AMG Driving Academy

If you're thinking of or are on the fence on attending this/these events, I can tell you as an instructor for the AMG Driving Academy: DO IT!
You'll have an absolute last, be treated VERY well, and drive some incredible cars on some fun tracks!

Wish I was working it this year but alas, duty calls me elsewhere...

Cheers & C U @ d'Track!!
C

Chuck Hawks,
Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator
DreamsFulfilled, LLC & rEvolution Performance Driving System ©

 

sounds interesting. PM sent. How do they compare to the BMW school? I do have a Bimmer.

 

Which BMW school?

It's been a while (couple years) since I have instructed at the BMW Performance Center or its schools but I doubt the curriculum has changed that much.
The AMG events are similar to the BMW events - they land somewhere in the middle of the Advanced Driving School and the M School, leaning mostly to the M side. Both cover technical subject matter, give you chances to experience the cars at speed, and give you experiences of several models.

The food has historically been better at the AMG events, and AMG usually has a celeb driver or two teaching in the class and giving hotlaps... in the US, it's usually Tommy Kendall and someone. In '08, it was TK & me:


AMG makes it a little more of a 'show' (new and/or rare cars/pre-releases, ambiance, etc.) while BMW makes it a little more academic (it's about the cars and driving, and little else.) They both cover a nice technical curriculum and have great pro-driver instructors. You really can't lose either way.

I would recommend that if you do the BMW M School, that you do one at VIR instead of the Michelin Proving Grounds & Performance Center. VIR is a real race track and IMHO has more to offer as a learning tool; although the skidpad at the BMW PC is second to none.

Cheers & C U @ d'Track!!
C

Chuck Hawks,
Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator
DreamsFulfilled, LLC & rEvolution Performance Driving System ©

 

+1

 

+1,000,000! Nothing like VIR!

You're dating yourself, Chuck! Most BMW programs (including the M School) are primarily held at the Performance Center at the factory in SC. BMW spent $12M to build that facility so people wouldn't have to go into the sticks to attend the Michelin Proving Grounds in Laurens. See http://www.bmwtransact.com/microsite/performancecenter/index.html That said, I've been fortunate to do in-car testing at Michelin's Laurens Proving Grounds for a few magazine articles and that is one heck of a place, all 3500 acres of it!

I don't think anyone can go wrong signing up for either the AMG DA or the BMW PDE (or Pilota Ferrari, for that matter). It's ALL good!

 

Indeed.

I started at the BMW PC back in 2001 I think. And yes, that facility is AWESOME! I love to work there just because it is such a nice place. At the same time, for an M School, I think VIR is a little more conducive. I think they now limit the trips to VIR to only the Advanced M Schools and they have those at least once per year. When I was there fairly regularly, we didn't do the M Schools at the PC due to needing plenty of room (PC seemed a little confining) as well as other programs scheduled at the same time.

They also use others' VIR events to come test out new technology, like the "Lightweight" version of the M3. Ran into Larry P and Mike R at VIR last year when they'd brought a couple LWs up to 'test the new brakes...' LOL Test the brakes, I'm sure.

Hey, speaking of schools, how's your new place coming along? Haven't heard from you about swingin' a hammer... did you decide to farm that out or just been too busy to get to it?

Cheers & C U @ d'Track!!
C

Chuck Hawks,
Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator
DreamsFulfilled, LLC & rEvolution Performance Driving System ©

 

Just slightly OT, but that's why I've been laying low. The floor and the framing is done, rough-in for plumbing and electrical done tomorrow, drywall and paint next week. Let me know your schedule because I'll need help pretty soon...

 

Chuck, do you think the BMW school would be better suited me as I want to be more proficientw w/ a stick vs AMG's auto trannys? tks

 

All,
Sorry for the delay... nightmarish computer issues lately...

Peter:
Aug 31 - Sep 2 is possibility for me; as is Sep 14/15.

Kosmo:
You're going to see a lot of automatics (many with paddle shifters) in either BMW or AMG events. If you do an M School with BMW, you'll see manual trannies, whereas with the AMG event, you won't see any.

So, between the two, your best bet to get some 'stick' time in is the BMW M schools.
Hope this is helpful!

Cheers & C U @ d'Track!!
C

Chuck Hawks,
Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator
DreamsFulfilled, LLC & rEvolution Performance Driving System ©