California Speedway June 10th (on the Roval)

[The HACK]

Posting on behalf of BMW CCA Los Angeles Chapter...

Our premiere event at the L.A. Chapter “Home Track” is undergoing some changes! This year, in order to make the track more affordable in the face of this slow recovering economy, we’ve decided to offer Auto Club Speedway as a one day only event on Friday, June 10th for the attractive pricing of $320! Burn a sick day, start your weekend off right by spending it with us on the track!

We will be continuing our excellent “A+” program that’s been drawing rave reviews from all around the region, with improved traffic management, intense off-track classroom sessions, and fun on-track exercise to bridge the gap between driving schools and “the next level.” Be sure to check with the event organizers to see if you’ve been recommended to take our A+ program.

If you’re not familiar with our High Performance Driving School driver’s training program, it’s been often described as “the most fun you can have with your clothes on.” Advanced driving techniques beyond what you can learn on the street or through most driver’s training programs, techniques that makes you a safer AND faster driver, will be taught in a controlled environment. Passing rules are clearly defined to ensure the utmost safety to you and your vehicle. A qualified instructor will be assigned to you and will be riding with you, not only to instruct you in the fine-art of high performance driving, but to also keep a second set of eyes out for you and your safety. We at the L.A. Chapter of BMW CCA and the extended Pacific Region is quite proud of our record and low rate of on-track incidents. This is THE BEST and safest environment to learn to push you and your car to the limit.

So come drive at the world famous Auto Club Speedway with us!

Register through Constant Contact and pay via check or PayPal. $320 for early bird registration (Early bird closes on May 1st) without garage or $345 with garage. $350 AFTER early bird expires on May 1st!

[wwjd15]

I'm new to the BMW community. I'm interested at this track event, but not sure if I understand it correctly. So, the reason why it's $320 that expensive because of full day instructor in car? Is this more like a driver clinic or HPDE?

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by wwjd15

I'm new to the BMW community. I'm interested at this track event, but not sure if I understand it correctly. So, the reason why it's $320 that expensive because of full day instructor in car? Is this more like a driver clinic or HPDE?

This is a HPDS (as in school, not just an event). BMW CCA by-laws require that a full-time instructor be available in the passenger seat of every attendee. Whether you're a seasoned veteran, or a first timer on track, there will be an in-car instructor available to you.

And the COST of renting California Speedway roval is prohibitively expensive. Comparing the L.A. Chapter 1 day school to other 1 day events that provides no instruction, or instruction optional, it isn't that far off.

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by sorinel999

300 dollars for just one day? Are you people high? What's wrong with the $175 that nasa charges for one day or the $200 per day that the sd chapter charged at chuckwalla or the $150 per day that the porsche club charges for their track days?

I this event meant only for the rich bmw owners from malibu?

[joke]Wait, you guys drive a $70,000 car and complain about paying an extra $100 for a driving school?[/joke]

The inappropriate jokes aside...

Chuckwalla cost Sandy Eggo $4,500 a day to rent. California Speedway cost $9,000 a day to rent. There's a good reason why Chuckwalla is a lot cheaper.

NASA does not mandate an in-car instructor for anything. In fact I think they provide instructor ONLY if you request it in HPDE 1 (I may be mistaken). BMW CCA by-laws mandate that we provide in-car instructors for every single participant. So in order to have an event you need at least 1 instructor for every 2 students, and they (instructors) are hard to come by, meaning we can only really hope to get about 80 participants due to limitation, unlike NASA or Speedventures where as many car as possible is accommodated with shorter run groups that may be impacted by racers and race incidents.

I personally know the POC chief instructor in the region, and I don't think they charge $150 for California Speedway. Unless it's the infield only course.

[aus]

The LA CCA runs a VERY GOOD program, particularly if you're new to tracking. The size of the run groups are not huge and every car has an instructor who has gone through a teaching program to learn how to communicate with the student.
It's a very SAFE way to get on the track with your $70k car.
You don't pass unless you get a point by and every car has an instructor to prevent the bone heads from doing something stupid. The classroom time is also very good.

If you're talking PCA, you have to own a Porsche to be a member in Cali, unless they changed that rule recently.

All the instructors at the CCA event's are volunteers except for 1/2 a room and a lunch. And they're not staying at the Ritz when they have an event. Lunch is a box lunch and is sometimes covered by a dealer. They do it because they like to teach. They don't even get a session out at some events.
I don't know what it's like to run with either of those organizations, but this is an excellent program and well worth the money, IMO.

.

[The HACK]

The infield only portion of the track is significantly cheaper to rent. I just double checked our contract from a private event last year. The infield ONLY is $9,000 to rent. The Roval is $16,000 a day. There really is no way that BMW CCA can hope to offer Cal Speedway at the cost of some other organizations at other tracks.

The economy of scale simply can not afford it. With other organizations where there's 5, 6 groups plus a race and time trial all running on the same day, you can have upwards of 120+ cars at a single event each paying $225, with only maybe 1/4 of the attendee needing any form of instruction. With instruction mandated for everyone, and with 80 some cars as dictated by the available instructors, it is simply not possible to price our schools like NASA or SpeedVentures.

However, what you DO get with BMW CCA is unparalleled instruction. How often can you claim to have the Grand Am rookie of the year as your instructor? Or a multiple time winner driving a very successful yellow and blue BMW program in the same Grand Am? I've had the fortune to have been coached by both. In my not so humble opinion, the instruction from BMW CCA is about as close to pro level instruction like those of Skip Barber and Russell schools but cost moch less.

p.s.: Before you ask, it was VJ Mirzayan and Matt Bell. They both came up through the ranks as BMW CCA drivers and instructors.

