[chrisbferg]

Hi, Guys -

Can I get some feedback on Barber's Performance Driving School (Limerock) vs. M School? My wife is going to spoil me with one or the other for Christmas, so it's decision making time.

I have heard good things about both programs. If I actually owned an M car, I would go to M School hands down - but with an Audi A4 now and a 335i coming in December, I'm a little up in the air. The allure of driving a number of different vehicles at Barber is pretty enticing, I must say. Ultimately, I am after the best experience which will translate to me being a better driver in my 335.

Any opinions (esp. informed opinions) would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[meruyailir]

How much does such a course cost? Sorry I respond to your question with another unrelated question.

[ward]

I would imagine the M school partly trying to sell you on why M cars are better while the barber school teaches driving only


I'd choose the sales pitch free (and probably cheaper) course

[chrisbferg]

Barber is a two day course @ $2895

M School is a two and a half day course @ $3.650 (inclusive of accomodations)

I can't speak to a "sales agenda," but if I have a brand new 335 which i will be leasing for two years (with an eye on the horizon for the new M!), then I'm partially sold walking in, right? I just want the best instruction, seat time, overall experience, blah, blah......

[RichP]

Can you find the "syllabus" for each program; it would probably help you decide.

Limerock is a great track, BTW. Ive done a few schools there. (BMWCCA schools, BYOC (bring your own car)

Not sure your timeframe either, but its going to be snowing in CT in december; you probably couldnt attend the school until spring.

[NewMoses]

Honestly? You can schedule a weekend at a first-rate track with a personal instructor for about $500!

On the west coast we're talking about Laguna Seca, Infineon or Thunderhill. The instructors are fantastic and you will learn a lot and have an absolute blast.

Check out Limerocks calendar and sign up with a driving group.

[RichP]

Originally Posted by NewMoses

Honestly? You can schedule a weekend at a first-rate track with a personal instructor for about $500!

On the west coast we're talking about Laguna Seca, Infineon or Thunderhill. The instructors are fantastic and you will learn a lot and have an absolute blast.

Check out Limerocks calendar and sign up with a driving group.

This assumes he wants to take his new 335 on the track, uninsured.

[NewMoses]

Originally Posted by RichP

This assumes he wants to take his new 335 on the track, uninsured.

You can drive very safely at 70%. The beginner groups only allow "wave by" passing in the straights. Pretty safe, but I definitely understand the concern.

[ward]

Originally Posted by RichP

This assumes he wants to take his new 335 on the track, uninsured.

many insurance companies cover you as long as it's a school and not a timed competition.


nothing wrong with taking your car on the track, as long as you're with a well run professional group the danger is relatively low (knocks on wood, I"m heading to the track next friday)

[hkj]

I agree with NewMoses. If it's a one time deal and a gift from your wife, you can't really go wrong with either one. Go and have a blast.

But if this is going to be a hobby, why not take that money and attend 10 HPDEs by local BMWCCA or car clubs.

-hkj

[carjon]

Did the Barber Lime Rock 2 day school and it was a blast. In the driving schools you DON'T get out on the actual racing track. You spend time on special portions of the site and a lot of time on the autocross track. You learn driving techniques (applicable to racing) but not true racing. Each location and the vehicle you drive on it, is designed for specific lessions. The autocross was great. In my class they let people, after signing your life away, drive your own car on the autocross course.

[noro]

I went to barber. If you can do the 3 day racing school. BMWs are nice but driving the formula dodge cars is something else.

Also once you go to barber you get a license and you can lap in their more advanced car anytime you want.

[heezyo2o]

I never ended up going, but I was shopping between Barber and bondurant at the time. Also, I hear the derek daly school in Vegas is supposed to be pretty good.

I forget the specific details, but I remember reading that you don't get as much seat time with barber as you do with the others.

[Driv3r]

if you want to have fun driving bimmers all day go to M if you want to learn how to properly execute race maneuvers, go to barber

[findtom]

Originally Posted by ward

many insurance companies cover you as long as it's a school and not a timed competition.


nothing wrong with taking your car on the track, as long as you're with a well run professional group the danger is relatively low (knocks on wood, I"m heading to the track next friday)

Cool. With the Z4 or the E90? (I'm guessing Z4 )

[petesamprs]

I did the one day high performance driving school there, which I enjoyed. In my review you'll read the thing that makes it worth is the track time, albeit short. But the skills you learn are very helpful.

Soon afterwards I did a track day with NJ BMWCCA, also at Lime Rock, and found the skills I learned at Barber come in handy. For example, threshold braking was a skill learned at Barber that I used when out on the track. I was much more comfortable on the track than all of the other "first-timers".

Therefore, my recommendation is to do the high performance driving school first, since it teaches you important skills but in normal everyady cars. With this foundation you can start doing track days or do the Barber 2-day racing school and be much more comfortable.