School’s Out

Summer School

NÜRBURG, GERMANY (June 25, 1999) -- This year’s International BMW Nürburgring Driving School wasn’t as pleasant for me as last year. Years of stupidity and general lack of driving skill finally caught up with me. I had an incident at Hatzenbach II in the wet, as you can see in the picture below.

Oops
At least it’s still driveable (EMan Jun-99)

Luckily, there is a plethora of parts around the ’Ring. With a little help from some friends and some clear packaging tape, I was able to patch it up a bit.

Better!
Viel Besser! (EMan Jun-99)

The tape even held the bumper, just behind the right rear wheel, in place, in place -- good to 200 km/h!! I don’t think anyone at the rental office will notice my little mishap after this body work.

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We’re Going To Drive Like It’s 1999

So other than the boneheaded move described above, how did the school go, you ask. Overall, probably the same as other years, with maybe one exception -- a terrible motorcycle accident. I’m not sure what happened. I thought I heard someone say the rider may have blacked out and crashed, but it was in German, so I’m not too sure. There were a few accidents with some cars as well, although I don’t think anyone was hurt.

An E36 M3 GT (Europe-only, of course) did some major damage on its front end (at Hatzenbach II in the wet, like me). With a little help from his friends, they were able to patch it up with some plywood and 200+ mph racer’s tape (yes, I know I’m mixing my units) so he could drive it back to England.

This is a serious school with some potentially serious consequences, quite different than almost all driving schools in the United States. If you come here, take it seriously, please.

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School Information

You can get sign-up information about the school from BMW CCA at the specified time and date to register. Their main number is 617/492-2500. In 1998, the person to contact was Wynne Smith. I don’t know if that’s changed.

The cost for the school is about $800-900, depending on the exchange rate. You still have to pay for your flight, hotel, rental car, etc. As a way of comparison, similar Nürburgring “Perfection Training” schools run DM2400 (~$1300)

Also, Dan Tackett was the North American coordinator for 1997. You may want to e-mail him for more information.

Also, you can check out this website for the proper “line” around the ’Ring.

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