About this event
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Novice and Intermediate Student spots are full. A waitlist has been started. There are spots available for Advanced solo students, and Instructors.
Kick off the driving season with the White Mountain and Boston BMW CCA Chapters! Our always popular season-opening Cabin Fever High Performance Driving School at PALMER MOTORSPORT PARK is April 24th, 2021.
Event Sponsor:
We are pleased to have one of our longest and loyal sponsors; 3D Auto Works, Inc. as our Event Sponsor. Thank Dan, Deb and Dave for your continued support.
This event is open to all skill levels, HOWEVER, we will follow all COVID requirements from the CDC and the State. This may mean that we employ lead-follow instruction protocol to keep everyone safe.
Please be advised that anyone coming to the track will need to observe CDC and State guidelines, which to be clear, means wearing a mask and maintaining social distance while not wearing a helmet. The Boston/WMC chapter team will be setting up registration and tech in accordance with these guidelines and we would very much appreciate that our track family respectfully keep each other safe, both on the track and in the paddock. We will have some additional requirements within the following registration pages to set expectations as well as in our pre-event documentation that will be forthcoming.
Our High Perfromace Driving Education (HPDE) Schools are suitable for all skills levels from Novice to Expert. We welcome all makes of cars at our schools -- you don't have to drive a BMW to enjoy our events. This school is an excellent way for you to improve your driving skills and have fun too!
The school combines classroom and on-track instruction in a closely supervised and controlled environment. Students are divided into "run groups" according to their prior experience and evaluations from previous schools. In between the track sessions, students get classroom instruction in a lively environment appropriate for their skill level. There may also be opportunities to gain experience by riding as passengers with their instructors.
The event runs rain or shine.
Interested in attending or have other registration questions? Please continue through to the next page for more information about the event and requirements.
What is a High Performance Driving School?
The purpose of a driving school is quite simple: to improve your driving skills. We conduct the school on a racetrack under the close supervision of experienced and trained instructors. You will learn how to handle and control your vehicle at speeds not normally attained on public roads. This will help to prepare you for emergencies in normal driving. It will also allow you to explore your capabilities as a driver and those of your vehicle in a controlled environment. At no time will you be pushed or encouraged to go any faster than is comfortable. All participants will be organized into run groups in accordance with experience, skill, and type of vehicle.
What you learn on the track depends on your driving skill. Beginners are taught driving style (smoothness, consistency, the ability to read the track), more experienced participants continue to work on consistency, while developing new skills such as trail braking, and threshold braking. Every time you are on the track, you will have an experienced instructor in the passenger seat.
For the most experienced drivers, you can be “signed off” and drive solo when you have proven to your instructor and the Chief Instructor that you understand the basics of high speed driving, you can consistently drive the correct line, and you show proper etiquette on track. Maturity, good judgment, skill and significant experience will lead to being signed off for solo driving. Even if you are a solo student, you are still highly encouraged to learn new skills from your instructor. In fact, National BMW Club rules require an instructor be in-car for at least part of the event for all students.
Classroom
Your day is divided between driving on the track, classroom sessions, or free time. Yes, this is a school, and there is mandatory classroom time. All participants are required to attend classroom sessions throughout the day to learn vehicle dynamics and driving techniques. Failure to attend will result in loss of driving privileges.
In the classroom, you learn high speed driving theory. You learn everything from 'why low-profile tires are better', to what is the difference between an early and late apex. Car physics, such as what is really happening when I brake or why my car understeers or oversteers is also discussed. Each classroom normally has a question and answer session.
What is a Driving School NOT?
Though you are on a racetrack, with 20-30 other drivers of similar driving skills, it is not a race. Passing in corners is not allowed, and you are not expected to shift at redline, or go screaming through each corner with the tires squealing. Safety of the event is of the utmost importance. Driver conduct will be diligently monitored throughout the day by the staff, instructors, and corner workers. Infractions of the rules will not be tolerated, and will likely result in dismissal from the school.
Registration Fees
Credit Card Payments will be deferred till 1-2 weeks prior to event.
Student fee is $300.
ISG Student fee is $350
1st Time Novice Student fee is $250 (have never previously attended an on-track driving school)
Late registration add on fee is $50 and begins 3 weeks prior to event.
Non-BMW CCA Member Fee is $50 (for anyone without a current BMWCCA Membership
REGISTRATION CLOSES 7 days prior to event
First Time Student Discount
As an added encouragement to attend our already exciting and rewarding Driving Schools, we will offer a discounted price to First Time students. In order to participate in the discount program the student must have zero track experience and of course be 18 years old. (Note - Track experience does not include autocross, ADSS school, carting, driving simulators or video games). The driver will be placed in our novice run group and will be assigned a mentor to help acclimate them to the event.
