About this event
Join the Boston Chapter for another fantastic weekend event at Palmer Motorsports Park's Whiskey Hill Raceway.
What is a Driving School?
The purpose of a driving school is quite simple: to improve your driving skills. We will emphasize the relationship of driver and machine, making them function in unison and giving you, as a student, the opportunity to learn your limitations and expand your capabilities, thus creating safe driving skills and habits in a controlled situation.
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.
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.
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 to learn vehicle dynamics and driving techniques. Failure to attend will result in loss of driving privileges.
These sessions will continue throughout the day to help you understand the fine art of high speed driving. 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
This is a two day event. Drivers who are participating in their first ever HPDS may register for either day. Drivers participating in the Boston Chapter's advanced Independent Study Group (ISG) may register for either day. All other students must register for both days. You must provide information on your experience at the time of registration.
First Time Student Price Incentive
As an added encouragement to attend our already exciting and rewarding Driving Schools, we will offer a discounted price to First Time students signing up at selected events. 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, karting, driving simulators or video games). The student will be placed in our novice run group for the entire day and will be assigned a mentor to help acclimate them with the activities throughout the day.
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 prior to this event as the schedule allows. ADSS school dates are listed in the calendar on the Boston and/or the White Mountain 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.
The student registration fees for this event are as follows:
| Registration Type | Through May 16th | May 17th through June 4th | June 5th onward |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Time Novice Student - Single Day | $225 | $250 | $275 |
| First Time Novice Student - Both Days | $425 | $475 | $525 |
| Weekend Student - Both Days | $530 | $590 | $650 |
| ISG Driver - Single Day | $305 | $340 | $375 |
| ISG Driver - Both Days | $585 | $650 | $715 |
| Non Member - Both Days | $800 | ||
Not a BMW Club Member yet? Get discounted registration for this event, monthly Roundel magazine and much more for just $48 per year. Join here: BMW Car Club of America
Wait-List Rules
Due to the limited number of student slots available for Boston Chapter driving events, it is common for us to receive more registrations than we can admit, hence a Wait-List will be created. Applications will be admitted from the Wait-List 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.
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
Event requirements
Before registering, read and understand:
- ProceduresAndRulesBoston2016.pdf
Haven't run with Boston this year (or ever)? Here's what you need to know. This is important. - Palmer Paddock Traffic - Boston June 2016.pdf
At the event you'll need:
- TechInspectionlBoston 2016.pdf
Student & instructor cars must be inspected before the event. Required. - MedicalInformationFormBoston2016.pdf
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.
- First-Timer's Guide
New to the track? This guide is just for you. - Palmer Guide
Travel information, track map, and description of Palmer Motorsports Park
New since 2015:
The 2016 Procedures and Rules have lots of little updates from last year. Some notable changes are:
- Drones or other remotely controlled aerial vehicles? Nope. Leave 'em home.
- Snell SA2010/2015 and M2010/2015 or newer helmets preferred. SA2005/M2005 helmets have a 1 year grace period that will end in Dec. 2016.
- Eligibility rules for Targa/T-top cars and high-performance SUV/SAV/CUVs have been clarified.
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.
New-to-Boston Instructors
• If you are an instructor for other chapters or car clubs, but have never instructed for the Boston Chapter, please contact the instructor registrar
