M5 Lime Rock M Driver Training Experience Report

[richard in NC]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Guys,

Since I was apparently the only member who went to the Lime Rock M5 Experience [event details], I should share my thoughts. It was more or less a 1 day M School but a bit more advanced, being at a full track.

It was my first time to Lime Rock or even the Connecticut area, so I wanted to go as much for the experience and fall scenery. I had done the 2 day school at the Performance Center this February with the E60 M5, and got a brief drive in the F10 M5 at a corporate seminar event there as well.

I stayed at the Interlaken Inn. It was nice but nothing special compared to other top Inns. The restaurant was good with a small selection of nicely prepared dinners. All entrees were locally sourced and with natural/organic ingredients. I met some of the Performance Center instructors and chatted with them a bit. They discussed having 30+ folks from BMW Brazil there the first day.

I attended the Tuesday session. We had only 13 folks for 3 groups. That gave us plenty of track time. Most had at least some track experience but a few did not. It actually sprinkled rain upon arrival but everything dried out by track time. We had an hour of chalk talk first to orient us to the track and upcoming sessions.

I first did the skid pad in an M3. With only 4 persons, we got a lot of laps. After some skid recovery tries, I attempted holding a drift and got 1/2 a lap.

We then went to practice the Autocross course in 1M's. This was about their last use, being replaced by M6s soon. If you want a fun little pocket rocket, be on the look out for 8 of them real soon.

We then did high speed ABS braking exercises in M3's and got a few laps in on track. Then a break for lunch.

We went back out to the Autocross for timed laps in the 1M's. I tried getting up to speed too soon on cold tires and almost spun out, but I caught it and did my 5 laps. My times were good, only 1 sec or so off the fastest pace but it wasn't good enough to place in the top 3. The 1M is a great car but harder to stay on edge than the M3.

Then was my turn in the M5 on track. Mine was Space Gray. We did lead follows with 2-3 cars behind an instructor. Every few laps, we'd rotate who was first behind the instructors. We got up to speed quickly and I didn't really have the time to settle into the car. Unfortunately the lack of adjustable side bolsters was really noticed. Compared to the 1M and M3, I felt I was swimming in the seat until I settled in. The M5 is definitely fast and quite a thrill to drive at speed. It has good balance and great grip but it does feel big compared to the M3. It actually felt a lot like a bigger, faster, slightly softer version of my '08 550i M Sport which is not a bad thing. But I needed more than the 15-20 laps to begin to be really comfortable on the edge.

We then did laps in the M3s. I felt immediately comfortable in it. I got video of the M3 session that I am uploading. Unfortunately, the M5 video didn't take so I can't compare speeds or lap times between the 2 cars.

Next up was an all too short ride with the instructors in the M5s. One lap for speed and one lap for show. Unfortunately, I forgot to try and at least get an iPhone video. We then had a little happy hour to end the day. It was a great experience but ended all too soon.

I then spent a few more days touring Connecticut, Vermont, NH, and western Mass, before flying back home. Here are some pics.

EDIT: The video is ready. Be sure to watch near the end. Someone had some fun.

[mdernst]

Great write up and pictures - thanks.

Mike

[YodaSyrup]

Nice write up, sounds like a great M day.

[MMC2489]

I was at the Tuesday event. It WAS a great day. Not sure if it was worth $2500. But, seeing an M3 with vomit all over the dash was worth all the marbles. There were two motion sickness casualties during the day. One guy couldn't participate at all during the day, and reluctantly accepted his diploma at the end of the event. Another guy said he felt ill in the Uphill and booted all over the interior of an M3. Felt so bad for the kid who had to clean that one up. I managed 3rd in 1M timed event. Blamed not getting 1st due to shoddy instruction. My instructor got a laugh out of it.

[ManhattanBMW]

Originally Posted by MMC2489

I was at the Tuesday event. It WAS a great day. Not sure if it was worth $2500. But, seeing an M3 with vomit all over the dash was worth all the marbles. There were two motion sickness casualties during the day. One guy couldn't participate at all during the day, and reluctantly accepted his diploma at the end of the event. Another guy said he felt ill in the Uphill and booted all over the interior of an M3. Felt so bad for the kid who had to clean that one up. I managed 3rd in 1M timed event. Blamed not getting 1st due to shoddy instruction. My instructor got a laugh out of it.

Actually, they made a mistake in reading out the times, and you had the second fastest time of 40:63.

[MMC2489]

Still first loser. Ha Ha. I wish I had that auto cross track in my back yard.

[GOLFFRR]

sweet! great experience Im jealous

[richard in NC]

Did anyone get their videos to work in the M5s? I think the board would love to see them. My group headed straight to the track and apparently the SW needs to reset with a stopped car, like happened with my M3 session.

[MMC2489]

No video from either M3's or M5's. Video is corrupted. Couldn't get it to work on PC or Mac. I can hear the guy talking. But, the screen is all black with just the lap counter in the bottom. Went to Race Keeper's site to see if they had any support. Nothing I found was successful. Not as easy an interface as they made it look in the classroom.

[bradone1]

Originally Posted by MMC2489

No video from either M3's or M5's. Video is corrupted. Couldn't get it to work on PC or Mac. I can hear the guy talking. But, the screen is all black with just the lap counter in the bottom. Went to Race Keeper's site to see if they had any support. Nothing I found was successful. Not as easy an interface as they made it look in the classroom.

Sounds like a video codec issue

[chong0]

This is the same camera setup as the PCD m school? Make sure your video driver is up to date- prior to updating I was only able to get sound.

If they gave you a USB drive, read the help file. Tells you how to update video driver.

[Bubajay]

Body Roll ftw in the 4th image.

[JJFESQ]

I know this is lame but I don't often drive stick. Can you do the class dct only?

[OSAB1]

Nice story. Sounds like a nice chill day at the track. Don't beat each other up over times.

[earlfocht]

Hey all, I was there too (in Richard's group, actually — I'm Marco, owning the black 1M).

Thanks for posting the video. None of my videos were captured, disappointingly — the M5, the M3, or the instructor-driven M5 hot laps. At least I can show yours to my family to explain what I did.

Otherwise, it was an awesome day. My first time ever on a track. I'd definitely do other events in the future.

Also, I don't know if this helps to clarify your 1M autocross discussion, but attached is a photo of the complete timesheet:

[Snertz]

nice pics! hmm this would explain the semi hauling a trailer full of 1Ms and M3s that I saw on my way home from work in Brewster..

[Jason]

Take the bickering about laptimes to PM or offline folks.

[AGAVELEK]

Originally Posted by richard in NC

If you want a fun little pocket rocket, be on the look out for 8 of them real soon.

What exactly do you mean by this???
Do you have any details?

[Hecobb74]

Originally Posted by AGAV13

What exactly do you mean by this???

I believe he is eluding to the fact that these 8 will be on sale soon.

[Jason]

Here are some photos from the event, taken by BMW photographer Jim Perry.

[earlfocht]

Originally Posted by Hecobb74

I believe he is eluding to the fact that these 8 will be on sale soon.

That's exactly what we were told: those 8 1Ms (4 white, 4 orange, the ones I saw had 5–10k miles) will be unloaded on the used market (somewhere...) within the next few months after they replace them imminently with M6s.

Glad they didn't swap them out sooner — the M6 would have been far too big for that fun little autocross track.

[VAUROS]

Originally Posted by JJFESQ

I know this is lame but I don't often drive stick. Can you do the class dct only?

I think you are allowed to sit out that portion of the event if you don't drive manual well.