Advanced driving course by BMW, is it worth it?

[P Smit]

Attending any sort of driver training session, is absolutely great fun. You will always take away some useful knowledge that you can apply on our fearfully dangerous roads. The most important one is to drive defensively, to anticipate and to be ready to react on what you anticipate.

The high speed stuff you just enjoy and forget about applying it on the road, 'cause public roads are not Zwartkops!! The problem with high speed training is that you do it in perfect and safe conditions, but driving on the open road is everything but perfect and safe.

I've seen a few @ssholes who thought they gained all Schumie's skills at the high speed course, ending up in big smashes, the first thing they would say would be "it's the other driver's" or the "burst tyre's" fault, while the skidmarks would clearly show that the wanabe racing driver lost it while just being windgat around the bend!!

So, be very careful and openminded about it. Go for the course and enjoy it!!

 

[h4tch3t]

Best thing to do ever...Especially if you drive often and enjoy your vehicle. I've been on quite a couple already, and the info and skills you gain is super valuable on our crappy roads.

Did the following:

BMW Skidpan at Kyalami - Used 330i's
Audi Highspeed at Kyalami - Used A4 2.0T Quattro's
Merc Skidpan / Collision avoidance at Swartkops - Used C63 AMG's
Renault ADC at Swartkops - Used my own Clio Sport

Also did:
Blacktop Rally 2011 with my Clio Sport
Fantastic Racing on Kyalami with those Dodge V10 race cars(epic experience BTW)

All of them teach similar principles w.r.t driving attitude, general safety information, vehicle control, vehicle safety features, etc. It's a real eye opener, and in my humble opinion should be part of our normal licensing procedure.

What I've taken away has changed my perspective on driving, and improved my skills tremendously; to the point where it saved me a couple of times on the road already. It also gave me a sense of controlling my vehicle properly, and being capable to ride on the limit without that weird feeling of "what if I lose it"...

The last two events mentioned were pretty much just balls to the wall racing, and be certain that in both cases on and off the track it's proved itself invaluable.

The next driver event I have planned is Nurburgring in October this year. Hopefully I get to do that before they close....

Anyways, do yourself and your loved ones a favor, and go any of the advanced driving courses available, doesn't matter if you drive the car they use or not. It's worth it...

:thumbs:

 

[Kurt Adv]

I did the Z4 high speed training at Kyalami a few years ago, skidpan training in a 330i, well worth it.....learnt a whole lot, and learnt to appreciate BMW electronic wizardry.....

 

[Twinz]

Totally worthwile. Do it and enjoy the new skills and awareness. :thumbs:

 

[scunick]

Best fun you can have with your clothes on!!!