About this event
The Central California Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America is proud to offer your only chance at a two-day Buttonwillow BMW CCA High Performance Driving School this year! BMW CCA Driving Schools are conducted on a closed circuit and supervised by experienced instructors. Holding a school on a closed venue eliminates all outside influences, resulting in a safer learning environment. The primary emphasis of the High Performance Driving School is a "hands-on" driving experience in your own car with a BMW CCA Driving Instructor sitting beside you.
You will learn how to handle and control your car in this secure environment, which will prepare you for emergencies and allow you to discover your limits and your car’s capabilities. In addition to one-on-one instruction with your instructor, classroom sessions help teach driving theory which you then get to apply on the track. A Driving School is an excellent way to enjoy your car, while building skills and driving proficiency. The school is open to students of all skill levels. Our A group will feature the A+ curriculum. Novices with no track event experience are welcome!
If you are waivering, sign up now! This school may be cancelled due to lack of students...
Update as of June 15: The school is on! We'll see you at Buttonwillow!
Registration Fee: $475
Note: We have lowered the price to $475 for all students! If you paid $499, you will recieve a $24 refund.
Event requirements
FRIDAY NIGHT EARLY ON-SITE CHECK-IN
Early on-site check-in registration will be held at poolside of Motel 6 North (20638 Tracy Avenue, Buttonwillow, CA, 93206) on Friday night from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. This is a great time to meet people, see some cool cars, and get on-site registration done early (avoids the hassle the following day). Bring your Snell 2000 or newer helmet for inspection along with your completed, signed and stamped tech inspection form.
BUTTONWILLOW RACEWAY ENTRANCE FEE
The facility requires a $10.00 per person per event (for both days) gate fee, to be paid at the gate. This fee is not included in the school registration fee and is the responsibility of the students and/or persons entering the facility.
TRACK LOCATION
Buttonwillow Raceway Park is located at 24551 Lerdo Highway, Buttonwillow, about 28 miles northwest of Bakersfield, just 1/2 mile west of I-5 on Lerdo Highway. The motels are about 10 miles south from the track right off I-5.
TRACK SCHEDULE
The track will be open at 7:00 a.m. Your utmost cooperation, timely arrival and attention to announcements are vital to ensure sufficient track time for everyone. This is a team effort and your contribution improves the quality for all. Track configuration for this event will be configuration #1 clockwise, using Bus Stop, Lost Hill and Star Mazda. Go to http://www.buttonwillowraceway.com/ to view the track map.
An outline of the schedule for the day is as follows:
7:00 a.m. Gates to Buttonwillow open
7:15 a.m. On-site registration opens – MUST register if you missed Friday night registration
8:00 a.m. Mandatory drivers’ meeting
9:00 a.m. Track is open
5:00 p.m. Track is closed
Drivers’ Meeting – Attendance is mandatory. If you show up late to the drivers’ meeting or miss it entirely, we will do our best to review the key points with you in lieu of your first run session if necessary.
THINGS TO DO AND CONSIDER BEFORE THIS EVENT
Study The Student Packet - The information on passing, procedures, etc., is provided so that you can learn as much as possible before you show up at the track. The more you understand in advance, the smoother the event will go for all of us.
Attire – Comfortable clothes are a must. Loose fitting pants, shirts, etc., flat-soled shoes (like any type of sneaker) is fine. Full Nomex race gear is okay too but not necessary.
Helmets - Helmets are required to be Snell SA2000 or M2000 or newer. Snell SA95 and M95 helmets are NO longer accepted. The club has a limited quantity of loaner helmets that are available if requested during the application. Bring your helmet to the registration for inspection.
Family and friends – Spectators are welcomed provided that they do not distract from the participants and can care for themselves. Remember that the raceway facility requires $10.00 per person per event (both days) of all persons entering the facility payable at the gate. Participants are not allowed to have passengers other than the instructor. Rides around the track are encouraged with an instructor, in an instructor’s car, as time permits. Persons younger than 18 years old are not permitted in cars. Pets are not allowed at the facility.
Lodging – We have arranged for a block of rooms at the two Motel 6s. When making the reservation, you must identify yourself as a BMW Car Club member.
Motel 6 North, 20638 Tracy Ave., Buttonwillow, CA 93206. Tel: (661) 764-5153
Motel 6 Central (formerly Red Roof Inn), 20645 Tracy Ave., Buttonwillow, CA 93206. Tel: (661) 764-5121
Lunch – Lunch for the students will be provided and is included in your registration fee. Limited additional lunches could be purchased via application or at the event.
Saturday Night Banquet - A banquet catered by Willow Ranch restaurant is provided at Motel 6 north parking lot Saturday night and is included in your registration fee. Limited additional banquet tickets could be purchased via application or at the event.
Car tech inspections – A tech inspection, which consists of a thorough inspection of your car by a qualified mechanic or other qualified person, will be required in advance of the track event. The inspection focuses on the engine compartment condition, brakes, tires, suspension, steering, etc., in an attempt to ensure the cars have adequate systems before they are driven on the track. Although it is acceptable, if you are qualified to do a self-inspection, it is highly recommended that your technical inspection form be completed by known BMW shops. To ensure safety of all participants, we must insist on a proper safety inspection being carried out by qualified individuals. This is for your benefit and safety, as well as the safety of other drivers on the track. A tech inspection form is available here and is to be completed, signed and brought to on-site registration.
Waivers - Two waivers should be completed prior and brought to the registration. Extra copies and school info can be found at: (http://www.cccbmwcca.org/BMW/High_Performance_Driving_School_2011.html). One is a general release of all claims against BMW CCA and the other a helmet acknowledgment and release.
Cars - Cars need not be BMWs, but open cars, convertibles, pickups, minivans, SAVs and SUVs are not allowed.
TRACK DAY PREPARATION AND PROCEDURES
There will be a pre-registration available Friday evening by the pool at Motel 6 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
On-site registration will also be available Saturday morning at the track around 7:15 am. It is your responsibility to arrive to the track on time, get registered, attend the driver meeting and get prepared for your sessions.
Upon arrival at the track, you will need to find a parking spot and empty your car of all loose objects, including hubcaps and trim rings.
There will be designated passing zones and passing will only be done within these designated areas, except when "Open Passing" is initiated in the A/B run group sessions, which will be announced by the instructor group. We will be using the point-by rules and will be strictly enforced. No point-by, no pass.
There will be no timing allowed at this event.
There is a 10-mile per hour speed limit in the paddock area. This will be strictly enforced.
We at the Central California Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America are looking forward to your participation with us at this event. Please review your general release for this event as it contains a separate paragraph concerning your personal automobile insurance. It is important to understand that the Central California Chapter makes no representation as to the applicability of your personal automobile insurance for coverage during this event.