All drivers with no previous Driving School experience are strongly advised to attend an Advanced Driving Skills School run by the Boston or White Mountain Chapters as the schedule allows. ADSS school dates are listed in the calendar on the White Mountain or the Boston Chapter websites. These are all held in the rear parking lot at NHMS. Please note that the ADSS is designed to help you better understand your vehicle before coming to the track. There is an additional charge for attending the ADSS.
Not a BMW Club Member yet? Non-BMWCCA members are welcome as guests of the club for this event but at a $50 higher fee. Consider joining the BMWCCA for $58 per year and enjoy discounted event registratioon, Roundel magazine and other perks - more information about joining the club is available here: BMW Car Club of America
Independent Study Group. For advanced students who want to extend their skills in a safe, fast-paced coaching environment, the Boston chapter of BMWCCA offers its Independent Study Group (ISG)
To promote continuous advanced skill development for experienced, independent drivers, ISG encourages students to identify the areas in which they want to improve, then allows them to create a personalized curriculum for achieving their goals.
At each event, every ISG student is assigned a coach who will work with them to achieve their goals. ISG drivers are often offered additional solo track sessions and the opportunity to drive in the instructors’ run group.
ISG Qualification - Soloed drivers with substantial experience and the skills to drive a consistent line, at an advanced run-group pace, on a variety of race tracks are eligible for consideration. After passing a thorough checkout drive with an ISG instructor, which emphasizes awareness, safety, consistency, and pace, the ISG candidate is admitted into the group.
ISG on Track, Classroom and Exercises - On the racetrack, ISG drivers spend working sessions with their assigned coach to execute their personalized plan. Classroom sessions comprise lively discussions of driving lines, corner approaches, speeds, data analysis, and a wide range of additional topics. Specialized exercises are offered to improve situational awareness, increase comfort levels in close-quarters driving, and practice passing.
ISG, Serious Car Control - For advanced car control methods, essential for the final reductions in lap times, ISG students are invited to one or two Advanced Car Control Clinics (AC3) each year at Lime Rock Park. An AC3 event begins with a discussion of tire dynamics and grip, balance, weight transfer, and an introduction to suspension concepts that alter the understeer/oversteer characteristics of the car. Then, on the handling course and skid pad, drivers learn the methods for inducing controlled oversteer with the throttle and brake, while learning to correct and prevent understeer.
Wait-List Rules
Due to the limited number of student slots available at this driving event, we expect to receive more registrations than we can admit. Applications will be admitted from a waitlist on a first come, first serve basis.
Questions?
For questions regarding registration or Driving Schools in general, please email the registrar using the "Contact Host" button on the right side of this page.
Please continue through to the next page for more information about the event and requirements.
NOTE: If you're interested in purchasing HPDE insurance for this event, please contact Lockton about bundling this event with other events you may be attending this year, or contact one of the other HPDE insurance providers, such as OnTrack Insurance
Please DO support our sponsors:
Event requirements
Please review the following requirements and information BEFORE REGISTERING:
Driver:
- Must be 18+ yrs old
- Must show valid state or international driver's license at registration
- Must bring completed Medical Information Form to registration (see below for more information about our forms)
- Must be a current BMWCCA member to obtain discounted pricing (bring your current membership card)
- Must sign an insurance waiver at the event
- Novices without previous on-track driving experience are encouraged to attend a separate Advanced Driving Skills School (separate event) before returning to the track
Vehicle:
- Must be inspected with Pre-Event Safety Inspection Form completed by qualified individual within 3 weeks of event (see below for our forms)
- Brake fluid must be flushed
- Will be subject to a pre-event safety check on the day of the event
- Failure to meet safety check or incomplete tech forms will disqualify students from event and forfeit entry fee
- All student and instructor vehicles MUST have passenger seat
- Student vehicles must have equivalent seats and restraints for both student and instructor
- NHMS limits vehicles to 99dBa from 50 feet away under acceleration; please be sure your exhaust system complies. Palmer Motorsports Park limits vehicles to 95 dBa.
- Open top and convertible cars (even cars with factory roll-over protection) are not permitted unless fitted with a roll bar or full roll cage meeting BMWCCA requirements
- Open cars MUST have arm restraints
New 2020 – Automated Collision Avoidance Features Before you register, please note cars with automatic braking and/ or lane drift correction systems will not be permitted to participate unless the systems can be fully turned off for the track sessions; proof that the systems can be turned off must be provided (i.e., information in Owner's Manual, etc.)
