It has seemed like a long time since I put down a deposit for my new car last November.
But picking up my new coupe at the Performance Center in South Carolina was great fun. They did a wonderful job of taking me through the car. Then we went to class, and onto the track.
They didn't have a new 6 yet, so I went out in a new 545i. We did some panic lane changes, stops, obstacle avoidance. Then some hot laps, and off to the wet track. DSC is our friend! After working on understeer and oversteer situations in the wet, the role DSC plays is very clear. After becoming somewhat accustomed to the DSC technology in extreme situations, and then turning it off was a laugh!
Then we did some drifting, and that was my first experience trying to hit exactly the right balance of steering and throttle inputs that make drifting fun. Gained a lot of respect for those who do it well. It was particularly fun to experiment with all these conditions in someone else's vehicle and on someone else's tires! I noticed there are no trees or telephone poles anywhere nearby, either. Then I rode with the instructor as he turned hot, wet laps in an M5. Wow!
The next event was a tour of the plant where they build the X5's and Z4's. Interesting balance of humans and robots. After that, they turned us loose in the museum, and then I headed out on the highway.
Great day. Thanks, BMWNA.
But picking up my new coupe at the Performance Center in South Carolina was great fun. They did a wonderful job of taking me through the car. Then we went to class, and onto the track.
They didn't have a new 6 yet, so I went out in a new 545i. We did some panic lane changes, stops, obstacle avoidance. Then some hot laps, and off to the wet track. DSC is our friend! After working on understeer and oversteer situations in the wet, the role DSC plays is very clear. After becoming somewhat accustomed to the DSC technology in extreme situations, and then turning it off was a laugh!
Then we did some drifting, and that was my first experience trying to hit exactly the right balance of steering and throttle inputs that make drifting fun. Gained a lot of respect for those who do it well. It was particularly fun to experiment with all these conditions in someone else's vehicle and on someone else's tires! I noticed there are no trees or telephone poles anywhere nearby, either. Then I rode with the instructor as he turned hot, wet laps in an M5. Wow!
The next event was a tour of the plant where they build the X5's and Z4's. Interesting balance of humans and robots. After that, they turned us loose in the museum, and then I headed out on the highway.
Great day. Thanks, BMWNA.
