[Alex_Bond]

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Hi everyone!

BMW announced the first dates for this year's Ultimate Driving Experience and M Tracks Days.
At the moment, they announced only a portion of the dates for UDE as they did last year. Dates like Los Angeles probably will be announced later in the year.

M Track Days moved back to the middle of the year instead of the second half of the year. Also, Indianapolis is now replaced with Road America and will be the first MTD of the year in May.

You can check the dates here - https://driving.bmwusa.com/cities

[BokTroy]

Had M track day (half day) last year at COTA, what a blast. Planning to do a full day this year either at Road America (narrower technical circuit) or COTA (high speed blast) again. Did anyone had full day experience before, and do you think it’s worth the extra $$?

[Blue87]

As expected, only Chitcago. Last year their was one near St. Louis, however, the event was limited to autocross and may have even canceled. I suppose I would attend near Chicago if it was on the outskirts, away from the traffic and commotion. Looks like these will not be road course.

COTA would be nice to do, although I bet it fills up fast.

[Germanauto]

Seems the LA market is being skipped.

Nbd though, not like many of us are interested in autocrossing the i5.

[Scrapula]

Did autocross last year with 2 vehicles. The i4 M50 was so much better than the 330e. My son felt the same. The course was small and tight and the 330e didn’t have enough initial oomph. Not sure I will do it this year, though.

[Alex_Bond]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Seems the LA market is being skipped.

Nbd though, not like many of us are interested in autocrossing the i5.

Last year, LA was announced later as well. Check the dates page closer to summer.

[Alex_Bond]

Originally Posted by BokTroy

Had M track day (half day) last year at COTA, what a blast. Planning to do a full day this year either at Road America (narrower technical circuit) or COTA (high speed blast) again. Did anyone had full day experience before, and do you think it’s worth the extra $$?

I did a full day in 2022 on COTA. An additional session is on track, and it's definitely worth it. Also, you will be able to drag with different models (half day doing only 2 of the same cars). The skid pad was ok. This year, they replaced M5 with M3, so it should be fun.

[BokTroy]

Originally Posted by Alex_Bond

I did a full day in 2022 on COTA. An additional session is on track, and it's definitely worth it. Also, you will be able to drag with different models (half day doing only 2 of the same cars). The skid pad was ok. This year, they replaced M5 with M3, so it should be fun.

Nice and looking forward to it, hopefully weather will not be too scorching lol. Mind if I ask why skid pad is just okay? One of the main reason for me to try 1 day is skid pad since that’s the only place they officially allow DSC to be off. I always want to try if I can really able to drift like in sim racing.

[ledphut]

Originally Posted by Blue87

As expected, only Chitcago. Last year their was one near St. Louis, however, the event was limited to autocross and may have even canceled. I suppose I would attend near Chicago if it was on the outskirts, away from the traffic and commotion.

It’s actually not that bad here if you have level 4 body armor.

[Vmaxx]

Which M track day locations don’t require helmets while driving? I know COTA does but I remember seeing some locations that didn’t require helmets.

[Ezra168]

Does anyone know how are these different then experience at Spartanburg or Thermal? Been wanting to do this for a while but haven’t pulled the trigger.

[Alex_Bond]

Originally Posted by BokTroy

Nice and looking forward to it, hopefully weather will not be too scorching lol. Mind if I ask why skid pad is just okay? One of the main reason for me to try 1 day is skid pad since that’s the only place they officially allow DSC to be off. I always want to try if I can really able to drift like in sim racing.

They just spray a small area of parking with water and give me maybe a couple of minutes to try to drift in a circle. I would recommend to go to some kind of drifting school (like in San Antonio) and spend whole day drifting.

Originally Posted by Vmaxx

Which M track day locations don’t require helmets while driving? I know COTA does but I remember seeing some locations that didn’t require helmets.

This is a little bit of a weird question. It's pretty dangerous, and a helmet will be required for all professional tracks.

Originally Posted by Ezra168

Does anyone know how are these different then experience at Spartanburg or Thermal? Been wanting to do this for a while but haven’t pulled the trigger.

PDS is an entirely different thing. On MTD, they don't "teach" you but just allow you to spend some time in M cars on track. On COTA, the instructor is always in separate cars in front, and you just follow him. Other MTDs are probably the same.

[NathObeaN]

Wish they still had these in the UK

[GOLFFRR]

bummer, nothing in Socal or central Cal.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Seems the LA market is being skipped.

Nbd though, not like many of us are interested in autocrossing the i5.

Florida market is being skipped for M Track Days too. It’s been a few years since they stopped coming to Homestead Motor Speedway. Not sure why, Cali and Florida are among the biggest M markets in the nation.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

Florida market is being skipped for M Track Days too. It’s been a few years since they stopped coming to Homestead Motor Speedway. Not sure why, Cali and Florida are among the biggest M markets in the nation.

They're probably skipping due to costs of hosting these events or not viewing it as a worthwhile investment as people in these markets will buy these cars regardless.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

They're probably skipping due to costs of hosting these events or not viewing it as a worthwhile investment as people in these markets will buy these cars regardless.

Perhaps you are correct. When I attended my last M Track Days circa 2016, the almost the entire parking lot in attendance was M cars. We had a couple of Porsche and Tesla cars, but easily 95% of the attendees were rolling in M’s including myself.

[Vmaxx]

Originally Posted by Alex_Bond

They just spray a small area of parking with water and give me maybe a couple of minutes to try to drift in a circle. I would recommend to go to some kind of drifting school (like in San Antonio) and spend whole day drifting.



This is a little bit of a weird question. It's pretty dangerous, and a helmet will be required for all professional tracks.



PDS is an entirely different thing. On MTD, they don't "teach" you but just allow you to spend some time in M cars on track. On COTA, the instructor is always in separate cars in front, and you just follow him. Other MTDs are probably the same.

Last time they couldn’t find a helmet that fit me properly so it took away from the experience managing a helmet that didn’t fit correctly while driving. I’ve seen some locations that didn’t require helmets, hence the reason for the question.

[MAC 1977]

Originally Posted by Vmaxx

Which M track day locations don’t require helmets while driving? I know COTA does but I remember seeing some locations that didn’t require helmets.

Helmets are provided. You don’t have to buy one if you don’t have one already.

[MT6]

I will like to drive at COTA, than I’d relate a bit to the F1 race in Austin

[Vmaxx]

Originally Posted by MAC 1977

Helmets are provided. You don’t have to buy one if you don’t have one already.

Yeah, I’m saying they couldn’t provide one that fit.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

Perhaps you are correct. When I attended my last M Track Days circa 2016, the almost the entire parking lot in attendance was M cars. We had a couple of Porsche and Tesla cars, but easily 95% of the attendees were rolling in M’s including myself.

These cars sell themselves, especially as competition dwindles. Audi's RS models are old, Merc's new AMGs are underwhelming, Alfa Giulia QV was always niche and on its way out, Caddy BWs also very niche, Porsches have gotten super expensive and don't have 4 doors.

BMW M is the de facto choice. No need to hold events to convince people loll.