Went to Buttonwillow Raceway

Villanuevas_BMW · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2003, 01:08 PM

I went to the driving clinic on Sunday and learned some track techniques. And most importantly got to drive the track! I never experienced how the M3 handled the track and I was so impressed it blew my mind. It was like the car was built for the track

. Barely got to take pics but thr raceway sold me a picture of me for $20 plus tax

It was fun but my new Michellin Pilot SX's are gone

Villanuevas_BMW · #2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2003, 01:13 PM

VANOSNinja · #3 (**permalink**) 05-12-2003, 01:28 PM

How much did it cost you to run? Where is buttonwillow?

jvb · #4 (**permalink**) 05-12-2003, 01:39 PM

Buttonwillow is in Bakersfield, CA
126 Miles North of downtown LA
Basically, in the middle of nowhere.
Be careful on your way to/from because
CHP knows where Buttonwillow is.
Performance Driving Clinic is $175.00
Helmet Rental is $10.00
It was perhaps the most fun I've ever had (in a car)
You get about an hour and a half of classroom
and the rest of the day is spent on the track or
waiting for your turn to do laps.
An instructor will drive your car first and then you can
do laps with or without the instructor in the car.
It is FANTASTIC.
They also have a skidpad
which I passed on.
Goto www.buttonwillowraceway.com for more info
John
PS. what up Gino!

pete · #5 (**permalink**) 05-12-2003, 01:55 PM

wait till you get a turn in a real track car, your e36 will seem like a school bus then.

jvb · #6 (**permalink**) 05-12-2003, 02:02 PM

Pete,
I don't remember seeing your big mouth at the track on Sunday????
Were you sleeping or something???

Agaru_Vala · #7 (**permalink**) 05-12-2003, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jvb
Pete,
I don't remember seeing your big mouth at the track on Sunday????
Were you sleeping or something???

LOL, Was it worth the money, cause I was looking to some of the BMW driving courses in NC or SC and I was looking to do the 495 ball park on was wondering how they would compare. The ///M school is like 3k so forget that hehe.

jvb · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2003, 04:18 PM

It was definitely worth it.
Plus.... you walk away with a fantastic T-Shirt that just happens to feature
a picture of a blue bmw...

pete · #9 (**permalink**) 05-12-2003, 04:20 PM

i was at the PCA event in vegas last weekend. i will have pics soon once it is developed.

Eric · #10 (**permalink**) 05-12-2003, 06:08 PM

cool to see other dtmers actually hitting up a real race track

you should bring your 02 next time, that looks like a pretty fun car!

what configuration of the track did you run? did you have "the bus stop"?

MikeV · #11 (**permalink**) 05-12-2003, 08:52 PM

I am going to sign up for one at Watkins Glen I think. First I need to be able to afford brakes/tires.

Villanuevas_BMW · #12 (**permalink**) 05-12-2003, 11:33 PM

No way!!! Whats up John! Glad you joined the site and so soon. The set up was pretty much stock under the hood except a Dinan air box and the Dinan muffler. The suspension was bit upgraded with H&Rs, Bilstein shocks, ACS tower brace and stock sways. The rotors I used were brembos and the calipers were still stock. I also had 18" Michelin Pilot SX's. The instructor took me in my car on the skid pad and could barely put it into a controlled drift. He said the car was pretty well balanced. Im still learning the charatersitcs of the M3