Below a little video of the afternoon several local bloggers and twitterati got to enjoy, courtesy of Kamran Popkin and the BMW Performance Driving School. Look for cameos by @JimSharp, @Nullvariable and @brainsonfire (Matt Reese).
Incidentally, Matt is insanely fast in a car, so never EVER let him race you for money.
I really can’t thank Kamran enough for hooking me up AND the BMW PDS’s staff for taking such good care of us while we were there. Everyone – from the catering folks and event coordinators to the driving instructors – is absolutely top notch, as is the facility.
Something I learned today: Any new BMW owner in North America can take delivery of their new car right here at the factory, then drive it to the school for an afternoon of classroom and practical driving instruction. You pay to get here, but once you’re in Greenville, BMW takes care of the rest: Hotel, food and the driving instruction. How cool is that!
A few other things I learned today:
@Jimsharp likes to live (and drive) on the edge (of the road).
Also, he doesn’t stop. For anything. Not even puppies. (Okay, maybe for puppies.)
Good luck flipping an X5 out on the range. These things cling to walls like spiderman.
Pedal to the metal feels GOOD.
Not hitting any cones is more important than a little extra speed.
Real drivers don’t use traction control.
Some BMWs drive themselves.
It’s all fun and games until someone loses control of their bodily functions.
BMWs aren’t just cars. They really ARE ultimate driving machines.
Driving fast makes me sweat a little bit.
I like the smell of burning rubber in the afternoon.
What you’ll see in the video:
The first driving exercise was a slalom course designed to teach us how to take tight corners at high speed in varying surface conditions (wet/dry).
The second driving exercise was a timed run in the M3 designed to teach us to a) negotiate sudden sharp turns at high speed. (The turn is sharper than it looks.) Also, b) precision stopping from max acceleration.
The third driving exercise was the X5′s 4×4 course. (No racing there.)
The fourth exercise was just a fun ride with one of the school’s professional drivers.
Oh, and if you’re wondering what tunes you heard in that video:
“Shooting Star” by David Rush
“Throw Water On Them” by Asher Roth
Thanks to Jim for shooting most of the in-car stuff. If the video doesn’t play for you, go watch it here.
Also, check out Jim’s video (most of the in-car footage was shot by yours truly). Great editing and music by Jim. Good stuff:
If Jim’s video doesn’t load for you, watch it here.
PS: No cones were harmed during the shooting of this video. (At least not by us.)
PPS: Want to play like we just did? BMW has a ton of programs for drivers of all levels (even for teenage drivers). Check out the performance driving school’s web page for more info.
PPPS: I don’t work for BMW, didn’t get paid by BMW and have no ties to BMW whatsoever. Everything mentioned on this blog about BMW comes from the heart. (Disclosure.)
Have a great weekend, everyone! I look forward to seeing some of you at Social Fresh Monday (Charlotte, NC).
I think my 3yo son said it well,
“That’s not a racecar…but…he’ll win anyway.”
Indeed, looks like you guys had a big BMW win.
It was a blast. I wish I could do this every week.
One guy (who was obviously an avid golfer) was overheard saying “this is better than golf!”
Great editing on the 360! THAT WAS FUN!
Yes. Our car changes color. Did you notice that?
It was really fun to see you guys cutting up and having such a great time. At one point TBB says “Boys to men” which really made me laugh. Thanks for sharing this unique experience with us.
I want the white one at the top of the page! Niiiiiiice.
Kris,
What TBB MEANT to say was “Men to boys” – (’cause I saw an awful lot teeth! giggling and smiling like 2 year olds getting EXACTLY what they wanted!)
Good call.
I did the BMW Performance Driving school in 2008. A past recipient told me it “was the best day of his year.” I didn’t believe him–until I did it myself.
What a great day and I highly recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity. Great recap by the way, Olivier.
Josh – from the performance school called me today (follow-up) and yeah, I can’t wait to go back and take one of the M3 classes.
While we’re discussing the matter of Driving. Fast. The BrandBuilder Blog, New does not necessarily mean better when it comes to purchasing sports car. You need to find one that will really fit well to your needs. Some people find the car they want at first sight. They will even confess to feeling their heart skip upon seeing the car they want to bring home. It is like love at first sight.
This…… is great!!!