BHR4CE1
08-12-2007, 01:43 PM
:race: 8-) :race: 8-) :race: 8-)
At the Euro show in San Diego this past weekend, I met a gentleman named Dan (Xman…this was the guy that built that red M3 4 door that was parked behind me) who, among other automobile related things, is one of the driving teachers for the national BMW club and worked with the Z8 driving school in SC as an instructor. We chatted about SMG, DSG, etc, and I told him that I really never use the manual function of the SMG because I felt that the car was fast enough for my needs using the auto mode. He was stunned!
He then started explaining all sorts of things to me regarding the whole driving experience and how most people that purchase “performance” cars might use 20%-40% of the engineering that went in to the design of the car. He said that after his course, the students never really questioned why the car they were driving cost them as much as it did. We talked about little basics like how to hold the steering wheel, how to execute a turn properly, how to shift by the sound of the engine, and other basics that someone with an M6 should already know. (I didn't)
He suggested that I take part in the BMW Driving School, but advised that I start shifting the car manually from here out so I am not so concerned with the shifting aspect of driving that I don’t retain and understand what other things we are taught at the BMW School.
So…….Today, when I left the hotel in San Diego to head home, I decided to FORCE myself to shift the whole way home. He told me to try the different settings and include the one where you turn off the DSC. Well, let me tell you! I had a ball! It was fun to say the least. I am not saying that I will not use the auto mode again, but I will try to use manual mode whenever possible. It wasn’t as involved as I thought it would be.
I really pushed the car on the trip home. There was a new (dealer tags) silver Porsche Turbo behind me when I pulled out of the gas station after filling up (with one of the ugliest front scoops I have ever seen…it was huge!) just off the 73. He decided to whip around me and I took the bait. We were pretty much neck in neck overall from light to light. I thought those cars were supposed to really spank the M6??? Once we got on the 73, he never got more than a full car length ahead of me. I would take him at first for about 2 seconds, but then he would be right up there and pull ahead a bit. I was chirping into second and third gear. I was in the highest manual mode with the DSC off. I was amazed how fast the gears changed. I hope I didn’t hurt the car, because it was shifting pretty hard. WOO HOO it was fun, and the car sure sounded nice! He took an exit, and that was the end of that. I ran another guy on the 405 (driving a new ‘vette but not the Z06) but it seemed to be no contest. He just couldn’t keep up with me at all. It felt like slow motion compared to the runs with the Porsche. I imagine that if I actually take some lessons, this might really be fun!
Anyway, I guess I will check into the schools that BMW offers and take it from there. I just wanted Mal and Xmn (it was great seeing you and the family this weekend at the show) to know that I CAN shift if I want to! I might try to contact Dan again, and perhaps hire him to give me a few private lessons before I go to the BMW School.
:race: 8-) :race: 8-) :race: 8-)
At the Euro show in San Diego this past weekend, I met a gentleman named Dan (Xman…this was the guy that built that red M3 4 door that was parked behind me) who, among other automobile related things, is one of the driving teachers for the national BMW club and worked with the Z8 driving school in SC as an instructor. We chatted about SMG, DSG, etc, and I told him that I really never use the manual function of the SMG because I felt that the car was fast enough for my needs using the auto mode. He was stunned!
He then started explaining all sorts of things to me regarding the whole driving experience and how most people that purchase “performance” cars might use 20%-40% of the engineering that went in to the design of the car. He said that after his course, the students never really questioned why the car they were driving cost them as much as it did. We talked about little basics like how to hold the steering wheel, how to execute a turn properly, how to shift by the sound of the engine, and other basics that someone with an M6 should already know. (I didn't)
He suggested that I take part in the BMW Driving School, but advised that I start shifting the car manually from here out so I am not so concerned with the shifting aspect of driving that I don’t retain and understand what other things we are taught at the BMW School.
So…….Today, when I left the hotel in San Diego to head home, I decided to FORCE myself to shift the whole way home. He told me to try the different settings and include the one where you turn off the DSC. Well, let me tell you! I had a ball! It was fun to say the least. I am not saying that I will not use the auto mode again, but I will try to use manual mode whenever possible. It wasn’t as involved as I thought it would be.
I really pushed the car on the trip home. There was a new (dealer tags) silver Porsche Turbo behind me when I pulled out of the gas station after filling up (with one of the ugliest front scoops I have ever seen…it was huge!) just off the 73. He decided to whip around me and I took the bait. We were pretty much neck in neck overall from light to light. I thought those cars were supposed to really spank the M6??? Once we got on the 73, he never got more than a full car length ahead of me. I would take him at first for about 2 seconds, but then he would be right up there and pull ahead a bit. I was chirping into second and third gear. I was in the highest manual mode with the DSC off. I was amazed how fast the gears changed. I hope I didn’t hurt the car, because it was shifting pretty hard. WOO HOO it was fun, and the car sure sounded nice! He took an exit, and that was the end of that. I ran another guy on the 405 (driving a new ‘vette but not the Z06) but it seemed to be no contest. He just couldn’t keep up with me at all. It felt like slow motion compared to the runs with the Porsche. I imagine that if I actually take some lessons, this might really be fun!
Anyway, I guess I will check into the schools that BMW offers and take it from there. I just wanted Mal and Xmn (it was great seeing you and the family this weekend at the show) to know that I CAN shift if I want to! I might try to contact Dan again, and perhaps hire him to give me a few private lessons before I go to the BMW School.
:race: 8-) :race: 8-) :race: 8-)