Pre-Event Technical and Safety Inspection. A number of our supporting Independent BMW Service Shops have offered to provide pre-track inspection services free of charge to our club members as a means to make attending a driving school easier and safer. You can, of course, still go to your shop of choice for a pre-event tech inspection and or inspect your own vehicle if you are qualified. The following is a list of our supporting inspection shops in alphabetical order.
- Ace Performance - Tewksbury MA
- EuroTech Motorsports - Natick MA
- German Performance Service - Brighton MA
- Landshark Automotice - Natick MA
- Northshore MotorWerks - Peabody MA
- Schneller BMW - Newbury MA
- Turner Motorsport - Amesbury MA
- Wile Motorsport - Walpole MA
Helmets:
- Snell 2010 or newer helmet required (M or SA, 2010 or 2015) - Snell 2005 helmets are no longer permitted.
- Each driver must bring their own helmet
Instructors from other organizations:
- We welcome our volunteer instructors at no charge. If you are certified as an instructor with other groups who provide similar on-track instruction, but have not previously instructed with the White Mountain or Boston BMWCCA, please contact Caleb Johsnon at c.johnson@whitemtn-bmwclub.org , or the Registrar at b.bergeron@whitemtn-bmwclub.org
Required forms:
- Links to all required forms appear at the bottom of this page but this one is key ProceduresAndRulesBostonWMC 2021.pdf
- Bring a Technical Inspection Form with you (instructor vehicles subject to annual inspection)
- Bring a Medical Form with you. This form is for use by emergency personnel in the event of an illness or injury; this form will be destroyed immediately after the event
- An SpeedWaiver must be completed prior to the event.
- BMWCCA members will be asked to show a current valid membership card to confirm their eligibility for the discounted member price
Event details and other requirements:
- School hours are approximately 7 AM to 5 PM
- Garage spaces are made available on a first come basis. If you do take a garage space, please offer to share with others, especially if the weather is bad.
- Food and beverages should be available at the in-field restaurant or various locations about 1 mile south of the NHMS entrance.
- Palmer Motorsports Park does not guarantee onsite food vendor, so come prepared.
- You are welcome to bring spectators as guests but they must sign two waivers - one with the TRACK and with one the BMWCCA staff and obtain a wristband
- No one under the age of 18 permitted in the pit area - minors in the paddock must be supervised at all times
- All participants are required to attend classroom sessions designed to teach vehicle dynamics and driving techniques. Failure to attend as required will result in loss of driving privileges
- On the morning of the event our tech crew will collect your Pre-Event Safety Inspection Form and perform a spot check of every vehicle. You are solely responsible for insuring that your vehicle is safe before you come to the track. Failure to present a completed form or failure to pass our spot check will disqualify you from participation in the event and your entry fee will be forfeited.
- This is not a racing school but rather a safe, high speed driving school, conducted on a race track under close supervision by experienced instructors. You will learn how to handle and control your vehicle at speeds not normally attained on public roads. This will help to prepare you for emergencies that may occur in normal driving situations. It will also allow you to explore your capabilities as a driver and those of your vehicle.
- At no time will you be pushed or encouraged to go any faster than is comfortable for you. All participants will be organized into run groups in accordance with experience, skill, and type of vehicle. Participants not "signed off" will be required to drive with an instructor on board at all times.
- Under no circumstances will timed laps be permitted! If you are seen with a stop watch at any time, you will be asked to leave and forfeit your ability to participate in this or future White Mountain Chapter events.
- Under no circumstances will drones be permitted to operate on site.
Still have registration questions? Contact Bruce Bergeron at b.bergeron@whitemtn-bmwclub.org
Before registering, read and understand everything above!!
At the event you'll need:
- TechInspectionlBoston 2021 PLUS WMC -1.pdf
Student & instructor cars must be inspected before the event. Required. - Medical Information Form WMC/Boston
Bring completed form in an envelope to registration. Required.
More information to make your experience better:
- Driving Evals SLIP Student's Guide
Evaluations are performed on-line using Driving Evals using the Skill Level Instruction Program.
- Introduction to BMWCCA HPDE
New to the track? This video guide is just for you. - NHMS Guide
Travel information, track map, and description of New Hampshire Motor Speedway from our friends in the Boston Chapter. - PALMER MOTORSPORTS PARK Guide and information here: Palmer Motorsports Park
Questions?
• For answers to questions regarding student registration, or our Driving Schools in general, please email the registrar using the "Contact Host" button on the right side of this page.
