M Track Day at COTA (2018)

P1 · 07-30-2018, 10:18 PM

Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Together with Violator, spent the morning at COTA for the 2018 M Track Day. Since everyone is probably quite familiar with the event, I'll simply share some photos I took today. As always, hard to beat for only $250...

Not sure if serious or...

Hope you enjoyed!

Speedwell-Industries · 07-30-2018, 10:57 PM

Wow! Plenty of great shots! Looks as if it was a great experience!

Thanks for sharing!

FlaPatsFan · 07-31-2018, 12:45 AM

Great pics!

But the million dollar question is.....Are you the next Ultimate Driver? How was your AutoCross time???

The Wind Breezes · 07-31-2018, 01:24 AM

Wait, so what are the rules for that event? There's no way they let you have a legit trackday for $250 in borrowed cars.

Funny enough my favorite track is about 2 miles from COTA and you can go as hard and fast as you want, pass whoever and whenever you want. $30 all day. When will the rest of the motorsport world catch up? Probably never.

mk1-fan · 07-31-2018, 03:22 AM

Very nice.

The purple M4 and green M3 are my favourites. Look really good in those colours.

M3_WC · 07-31-2018, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

Funny enough my favorite track is about 2 miles from COTA and you can go as hard and fast as you want, pass whoever and whenever you want. $30 all day. When will the rest of the motorsport world catch up? Probably never.

Which track is that?

mk1-fan · 07-31-2018, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3_WC

Which track is that?

The one 2 miles from COTA

Violator · 07-31-2018, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

Wait, so what are the rules for that event? There's no way they let you have a legit trackday for $250 in borrowed cars.

Funny enough my favorite track is about 2 miles from COTA and you can go as hard and fast as you want, pass whoever and whenever you want. $30 all day. When will the rest of the motorsport world catch up? Probably never.

Well, we drove the hell out of M3, M4 on the track, then a timed lap in M2, followed by drag racing X6M, New M5, M4 and X3M 40...for $230. They also provided a great spread for breakfast, snacks throughout the day, ending with a nice lunch. It seemed legit to me...
This is the M4 that we used.

Red group was the best of the day...

The Wind Breezes · 07-31-2018, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3_WC

Which track is that?

ADVMX park.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mk1-fan

The one 2 miles from COTA

Well, it takes about 30 second of looking thru your maps app of choice, but yeah, see above.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Violator

Well, we drove the hell out of M3, M4 on the track, then a timed lap in M2, followed by drag racing X6M, New M5, M4 and X3M 40...for $230. They also provided a great spread for breakfast, snacks throughout the day, ending with a nice lunch. It seemed legit to me...
This is the M4 that we used.

Red group was the best of the day...

So they let you turn DSC fully off (not just a single press)? They let you do unrestricted passing with other cars on the track? If those two things happened I will change my view 180*.

EDIT: Answered my own question, dash halfway thru the pics shows MDM.

MN2///M · 07-31-2018, 01:59 PM

Great photos...what did you shoot the on-track with? Assuming the passenger took these vs a mounted video camera that you pulled stills from.

I did the Ridge in WA last year, doing COTA Thursday. Last year they did several laps in the M3 and then the M4; assuming this year is the same. How many laps did you get in each car?

BimmerAg · 07-31-2018, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

ADVMX park.

At first I thought you were talking about Driveway Austin. If you take their racing school class (full day of instruction in your car for ~$450) then you can come to their open practice sessions for $25.

Back on topic, the M track day looks awesome and I'm excited for my session on Thursday morning!

P1 · 07-31-2018, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MN2///M

Great photos...what did you shoot the on-track with? Assuming the passenger took these vs a mounted video camera that you pulled stills from.

I did the Ridge in WA last year, doing COTA Thursday. Last year they did several laps in the M3 and then the M4; assuming this year is the same. How many laps did you get in each car?

I didn’t want to lug my big DSLR around since you get in and out cars all the time, so shot these all with my smaller mirrorless Sony. Worked great for video also...

P1 · 07-31-2018, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

Wait, so what are the rules for that event? There's no way they let you have a legit trackday for $250 in borrowed cars.

Funny enough my favorite track is about 2 miles from COTA and you can go as hard and fast as you want, pass whoever and whenever you want. $30 all day. When will the rest of the motorsport world catch up? Probably never.

Isn’t ADVMX a dirtbike track?

The Wind Breezes · 07-31-2018, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P1et

Isn’t ADVMX a dirtbike track?

It is a motocross track. You haven't done motorsport til you've ridden MX. It requires a considerably greater degree of skill, fitness, and exposure to bodily harm than any automotive trackday. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is a man's sport up there with real roads racing. Not to mention the bikes are the equivalent of a race-prepped ferrari for pennies on the dollar.

But if you're risk averse don't worry, they're also currently building a badass rally course. It's gonna be SICK, with room for passing on the entire course. There'll be a massive berm and a couple "jump options". Yes I intend to rally the 1er there but probably won't take any jumps.

P1 · 07-31-2018, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

It is a motocross track. You haven't done motorsport til you've ridden MX. It requires a considerably greater degree of skill, fitness, and exposure to bodily harm than any automotive trackday. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is a man's sport up there with real roads racing. Not to mention the bikes are the equivalent of a race-prepped ferrari for pennies on the dollar.

But if you're risk averse don't worry, they're also currently building a badass rally course. It's gonna be SICK, with room for passing on the entire course. There'll be a massive berm and a couple "jump options". Yes I intend to rally the 1er there but probably won't take any jumps.

That is cool and all, but a bit of a stretch to compare that with what takes place at COTA.

