BMW M School Photos - Finally Uploaded!

DSC_0092_2, originally uploaded by Murph32256.

Late last June I was lucky enough to attend the One Day BMW M Driving School at the BMW Performance Driving Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina. I went as one of a two-man team for BMW Blog and got the opportunity to play around with the full range of M cars available at the time. After some morning instruction on car control our class was broken into three teams with a team for each type of M car - M3, M5 and M6.

Most of the day we worked on seating position and eyes up exercises and one of the most difficult-to-comprehend-but-it-truly-works concepts of sufficient braking to give you speed through and out of the corner. I was pleased that by the end of the day I managed to win the fastest lap time in my team for the M3 circuit and still managed a fourth overall ( 1/10th of a second off of third place!). It was an awesome experience - I know we're hoping to do the 2 day course in Virginia later in the year - apparently you're given a helmet and are taking M5's up to about 150MPH on the VIR. I think I could be down for that.

However, after nearly a year, I've finally put my full roster of photos online from the driving event plus a few photos I took the evening before of the display cars in front of the facility. The photos were primarily shot by a Nikon D40( a point and shoot was used for the video and a few other pics) with an 18-55mm VR lens. These are my best shots ever but they came out well as this was only my second outing with the D40.

You can read the full story of my experience over Flickr and worth giving a looksie at. Definitely something any car fan needs to attend.


You can read my full account of what we did while at M School over here on BMW Blog.

Rally of Morocco and a flying 911

According to John Glynn Classic Porsche Blog, it looks like the Rally Morocco is going to be up and running later on this year. if I had the funds and a vintage car - I would be all over this thing. Here's some footage to get people in the mood for it - a fast-moving, fully-prepped orange 911 juxtaposed to the dry East African landscape.



Source: John Glynn Classic Porsche Blog

Sneaky Sneaky

2008 Aston Martin DBS, originally uploaded by Brajeshwar.

I'm not a bike guy but...

Brave Souls // Steve Plater @ the 2009 Isle of Man TT [VIDEO], originally uploaded by ColdTrackDays.com.

I'm starting to rethink that - reference this video of the 2009 Isle of Man TT race - more ballsy than F1. Only two, wheels, sometimes one, and you're hitting crests at 175MPH. Nuts.

2010 24 Hours of Nurburgring

Audi R8 LMS, originally uploaded by itwasntandy.

Don't forget - One of the biggest, most beloved races in Europe is running this weekend - the 24 Hours of Nurburgring - the ultimate traffic jam at the Green Hell.

You can watch a live streaming of the race from the ADAC 24 Hours website or Axis of Oversteer mentioned they might try to get something on it up - if they aren't too busy watching the Monaco Grand Prix!

Should be a good race this weekend - definitely one of attrition. If I can find more streaming sources I'll post them up.

Monaco + Rolling Stones

Le Combat Royale de Monaco: Duncan v Joaquín from Alex King & Mito Media on Vimeo.

Fantastic video of the 2008 Historic Monaco Grand Prix - an event I need to put on the bucket list. Also, great to see a lot of time with Duncan Dayton who's won the event numerous times now. Mix in some Rolling Stones with Pre-1975 Formula One cars like the Tyrrells, McLarens and Lotuses(Loti?) and you've got a killer combo.

Axis posted this video of the running of the 2010 Historic GP which is worth checking out.

Imagine the smell of burning castor oil... from AC MCoupe on Vimeo.

Awkward F1: Cervert Edition

Francois Cervert was an accomplished pianist, up and coming racing prodigy of Jackie Stewart. He was known for his sense of humor in the pits - however, Cervert is the least comical person in this photo.



(Source: Formula1.net)

Guilty Pleasure: Ford Focus RS

Most people don't get being into cars. A good example is the MINI Cooper S - when I tell a non-car person I want one, most don't get it and think that someone who is about 6'4 shouldn't drive it. My response? Squeeze into it and you'll change your mind.

The Ford Focus RS is that car that I want to own - in the awful, bright, snotty green color - but I wouldn't want anyone to know about it. Most people would laugh at me and just say "it's a Ford Focus, what the hell is wrong with you?" Of course, most Ford Focuses don't come with 305HP so I guess that'll help me get over the negative remarks.




(Source: 0-60 Magazine)

Porsche Balls

This video cropped up a few months ago but I ran into it at 0-60 Magazine today and wanted to post it. Check out:

1. The amount of opposite lock being dialed in

2. how close he comes towards the end of the video in passing people.

Sir Jackie

I've hit upon BMW M3's (probably way too much) lately so its time for something a little different.

After watching the Spanish Grand Prix today, I decided to pick up reading my copy of Winning Isn't Enough - Jackie Stewart's autobiography. It is fairly interesting read if not a bit long for all that he goes into about his career. He spends quite a lot of time focused on the early 1970's when Tyrrell was at its peak with the 005/006 chassis and Francois Cervert as his protege. I found this video I'd never come across before about those times(plus his win at the Nurburgring in '68 with a 4 minute lead and speedy tour of Monaco). There are also some cool voice overlays by Sean Connery and Murray Walker.




This clip is very short but, interestingly, Jackie mentioned this interview in his autobiography. According to the book, Senna was so mad after the interview that he told Jackie to not bother asking for another interview again because Ayrton wasn't going to speak him again. Ironically, a few years later Senna reached out to Jackie as he felt that safety needed to be improved in Grand Prix racing. Shortly after that - 16 years ago this month - Senna would become the last casualty of Formula One. It's great to see two men who changed the face of the sport in their respective times in an interview together.

Coupe. Sport. Light.

CSL., originally uploaded by Denniske.

Happy Sunday!



Credit to www.dennisnoten.com

E46 CSL + E92 M3

BMW CSL vs. E92 Edition - Free in the City - Road Magazine from Trackday Films on Vimeo.

Great video with two fantastic cars - one of which is my ideal BMW, I'll let you guess which one.

Pure DTM Glory

BMW pretty much dominated DTM throughout the late 80's onto the early 90's with the E30 M3 up against the Mercedes 190E Cosworth and Alfas and Ford Sierras. However, after the early 1990's and the switch to the E36 platform for the 3 Series BMW withdrew from DTM eventually only leaving Mercedes and Audi to duke it out. However, many would argue that the period of BMW's involvement was the heyday of DTM - a time when, from what videos reveal, drivers had absolutely no regard for anyone else on the track much less the mechanics who worked to set up the car!





To celebrate news that BMW is coming back to DTM in 2012 Jalopnik posted this now somewhat old and well-exposed video but its a great video to see true paint-swapping, sparkshooting, Teutonic craziness. Also - this music is off the chain.