BMW Performance School: Conquering the Course in S.C.
by Jessica Howell
Tucked in the rolling green hills of South Carolina, near Spartanburg, sits a state-of-the-art automotive facility that's home to the BMW Performance School, museum and the manufacturing plant that is responsible for churning out the brand's zippy Z4s and rugged X5 SUVs.
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The BMW line-up outside S.C. facilities |
At first glance, the gentle landscape might inspire thoughts of lazy, sun-drenched afternoons. But make no mistake, on the BMW grounds there's nothing but 1.7 miles of full throttle fun, exhilarating experiences abound. In fact, a solitude-seeker would be better off lounging at a local B&B or quietly browsing the small but intriguing museum and gift shop.
The school, equipped with a test track playground for grown-ups, elicits the devilishly daring driver within to come out and play.
Scared? That’s okay, sweaty palms and thumping heart rates seem to fuel this Mecca for motor heads. But wait, drivers of all ages and levels of experience are welcome. Whether 15 or 75, there's an opportunity to push the pedal to the metal and walk away with expert advice and knowledge geared toward each driver's needs.
Guests can choose from the one- or two-day Teen School, one- or two-day Performance School, or one-day, two-day or advanced M School. I opted to join the one-day performance school that tackled accident avoidance techniques like the slalom course, skid pad, ABS testing and a "real roads" course in a 300-hp sport-tuned BMW 335i that launches from 0-60 in 5.4 titillating seconds.
Arriving at the Spartanburg/Greenville Airport on a Wednesday evening, I was greeted by Kevin, a Greenville Marriott Guest Services employee who kindly chauffeured me to the BMW Performance School partner hotel in a gleaming white BMW wagon, the way that all school participants arrive—in style, of course.
Having booked the Marriott/BMW package, I was quickly whisked to the hotel where I settled in for an easy night in anticipation of the following day’s activities.
Around eight o'clock the next morning I met a group of fellow anxious BMW fans as we were shuttled to the automaker's property, a few miles away, to begin the day's activities. Beginning with the introduction of our professional racer instructors, we were taken through a brief lesson in basic driving skills and techniques. And then off to the track it was to warm up on the slalom course, slowly, then quickly, weaving triumphantly in and out of a long line of orange cones.
As the day progressed, so did the level of testing. From the slalom, we drove to a real roads course that mimicked everyday obstacles, and from there we continued onto ABS testing at speeds of 40 mph and up, and then to an obstacle avoidance course that required a fast lane-change.
The day peaked for me as we made our way to the fear-inducing skid pad. I won't sugar-coat my initial reaction, which was nothing short of pure distress.
An avid driver that is often sitting behind a steering wheel to test vehicles of all sorts, I consider myself fairly road savvy. Yet, somehow, the idea of sending a car into vigorous spin mode, completely out of my own control, scared the hell out of me. My hands were clammy, my brow was damp… and I hadn't even slid into the driver's seat yet.
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Tackling the BMW skid pad |
Alas, I conquered the skid pad… with the direction of my passenger-seat instructor. And now it doesn’t even seem that scary. The trick, pointed out and continuously repeated to all students, is to "look where you want to go." Sounds easy, doesn't it? It's not. As the car is spinning off the track and into the lush, green grass, it's strangely natural to look right toward that grass that you're spinning toward.
Focus, however, on the road and in the direction that you want to be heading. Consistency proves that if that's where you look, that's where you'll go.
Filled with an ounce or two of pride, we ended the day with a quick race that challenged students against one another, and then performed time trials on the "real roads" course, cheering each other on and raising a round of applause for the winner.
Exhausted but reeling from the high of pushing our driving skills to the limit, we said our farewells and left the grounds. Many of us, I assume, longingly looking back at the track—the freedom that it represents, the potential that it holds for drivers of all types.
The Mythological Blind Spot
If you're not able to get to the BMW Performance School any time soon, heed this advice on ridding your vision and vehicle of the dreaded "blind spot" - the cause of far too many auto accidents.
1.) Sitting in the driver's seat, place your head against the vehicle's left side-view window.
2.) With your head against the glass, tilt the left side-view mirror so that you can just barely see the left end of your vehicle’s rear or taillight.
3.) Re-position yourself and then lean toward the middle of your vehicle, most likely in the center of your front seat console, and focus on the right side-view mirror.
4.) Staying in place, tilt the right side-view mirror so that you can just barely see the right end of your vehicle's rear or taillight.
5.) Comfortably seated in the driver’s seat, look into your rear-view mirror. A vehicle directly behind you should only be seen in this mirror, not in either side-view mirror.
Adjusting your mirrors to this position says one BMW Performance School Instructor, will grant the driver the ability to see the front of an approaching vehicle in his or her side-view mirror, while still being able to see the rear of such a vehicle in the rear-view mirror.
The first week you drive with re-positioned side-view mirrors, you'll be seeing things you've never seen before. Grass! Headlights across all lanes of traffic! After a bit, it becomes normal… in fact, you'll never be able to go back, he claimed. And, not surprisingly, he's right.
| If You Go... |
BMW Performance School
www.bmwusa.com/performancecenter
1-888-345-4BMW
(Call for detailed information or to check on continually added new programs, including special offerings for holidays and packages.)
Programs:
One Day Teen School $495
Two Day Teen School $895
One Day Performance School $650
Two Day Performance School $1095
One Day M School $1295
Two Day M School $2995
Advanced M School $3995 |