SakhirM4 · 07-31-2018, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P1et

That is cool and all, but a bit of a stretch to compare that with what takes place at COTA.

Thanks for sharing the pictures. Glad you enjoyed it.

The Wind Breezes · 07-31-2018, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P1et

That is cool and all, but a bit of a stretch to compare that with what takes place at COTA.

In what way? Both are motorsport, about hauling ass and challenging yourself. Both are about controlling a vehicle under situations as difficult as you're willing to make them. Cars are my specialty and my obsession; I'm nowhere near as skilled or fast on a motorbike but the motocross experience is frankly a lot more hardcore than a modern "road course". I put that in quotes because REAL road courses used to be made on actual roads, with all the danger and technical challenges that entails.

Why is moto such a badass motorsport? You've got highly variable surfaces with variable traction, you have to balance your machine and constantly adjust your body position as well as steer brake and accelerate, there are bumps and huge jumps that require not only skill but massive balls to clear. Then there's the fact that if you get much out of line, you're going down. There are few things that will teach you how to manage traction as well as hauling ass with two wheels on the dirt. There is also WAY more skill transfer from bike to car than vice versa, so you can legitimately consider it cross-training to a degree.

Don't forget, there is a rally course in the works at ADV and it's gonna kick serious ass.

tsm007 · 07-31-2018, 07:19 PM

Thanks for sharing. First time hearing about this event. Now I'm thinking about registering for one of the track days. I'd definitely like to take the M3 around and the S1000RR (if they let you test the bike).

P1 · 07-31-2018, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsm007

Thanks for sharing. First time hearing about this event. Now I'm thinking about registering for one of the track days. I'd definitely like to take the M3 around and the S1000RR (if they let you test the bike).

That HP4 belongs to BMW and is an $80K bike!

McNuggetz · 07-31-2018, 08:18 PM

Will have to try this one day. I’m in Houston and close enough to COTA to make the drive.

Happy Motoring · 07-31-2018, 08:51 PM

Great shots. You took a nice pic of back of my head and my m2 lol

dauble2k5 · 07-31-2018, 09:55 PM

These are gorgeous shots. Thanks for sharing!

07-30-2018, 10:18 PM	#1
P1 Lieutenant General 11765 Rep 11,195 Posts Drives: 2004 3/4 ton Duramax Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: United States iTrader: (1)	M Track Day at COTA (2018) Featured on BIMMERPOST.com Together with Violator, spent the morning at COTA for the 2018 M Track Day. Since everyone is probably quite familiar with the event, I'll simply share some photos I took today. As always, hard to beat for only $250... Not sure if serious or... Hope you enjoyed!
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07-30-2018, 10:57 PM	#2
Speedwell-Industries 454 Rep 884 Posts Drives: 2017 YMB M3 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Southern California iTrader: (0)	Wow! Plenty of great shots! Looks as if it was a great experience! Thanks for sharing!
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07-31-2018, 12:45 AM	#3
FlaPatsFan Major 749 Rep 1,149 Posts Drives: 2011 328i wagon Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Great pics! But the million dollar question is.....Are you the next Ultimate Driver? How was your AutoCross time???
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07-31-2018, 01:24 AM	#4
The Wind Breezes Lieutenant Colonel 926 Rep 1,848 Posts Drives: 135i N55 DCT Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Wait, so what are the rules for that event? There's no way they let you have a legit trackday for $250 in borrowed cars. Funny enough my favorite track is about 2 miles from COTA and you can go as hard and fast as you want, pass whoever and whenever you want. $30 all day. When will the rest of the motorsport world catch up? Probably never.
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07-31-2018, 03:22 AM	#5
mk1-fan Lieutenant 586 Rep 573 Posts Drives: 2018 G30 540i Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Gauteng, South Africa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW G30 540i [0.00]	Very nice. The purple M4 and green M3 are my favourites. Look really good in those colours.
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07-31-2018, 01:59 PM	#10
MN2///M Captain 525 Rep 865 Posts Drives: very fast! Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Colorado Springs iTrader: (0)	Great photos...what did you shoot the on-track with? Assuming the passenger took these vs a mounted video camera that you pulled stills from. I did the Ridge in WA last year, doing COTA Thursday. Last year they did several laps in the M3 and then the M4; assuming this year is the same. How many laps did you get in each car? __________________ 2003 BMW 330i 2016 BMW M4 - ED May 2016, PCD Aug 2016 2017 X5 xDrive35i - PCD Jan2017 Last edited by MN2///M; 07-31-2018 at 02:54 PM..
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07-31-2018, 07:19 PM	#18
tsm007 Private First Class 68 Rep 157 Posts Drives: 2016 BMW 328i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW 328i [0.00] 2008 BMW 328xi [10.00] 2003 Honda CBR954RR [0.00]	Thanks for sharing. First time hearing about this event. Now I'm thinking about registering for one of the track days. I'd definitely like to take the M3 around and the S1000RR (if they let you test the bike). __________________ Instagram: TSM_007
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07-31-2018, 08:18 PM	#20
McNuggetz Private 8 Rep 81 Posts Drives: '17 X3 28i, '18 Focus ST Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston iTrader: (1)	Will have to try this one day. I’m in Houston and close enough to COTA to make the drive.
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07-31-2018, 08:51 PM	#21
Happy Motoring Lieutenant 485 Rep 454 Posts Drives: OG M2 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW M2 [10.00]	Great shots. You took a nice pic of back of my head and my m2 lol
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07-31-2018, 09:55 PM	#22
dauble2k5 Private First Class 58 Rep 180 Posts Drives: 2011 VR E92 335i, 6MT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	These are gorgeous shots. Thanks for sharing!
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