[ssuene93]

Nice write up! I just have to take action to sign myself up to a 2-day schools. Sound awesome.

[Ibiza]

Which sucker will purchase one of the individual M's after 5,000 miles, thinking they scored a 'deal'?

[Darth One]

there's actually a thread about that somewhere here...

[orangeglim]

Just a quick bump because I edited it to add Day Two content.

[WillSkill]

Thanks for the write up! I've only read day 1 so far but it sounds fun.

Hoping to go to one of these events one day

[jmg]

The reason the instructor didn't care too much about your impaired vision through the cracked windshield is because we were constantly being reminded to look ahead, which usually doesn't involve what's directly in front of you. On the 135-140mph back/bottom straight as soon as you reach that corner your head is looking out the driver side window.

BTW we had a lengthy discussion about tires with that same instructor in your pic. I was surprised to hear how he didn't care for Michelin's in general, but back when I went in December he hadn't tried the MPS4S yet. Has he tried them since?

I was really impressed with the Continental Extreme Sports and at that price point I don't think you can get a better street tire. When my MPS4S are done I'm going to get those.

[teachasumthin3]

Awesome write up!!!

[maniz]

I see you had Adam as one of the instructors. He is a total hoot isn't he? A direct and to-the-point southerner, just how an HPD instructor should be. I took my 1-day M School at Thermal less than 2 weeks ago and our first session of the morning was in the M2s, doing fast laps with the medium-length track layout. Here are a couple of Adam's quotes on the walkie as he provided 1:1 instruction:

- "Pick up the pace, guys. We are not at the Kia driving academy, we are at the BMW M SCHOOL for crying out loud!".
- "Dennis, I can throw a tea party for my mom and her friends in the gap between the apex cone and your car. GET CLOSER!!!"

The guy is a professional hollywood stunt driver, and also a stunt driver for NBCSN's "Drive" with Chris Harris. On top of that, he is a drifting champion. His skillset is incredible.

Great thread! Thanks for sharing. My only regret is not signing up for the 2-day school; opportunity truly missed. I will be doing the DirtFish rally school this fall and hope to come back for the M School again next Spring.

I need to do my write-up as well. What a blast!

P.S: Looks like we drove the same Fire Orange M2.

[maniz]

Originally Posted by Brake_Late

Any day at thermal is a good day for all mankind

Isn't that the truth.

[Lus8aPilot]

Great write up!
Looks like I'll be doing the 1-day at Thermal on Saturday. Happy Dance!!

is it worth it / possible to bring a GoPro+Suction mount for some in-cabin video?

[orangeglim]

Originally Posted by Lus8aPilot

Great write up!
Looks like I'll be doing the 1-day at Thermal on Saturday. Happy Dance!!

is it worth it / possible to bring a GoPro+Suction mount for some in-cabin video?

I saw a few people with GoPros mounted in various places. No issues at all that I saw.

[Dee Jay]

Great post! Lots of very useful info. My intention was to search this forum to find out which venue, either Spartanburg or Thermal, would be recommended for M School. But you basicly answered all my questions in your post.

I attended One Day School in Thermal just two days after you attended Two M School at the same location. I had a blast!! If anyone is unable to pay the $$$ for M School, I would highly recommend attending a One Day class. Well worth it.

Before I sign up for M School, I thought I would do a Two Day School in Spartanburg. It’s as good excuse as any to travel across the country to somewhere I’ve never been, and to refine my driving skills before attending M School. I was the only female in a class of 14 and did a whole lot better than I thought I would. I didn’t finish first in any competitions, but did win win the first round rat race. Overall, I ended up about in the middle of the pack. I credit the fantastic instruction from Chris and Adam for my decent performance.

Since you are from NC and I’m from SoCal, would you recommend fall as a good time to visit Spartanburg? I’m thinking late October but haven’t made any definite plans yet. Any and all input is welcome as I have never been to the East Coast before. (poor, sheltered little girl! lol) Thanks!

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Lus8aPilot

Great write up!
Looks like I'll be doing the 1-day at Thermal on Saturday. Happy Dance!!

is it worth it / possible to bring a GoPro+Suction mount for some in-cabin video?

Suction cup is perfect because you switch cars pretty often depending on what is next on the agenda. I just stuck it to the pass window for a view of my hands and the track.

