So I took the BMW CCA driving class at Second Creek yesterday. I showed up at 6:45 in the morning, and was there until 5:30 last night. They split us into 4 groups based on experience. Each group had four 20 minute track sessions during the day, and classroom sessions when you weren't on the track. On all track sessions, you had an instructor with you.
The classroom instruction was all stuff I had heard before (late vs early apexing, oversteer vs understeer, etc), but the track time was fantastic. You usually have a different instructor each time, so you get different pointers with each guy. By the fourth session, I was really getting quick, coming out of some turns at 70mph in a 4-wheel drift!! It's amazing how fast you can go (much faster than you would think) once you learn the proper line. It's amazing how much faster you are by the end of the day, compared to your first session. You really learn a lot, and it just wets your appetite for more.
During lunch, we got to ride with the instructors in their cars. I rode with a guy that had an E30 M3 (the earlier 4-banger M3), and man was he quick. He was carrying so much speed through the turns that I actually started to get carsick (it's much worse being a passenger than the driver). It was a great demonstration of how fast you can actually go with the right training and a decent car. Believe me, it's much faster than you would ever think possible. That just gets you pumped up to learn more.
I just put some Mintex M1144 pads on the front of my SVT, and I highly recommend them. No fade and great pedal feel, even when really hot. I also discovered that the SVT clutch is not up to really hard track driving. It starts to slip some when it gets really hot, so I don't expect it's going to last too much longer if I keep doing track sessions. I'm thinking about swapping in the Unorthadox Stage1 clutch kit, and maybe a Quaife.
So I found out that the next driving class is at the Pueblo track on August 25th. Anyone interested? If so, I will find out when the signup is and I can get some copies of the signup sheets from my friend in the BMW Club. I believe the cost is the same ($145). I think that BMW owners get preference, but there are usually enough slots for us non-BMW guys to get in as well.
