04-19-2017, 08:54 PM   #52
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pheerix View Post
Thermal is gonna be hot AF in late Sept...
I thought about signing up since it's so close for me, but yeah.... $250 and it's gonna be 115 degrees..... no thanks
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      04-19-2017, 10:56 PM   #53
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gatorfast View Post
Just signed up for the Saturday morning session at Homestead.
Im in the saturday afternoon session, seems like a good deal at 250$
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      04-20-2017, 08:58 AM   #54
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrduder View Post
I thought about signing up since it's so close for me, but yeah.... $250 and it's gonna be 115 degrees..... no thanks
It shouldn't be that hot, most of the dates are early October, and the "tourist" season starts Oct 1 out there. Last year this ran in mid-September and it was in the 90's, ice cold water at every turn, air conditioned buildings, and all of the cars have brand new air conditioners in them
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      04-20-2017, 09:29 AM   #55
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SD ///M4 View Post
As we advertise for our local chapter Experience events:
  • "Not your tires, not your brakes, not your gas, not your car!"
  • "The most fun you can have in someone else's car!"
Perfectly stated! I am looking to buy a 2018 M3 when the ordering opens up, so I figured this would help me get a feel for the car and be patient until I get my own.
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      04-20-2017, 09:52 AM   #56
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sss

For those that signed up and paid with your credit card. Did you get a confirmation email yet. If yes how long did it take. Reason I ask is I get a fraud alert activity email right after I paid last night. Its under the merchant name "SQ *LIMELIGHT PLATFORM". I will be attending the Monticello one If its not fraud.
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      04-20-2017, 10:14 AM   #57
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 495evo View Post
For those that signed up and paid with your credit card. Did you get a confirmation email yet. If yes how long did it take. Reason I ask is I get a fraud alert activity email right after I paid last night. Its under the merchant name "SQ *LIMELIGHT PLATFORM". I will be attending the Monticello one If its not fraud.
email confirmation was fairly quick, within 20 minutes (or shorter)
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      04-20-2017, 11:13 AM   #58
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 495evo View Post
For those that signed up and paid with your credit card. Did you get a confirmation email yet. If yes how long did it take. Reason I ask is I get a fraud alert activity email right after I paid last night. Its under the merchant name "SQ *LIMELIGHT PLATFORM". I will be attending the Monticello one If its not fraud.
I received my confirmation email in about 15 minutes. My charge went through fine. Then I put through a second registration and used my credit card again to sign up a friend of mine. At that point, I received a text fraud alert. Yes, it was SQ *LIMELIGHT PLATFORM.
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      04-20-2017, 01:15 PM   #59
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 495evo View Post
For those that signed up and paid with your credit card. Did you get a confirmation email yet. If yes how long did it take. Reason I ask is I get a fraud alert activity email right after I paid last night. Its under the merchant name "SQ *LIMELIGHT PLATFORM". I will be attending the Monticello one If its not fraud.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilH View Post
I received my confirmation email in about 15 minutes. My charge went through fine. Then I put through a second registration and used my credit card again to sign up a friend of mine. At that point, I received a text fraud alert. Yes, it was SQ *LIMELIGHT PLATFORM.
From the bottom of the M Track Days web page:
QUESTIONS? PLEASE CALL 1-866-231-4269
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      04-20-2017, 01:54 PM   #60
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Damn. Was going to sign up for the one at Thermal, but after mapping it, decided an 8+ hour drive for half a day is not worth it, even at $250. Bummer.

For those that have signed up for this event (regardless of track), how far is the track from your starting point?
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      04-20-2017, 02:01 PM   #61
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JibSTir13 View Post
Damn. Was going to sign up for the one at Thermal, but after mapping it, decided an 8+ hour drive for half a day is not worth it, even at $250. Bummer.

For those that have signed up for this event (regardless of track), how far is the track from your starting point?
I did the inaugural one at Road Atlanta (currently in DC). I booked the afternoon session and took a direct flight that landed about 8 or 9 AM, got a rental, and drove to the track (arrived a few hours early, but not a big deal). Flew out after the event back home.

I booked COTA this time, but will be flying from CA. Will overnight probably day before and then fly back after the event.
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      04-20-2017, 02:03 PM   #62
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Just booked two spots for Austin! I've been fortunate to see the first F1 GP at COTA a few years back, but so stoked and excited to drive it!
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      04-20-2017, 02:17 PM   #63
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I'm booked for COTA and the Seattle one! see you guys there
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      04-20-2017, 02:20 PM   #64
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nicknaz View Post
I'm booked for COTA and the Seattle one! see you guys there
I was actually considering Shelton too, lol. See you at COTA!
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      04-20-2017, 02:20 PM   #65
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SD ///M4 View Post
From the bottom of the M Track Days web page:
QUESTIONS? PLEASE CALL 1-866-231-4269
No phone just an old ass desk top. I know. Drives an f80 and no phone. Will find a pay phone.
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      04-20-2017, 02:39 PM   #66
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TurboSid View Post
Yea its 250/500 now depending on the days. Free last time

Not worth that price
Exactly. We went when it was free, why would we pay for it now????
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