[mastek]

Highly Recommend this event for anyone who has never tracked their BMW -- or is intimidated. You will learn alot and have a blast.

[The HACK]

BUMP! Last week to sign up for the early bird pricing!

[RayC]

Dang this sounds fun, wish I was there. I totally need the instruction.

Free bump!

[The HACK]

Bump. Apparently the "early bird" sign-up has been extended to this Sunday to accommodate those who wish to attend the Autocross at Santa Anita.

[aus]

Just got an email from the LA CCA saying this may be the last event they have there.
I know the price is up there with Laguna Seca.

[chili cheese]

Anyone going to this? I'm still considering but not sure due to the Friday.

[Jeff_DML]

Originally Posted by chili cheese

Anyone going to this? I'm still considering but not sure due to the Friday.

I am

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by aus

Just got an email from the LA CCA saying this may be the last event they have there.
I know the price is up there with Laguna Seca.

Had a conversation with the DEC chair today at the Santa Anita autocross and was told the attendee numbers are up to about 70 now and the chapter should break even. She also said about a dozen ax'ers signed up today so barring unforeseen circumstances this event should end up in the black for the first time in the last 5 years.

Still doesn't mean this won't be the last California Speedway school, from the sound of it we will continue to re-evaluate next year regarding the merits of using this track, but having a successful one-day school will go a long way this year.

There's some consideration for doing next year's event on the infield only...would anyone be interested if it's significantly cheaper? I believe you get a massive discount if the oval is rented out by a NASCAR team for testing.

[albert1028]

I'm going too! First time on the track with a car, have a few years experience on a bike. Wonder if any thing transfer over to car?

Anyone else going to this?

[OC3]

I'd sign up if it was on a weekend...

[LateBraking]

Originally Posted by OC3

I'd sign up if it was on a weekend...

Indeed. Work certainly gets in the way. Sounds fun though.

[aus]

Originally Posted by The HACK

Had a conversation with the DEC chair today at the Santa Anita autocross and was told the attendee numbers are up to about 70 now and the chapter should break even. She also said about a dozen ax'ers signed up today so barring unforeseen circumstances this event should end up in the black for the first time in the last 5 years.

Still doesn't mean this won't be the last California Speedway school, from the sound of it we will continue to re-evaluate next year regarding the merits of using this track, but having a successful one-day school will go a long way this year.

There's some consideration for doing next year's event on the infield only...would anyone be interested if it's significantly cheaper? I believe you get a massive discount if the oval is rented out by a NASCAR team for testing.

Thanks HACK. I think it's the oval that's really the draw for this track since the infield is pretty flat. Maybe a two day event with one day being the ROVAL and the other day being the infield would be more interesting. Or if it was an additional track day event during the year in addition to the ROVAL and Willow. Any word if there will be 3 or 4 run groups? I know they have too many B's.

Is Willow Springs still on later this year? It would be nice if it was before the time change for an extra hour of daylight. I'm just happy the CCA can still do events. Have they looked at splitting a weekend with the Porsche Owners Club, Audi Club or some other driving organization?

Originally Posted by albert1028

I'm going too! First time on the track with a car, have a few years experience on a bike. Wonder if any thing transfer over to car?

Anyone else going to this?

That bike experience will totally help you. Hope you don't get too slowed down if you're in the D group.

Originally Posted by OC3

I'd sign up if it was on a weekend...

From what HACK has said in the past, it's just too much money and not enough people sign up- probably due to the cost. Just take a day off. It's well worth it.

Here's a very good link for how much it costs to run a HPDE: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...49&postcount=3

The instruction is GREAT and beginner's be MUCH better by the end of the day. Too bad it's not 2 days, because the second day is when you really start going fast.
Then you go out with an instructor and realize you're still SLOOOOWWW. But it's still a blast.

.

[OC3]

Originally Posted by aus

From what HACK has said in the past, it's just too much money and not enough people sign up- probably due to the cost. Just take a day off. It's well worth it.

Here's a very good link for how much it costs to run a HPDE: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...49&postcount=3

The instruction is GREAT and beginner's be MUCH better by the end of the day. Too bad it's not 2 days, because the second day is when you really start going fast.
Then you go out with an instructor and realize you're still SLOOOOWWW. But it's still a blast.

.

Yeah, 10-4 on the reason. If I was on salary w/ some company, I suppose I can take a vacation or sick day and go to the track. But, I'm self-employed, bill my clients in 15 min increments; as such, I stand to lose too much money if I take a full weekday off (not to mention spending money on that day).

For that reason, haven't had a vacation in over 6 years (other than weekend getaways) and haven't gone to what-appears-to-be-very-fun BMW M driving school (I think it's Thurs & Fri, and due to the timezone difference, you gotta fly out from LA on Wed morning - that's 3 whole days with no billable income!).

Gotta keep plugging away to pay for the things that have monthly obligations.

[chili cheese]

Just checked and this event is closed/full. I guess I missed it.....damn it.

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by chili cheese

Just checked and this event is closed/full. I guess I missed it.....damn it.

Email the organizer and ask if you can be wait listed. The reason it's closed right now is because we don't have enough instructors. Another call-out to instructors has been issued and we may pick up a handful before the event starts.

If she says no, then it means *I* am in for a very long day that Friday...

[aus]

Looks like the B group is saturated. I got an email asking for anyone who wants to move up to A. I'd rather move down to C since I'm a new B.
I hope they get a few more instructors.