BMW M3 Master at Bedford

[vixen1700]

So I'm cashing in my Christmas present voucher from my wife tomorrow, the BMW M3 Master afternoon at Bedford and am quite excited.

Anybody else done this one in the past? I've heard some quite good things about it, like the fact the intstructors like you to press on and the like.

Anybody else?

[vixen1700]

Well that was very enjoyable, a decent time driving pretty fast and being encouraged to go faster. Pretty tiring and the hour was just about right, although I don't think I'll ever end up a 'tame racing driver' by any stretch of the imagination.

Good organisation with just two of us out on the track, there was plenty of time to enjoy it.

What I didn't know was until going, was that all the Palmersport cars run on LPG, which was something that surprised me especially hurtling down the straight in the M3.

Well recommended.

[nsa]

I was wondering how this went. I've driven the M3 GTP at Palmersport as part of the full day. It was my favourite car. Were you on the south circuit for the full hour, and how much of that was actual driving time?

[vixen1700]

I'd say the majority of just over an hour was driving, which as I mentioned got quite tiring. We had a brief stop after about 12 laps then off again for about the same, then just as the rain started the instructor took me out for some sprited 3/4 laps with added wet sliding.

Yes, it was the South track, pretty fast with speed touching 130 on the back straight, but I just couldn't get those chicanes near the viewing area and constantly mucked them up with terrible exits out of them.

Think it worked out at £185, as my wife got me the standard voucher then the inboard DVD, but they cancelled that earlier in the year, so my upgrade worked out at £50 or so.

Really enjoyed it, although I did come away thinking the V8 M3 didn't seem as brutal as my neighbour's E46 M3 CSL. (although I wouldn't say no to one )

[peatmoor]

Good to hear Vixen, me and a mate were considering the same thing as a precursor to doing a track day in our own cars - get some proper one-on-one time with an instructor for a decent price and (assume) a bit less traffic on the track.

[vixen1700]

peatmoor said:

Good to hear Vixen, me and a mate were considering the same thing as a precursor to doing a track day in our own cars - get some proper one-on-one time with an instructor for a decent price and (assume) a bit less traffic on the track.

Yeah, it's worth it.

The one thing I found hard to comprehend was the intensity of the very sharp braking then the full on acceleration on the nice sweeping corners. Quite a revelation.

[nsa]

I think £185 isn't too bad for what you get. I love the chicane. If you can come barrelling in off the straight and slow it enough for the sharp right, it's a great feeling.

Did it really not feel as quick as a CSL? I've never driven one so can't compare.

[vixen1700]

nsa said:

Did it really not feel as quick as a CSL? I've never driven one so can't compare.

It felt quick, and was quick when I eventually looked at the speedo to see what I was getting up to, but maybe it was because it was on an empty track, but the CSL on the road is magnificently balanced and the surge of acceleration just seems more intense.

I was at a CSL day at Elms with my neighbour last year and some of the CSL owners said the same thing that the V8 M3 feels like a 7 series in comparison. Brutal, just brutal.

[peatmoor]

Will be a lot to do with the weight of the thing. I always feel big heavy cars don't feel at dramatic as small lightweights. Had a "supercar experience day" thing and the Elise felt much faster than the R8 or the DB9.

How many cars were on the track as you were going round?

[vixen1700]

peatmoor said:

How many cars were on the track as you were going round?

One other M3, that was it. That surprised me as when I rang up to book it they said that was the only available date until August, so I imagined it would be quite full. That was a pleasent surprise.

My missus quite fancies doing a Caterham drive after we had a little tour round the Palmersport workshop afterwards.

[nsa]

vixen1700 said:

It felt quick, and was quick when I eventually looked at the speedo to see what I was getting up to, but maybe it was because it was on an empty track, but the CSL on the road is magnificently balanced and the surge of acceleration just seems more intense.

I was at a CSL day at Elms with my neighbour last year and some of the CSL owners said the same thing that the V8 M3 feels like a 7 series in comparison. Brutal, just brutal.

I see what you mean. It's no lightweight.

I thought this would help clarify things:

E92 V CSL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GotafHcj52Y

but the only thing I understood in the whole video was "neugh, bang! bang!".

Edited by nsa on Thursday 12th July 18:10