[orangeglim]

Originally Posted by Dee Jay

Since you are from NC and I’m from SoCal, would you recommend fall as a good time to visit Spartanburg? I’m thinking late October but haven’t made any definite plans yet. Any and all input is welcome as I have never been to the East Coast before. (poor, sheltered little girl! lol) Thanks!

I did a couple M-club days (through the BMWCCA) down at Spartanburg at the end of October last year. It was kinda chilly, to be honest. The second day was was colder than the first, low 50s, cloudy, etc. I would have preferred a warmer day as milling around outside waiting for other groups to finish so we could change cars was a little cold. The beginning of October might be better, or end of September, depending on how hot you'd prefer it to be.

[aas5]

I participated in the two-day M school last August in SC and had a great time. Highly recommend to all car enthusiasts especially if you can lower the price to $2,500 with the voucher and the 20% BMW discount (you can also use BMW credit cards to get 20% off). If you are on the east coast, it's easy to make a nice short family road trip out of this. I drove from NYC and spent some time in Charleston and Kiawah Island after the school and in Richmond on the way back. Ton of fun! I am also going to the Nurburgring training with Donnie, one of the instructors in SC, this October.

[Bomex]

Do you get a certificate or something to remember afterwards?

[Brake_Late]

Originally Posted by Bomex

Do you get a certificate or something to remember afterwards?

And scwhagg

[BM dnobagaV]

Paid $4,100 to drive a couple of different M4's

To each his own, I suppose..

[Shoof]

Originally Posted by orangeglim

We actually drove Sunday and Monday, so I think that would have worked for you? I think that was something they did for our BMW CCA group though, I'm not sure.

I thought the track out in CA was different enough to warrant a trip to CA for it. I will get the second day written up here soon which will cover most of the stuff that's different.

*Bump*

It was down to the wire, I had to make a decision with not much time. The day my voucher would have expired, I signed up for 2 days at Thermal on 3/24-3/25/19 (Sun/Mon). I used my voucher and CCA discount...Still an expensive event, but you live once, right?!?

Now I'm trying to figure out my flight schedule, because as I mentioned I can't drive on Saturday, I can't fly, either...So I'll have to fly out on Friday, and either stay in LA over Saturday and drive to the hotel Saturday night, or early Sunday morning....Still trying to figure that one out...seriously great writeup, though...I'm excited!

[orangeglim]

Originally Posted by Shoof

*Bump*

It was down to the wire, I had to make a decision with not much time. The day my voucher would have expired, I signed up for 2 days at Thermal on 3/24-3/25/19 (Sun/Mon). I used my voucher and CCA discount...Still an expensive event, but you live once, right?!?

Now I'm trying to figure out my flight schedule, because as I mentioned I can't drive on Saturday, I can't fly, either...So I'll have to fly out on Friday, and either stay in LA over Saturday and drive to the hotel Saturday night, or early Sunday morning....Still trying to figure that one out...seriously great writeup, though...I'm excited!

Have fun, I'm sure it'll be a blast! I'll be back out that way this coming February, again over President's day weekend, for an advanced M school, also put on by the BMWCCA.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Shoof

*Bump*

It was down to the wire, I had to make a decision with not much time. The day my voucher would have expired, I signed up for 2 days at Thermal on 3/24-3/25/19 (Sun/Mon). I used my voucher and CCA discount...Still an expensive event, but you live once, right?!?

Now I'm trying to figure out my flight schedule, because as I mentioned I can't drive on Saturday, I can't fly, either...So I'll have to fly out on Friday, and either stay in LA over Saturday and drive to the hotel Saturday night, or early Sunday morning....Still trying to figure that one out...seriously great writeup, though...I'm excited!

You're up bright and early Sun morning, personally, even though I live in LA, I chose to drive in the prior night.

[scotty91ss]

Originally Posted by Shoof

*Bump*

It was down to the wire, I had to make a decision with not much time. The day my voucher would have expired, I signed up for 2 days at Thermal on 3/24-3/25/19 (Sun/Mon). I used my voucher and CCA discount...Still an expensive event, but you live once, right?!?

Now I'm trying to figure out my flight schedule, because as I mentioned I can't drive on Saturday, I can't fly, either...So I'll have to fly out on Friday, and either stay in LA over Saturday and drive to the hotel Saturday night, or early Sunday morning....Still trying to figure that one out...seriously great writeup, though...I'm excited!

I booked the February 5th two day school. I hope they bring out a M5.