GVC Event:
Fall Driving School & BMW Club Races
Fall Driving School & BMW Club RacesFriday, Sep 30, 2016
to Sunday, Oct 02, 2016
LocationWatkins Glen International
2790 County Route 16
Watkins Glen, NY 14891
Event CoordinatorJim Dresser2016-Sep-30 00:002016-Oct-02 00:00America/New_YorkFall Driving School & BMW Club RacesJoin us for GVC's last driving school of 2016, and two days of exciting and competitive BMW Club Racing at fabulous Watkins Glen International.
Fall is a wonderful time to visit the Finger Lakes region. Bring the family and enjoy the beautiful foliage, golden vineyards, and some very competitive race action!
Watkins Glen International - 2790 County Route 16 - Watkins Glen, NY 14891Genesee Valley BMW Car Club
Fall Ultimate Driving School & BMW CCA Club Races 2016
GVC’s last HPDE of 2016 includes our Fall Ultimate Driving School and the Stan Parker/Joel Ajavon Memorial BMW CCA Club Races. The weekend Drivers School is open to Group S, A, B and upper level C drivers. We fully expect a big turnout of club racers to fill out our final run group, given the lure of four races at Watkins Glen including two double-points paying National Challenge Races near the terminus of the 2016 BMW CCA Club Race schedule.
Unlike past years when the club race paddock was not conveniently accessed from the Kendall Garages driving school paddock, this year the Club Racers will be located in a newly-paved section of Wedgewood Rd., which is immediately adjacent to the student paddock. This is a great opportunity for students and racers to mingle, and we are confident the proximity to so many great race cars, racers and crews will be an additional incentive for drivers to attend this event
Format:
Friday:
- Open track for instructors, Group S students (Friday-Saturday or Friday-Saturday-Sunday options) and Club Racers who register for a 3-day race weekend. At day’s end, all racers will have a private session for qualifying for the races on Saturday.
Saturday and Sunday: Three student run groups, one instructor group, and one club racers group. Driving School groups include:
- Group 3: Intermediate (C, lower-level B); SLIP L1 - L3 – L3
- Group 2: Advanced (upper-level B, A); SLIP L3 - L4
- Group 1: Group S (Solo); SLIP L5 and up
- Group 0: Instructors
Track Time (Saturday and Sunday)
- The track is “green” (open for driving) beginning at 8:30 AM each day, closes 4:30 PM on Friday and Sunday, and 5:30 PM on Saturday.
- One-hour lunch break from 12-1 PM each day.
- Track sessions: Half- hour. sessions each day of the event
Groups 2 and 3: four (4) sessions
Group S: four “private” sessions, plus two optional additional sessions combined with either Group 2 (A/B) or instructors*.
Instructors: two sessions Saturday, additional sessions combined with Group S Sunday afternoon*.
*Because many participants leave early on Sunday, run groups can be combined Sunday afternoon to provide more track time than is formally scheduled.
Group Exercises
- Organized group driving exercises are done in one or more sessions each day, at reduced speeds for safety.
- Exercises include close-quarters (side-by-side) lapping, and pairwise late-passing exercises.
Classroom
- Groups 2 and 3 attend three 30-45 minute-long classroom sessions each day led by a senior instructor
- The material taught and discussed is tailored to the skill level of each run group.
- Group 1 drivers (Group S) attend two group sessions each day facilitated by the Group S coaches. Topics include debriefing after a track session, discussion of advanced driving techniques, use of data acquisition to improve technique, and so forth.
Track Walk
- Because club races will extend the day for an extra hour of track time, we will be unable to offer a track walk on Saturday, as has been our tradition.
Bonus Features
- GVC Driver’s Resource Center: Advice and assistance for all participants at the track.
- GVC event shirts (and possibly other “swag”) for all drivers.
- Complimentary beverage tokens for the Seneca Lodge Bar.
- Tire and performance parts auctions (depending on sponsors)
- Professional tech and mechanical services for breakdowns or other car-related problems (fees TBD).
- Friendly and helpful people to make this the “Ultimate Driving School”.
- Highly competitive and entertaining BMW Club Racing.