Re: BMW Driver Training Dates (and a personal review from me)
Hmmmmm..... I promised Ryan that i will chip in something here but i've slogging till i forgot about this totally until i browse thru the photos and it really bring back a lot of memories....
My ADT experience
I bot my first BMW in 2000 and then when PML starts it's BMW advance driver training (ADT), i told myself that i will not miss this. Then, i dragged along my best buddy along so that it will be more of a fun and adventurous day, i soon found out that i made a mistake ! i tell u why later hurhurhur....
The day started early since i was pretty excited and did not sleep till 2am and woke up at 4. Then finally comes the time and there we were, heading towards Pasir Gudang for our training.
When we reached, we were greeted by 6 Silver E46 and on careful observation, it says 328i and we were like wow !! Cos in 2000, the highest spec were 328i, before 330i makes it's debut...
After a morning briefing in the briefing room on the basic principle of defensive and driving technique, together with proper driving position, we soon find ourselves firing up the car for a warm up session.
Driving between pylons isn't too difficult and although this is only warming session, a few of us were already oer zealous and starting to drive a bit quicker than asked before being told to follow instructions haha !!
Then the proper braking technique followed by swerving to avoid obstacles, one session after another making us forgot that it's lunch time !
Had our lunch break in the paddock area and then the day continues with handling the car and getting a feel of what understeer and oversteer feels like and the controlling technique before completing the day with a slalom test where we are timed for driving round slalom, U turn and parking into "garage"
And that's when i realised that i make a misake by pulling my buddy along hahaha !!! cos he took my first place away from me and completed about 0.2 second faster than me, and i have to be contented with a runner up in overall timing hahaha !!!!!
And while we were being timed for the slalom test, the other part of track were sizzling hot, not by the track temperature but we were luckly enough that in those days, we had Ringo to bring us around the track for Ring Taxi Ride in the training car, drifting every single corner in PG with the training car, going sideways. If that was not enough to set your adrelain pumping, the next taxi ride, on the E39 M5 will ! The car though torquey but was so refined and we wouldn't find it fast until u take a peek at the speedometer when u realised that the car is charging at 200kph into the straight and turning into T2 by just dropping gear without much braking ! Phew....
Anyway i had my every single cent worth later when PML called me about a few month later to invite me to watch F1 together with another 40 7 series owner for clocking one of the best overall timing. By having dinner with Ralf Schumacer and Frank William actually makes every single penny worthed
My Intensive Driver Training (IDT)
After my ADT in those day, u will actually suffer from down symdrom cos i had to wait for like 2 years before the yactually started the IDT.
So when i got wind that they are starting the IDT, u know i won't let it slip past and block booked the whole sesssion for the first lesson available to public hehe !
And if u think u have conquered the ADT, u r already reach the peak in driving, the IDT will make u feel that the ADT is just peanut. The ADT capped all driving at 70kph and although that is already pretty fast while swerving out of obstacles, the IDT repeat some of those exercise at a more realistic speed of 100kph, something that we are more accustomised to, in day to day driving.
Imagine, driving at 100kph, car in front stopped, u got to swerve out to the left but the road is swing to the right. After hitting cone (luigi) a few times and then u realised that it's no longer difficult. The course then progresses to more exercise like swerving and braking into corners without losing the tail of the car. Also, more exercise is now emphasise on controlling the car by going thru understeer and oversteer exercise, doing controlled drift session and of course, the infamous Reverse Flick, where u reverse, flick the steering and turn 180 degree to get yourself out of trouble in cases of emergency.
The day ends with a sumptous dinner osted by PML and a 5 star hotel stay in JB before heading back to PG the next morning.
The next morning starts with morning exercise to loosen up the car and the driver a bit, to drive around slalom again and synchronised driving before we are being tested in a gymkhana, where we driver have to negotiates 2 donut, doing controlled drifting, a reverse flick and then parked into garage in a timed session.
Then when all is completed, the session break for lunch before heading back to the classroom, this time round, for basic track session knowledge. By now, all are very eager to start up the car again and charge into the corners with the new acquired skill. Then the instructors broke us into 2 sub group and we were made to walk every corner of the track to gain a indepth knowledge of the corner to appreciate it.
The whole afternoon, we just push each other, from corners after corner, taking turn to go behind the instructor car to set pace for the rest of the pack and progress.. Just imagine that the car needs pitstop after realising that my car needs petrol after running only for half an afternoon will tell u how much fun i had and how hard i push the car ! In fact, my training car used 2 brand new set of tyres for the 2 day lesson hehe !
The 1600 buxs might be a hefty sum to part but then after the course, everyone of us tot that it was well worthed it. In fact, not too long after the course, while i was travelling on Eunos area, this car suddenly swerved into my lane and then realised that the light turn amber and stomp the brake, i instintively swerve out to the next lane, after checking it's clear, powered the car thru the lights and then swing back again as the lane was blocked, all within seconds, makes me feel that i have recovered the cost.
With the new E90 coming in June, we will expect to see some of the hard core ppl in here going for a "refresher" course again hurhurhur !!!
Just a word of advice, go in a group, it makes the whole session much more enjoyable !
And if u r still thinking whether it's worth it, my answer is "Absolutely Yes"
OT: 8881, I've got tons of decals for you.....
