My father and I were lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel to Austin, Texas to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) for the basic course of the AMG Academy. It all began back in March where my father bid on a silent auction for a pair of passes to the AMG Academy and won. Awesome, right.
Well we decided in June that we would do the December session since typically it is cold and snowy here in the Midwest, but not this year. We went online to register only to find that we were 6 months away from the December session, but it was full. We damned the bad luck, so we went on the waiting list, as we really wanted to do our course at COTA, versus the other track options. So we were not for sure if we were going to get into the session. Then the week of thanksgiving we found out that we both indeed would have a spot for the December 11th session. Short notice, but we put it all together.
Having done a few automotive related events in my life, I have to say that this experience tops the list. From the registration packets, to the instructors, to the cars, to the layout of the individual group sessions, I was blown away with the organization.
This is how the day went:
7:45 a.m.–8:15 a.m. Arrival at Racetrack and Breakfast
8:15 a.m.–8:45 a.m. Welcome Introductions and Technical Classroom
8:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Drive Modules
›› Agility Slalom and Drag Race
›› Skid Pad (Wet Cornering)
›› ABS Brakes on Lane Change
›› Line Technique
12:30 p.m.–1:15 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Drive Modules
›› Skid Pad
›› Lead/Follow 1 with Taxi Rides
›› Lead/Follow 2 with Video
›› Competition Autocross
5:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m. Victory Ceremony and Farewell
We arrived at the track to a overcast, wet track with hanging clouds, but the event was to take place irregardless.
Classroom session and introductions.
We were broken out into 4 groups of roughly 15-20 people a group from all walks of life. All of which had something in common AMG cars, except for my father and I. Both Benz owners, not AMG owners. We had purchased our passes, but most people receive the passes when they purchase a new AMG automobile. Most of which have never driven a car like we were on this day. The only thing that was reiterated time and time again was that, NO RACE or MANUAL mode and ESP always had to be on in every car, every time.
Each car was equipped with a one way walkie talkie that the instructors communicated to the specific group of cars that we were in at the time. They also carried a radio that they could speak to the rest of the instructors throughout the park. Worked out very well.
Since with was the AMG Academy, no reason not to have EVERY AMG car there for us to drive, RIGHT.
10 GT-S
5 SL63
5 CLS63 S
10 E63 S
10 C63 S
10 CLA 45
First car we drove the new '16 C 63 S which is a STUNNING sedan, which I will be trading our E350 for in the next year. Our first session was the wet skidpad.
Got it very dirty, fast.
Next session Slalom and Drag Race the CLS 63 versus the E 63 S.
This was a blast as these two cars are pretty evenly matched in a drag race, but you had to stop them in a specific spot from a full 1/4 mile pull. Made it very interesting. Whomever won the race, went first through the high speed slalom.
Next session was the ABS lane change and panic braking in the CLA45, which is a neat little car. During this session our instructors specifically to us,"not your brakes, not your tires, not your car, not your problem", drive it like you stole it.
Then it was off to the line technique in the GT S. This where it became fun, as we got to drive the wheels off this car. We spent several laps driving the line and slip seating to get the feel of the track, on the short course.
A look down the main stretch during this session.
Next was lunch which was fantastic. Then off to the afternoon session. Got to snap a few pics of the cars they had staged.
Amazing car, I am enamored with this car.
We went back to the skid pad for another session with C 63 S first in the dry this time, then they soaked it down way wetter than the morning session.
Got a video when they had just wet it down.
https://youtu.be/_VUy-caP8lQ
The real fun began from this point on. First was the autocross in the CLA45, around a fairly short and tight course. We were allowed to run this in MANUAL mode and do brake boosted launches(fun shit). As with any autocross, clipping cones resulted in penalties to time. We got three runs around the track, then swapped seats and went for another 2 laps. Then they brought everyone in and put specific cars numbered and paired them off with drivers. 3 laps, against the clock, fastest overall team wins a prize, then 3 podium places for fastest times of the day. The pro index time was 26.892 seconds, most in our group hovered around 30 seconds.
My pops ended up posting a 29.157 and I posted a 28.524, I haven't lost my touch. :mrgreen:
Next it was off to the full track passes in the GT S, C 63 S, E 63 S and SL 63. This was a lead follow setup with the instructor in front leading a pack of 3 cars. 3 laps, 3 position changes so everyone got to follow the line of the instructor. This was an awesome experience, as they really didn't hold back in the GT S, but controlled the overall speed of the 2 bigger cars as they are not quite as nimble. We saw speeds of 140 - 150 mph down the back straight in the GT S. Pretty freaking cool. We got to drove each of these cars 2 to 3 laps, then swapped to another car.
After everyone had made it through we got to hop back into the GT S for hot laps with video. These were all out, except they limited us on the back straight to about 130 mph while filming. And these are what ended the day of driving. I had an amazing time. Best part was spending this time with with my pops.
Final Lap Video http://amgacademy.com/gallery/final-lap-videos?video=9357&event=20151211
After all the groups had finished, the 10 instructors gave ride and drive sessions in the CLK 63 BS, the SLS and then the fleet of GT S. It was chaotic for a bit, but I decided to hop in at the end with one of the drivers. What a great experience to see the track at all out race, manual, no esp mode in the GT S. 180ish down the back straight was just awesome, got to see lines on the track that I hadn't as we were not allowed to push the cars that hard.
This guy launched it like this every time.
https://youtu.be/wsK9kPUFZNY
Oh the beautiful sounds.
https://youtu.be/0s5NpEodJNM
When everyone had the satisfaction of doing this we returned to the classroom for some much needed beverages and the awards ceremony.
The announced the RED team had won the autocross group award, a little deflated but was expected. Next they started announcing the autocross podium winners, 28.808 seconds was third, no way I was faster cool. I did not expect to take the overall fastest time of the day but I did. As the winner I received an awesome set of Bang & Olufsun headphones and a custom AMG Driving academy helmet which I will receive in 8 weeks or so.
What an amazing experience, and I encourage everyone if they have the opportunity, go. We will be taking the advanced course sometime in the next year, not sure at what track. We will be attending the BMW open event at COTA with our 997 in the spring.
Well we decided in June that we would do the December session since typically it is cold and snowy here in the Midwest, but not this year. We went online to register only to find that we were 6 months away from the December session, but it was full. We damned the bad luck, so we went on the waiting list, as we really wanted to do our course at COTA, versus the other track options. So we were not for sure if we were going to get into the session. Then the week of thanksgiving we found out that we both indeed would have a spot for the December 11th session. Short notice, but we put it all together.
Having done a few automotive related events in my life, I have to say that this experience tops the list. From the registration packets, to the instructors, to the cars, to the layout of the individual group sessions, I was blown away with the organization.
This is how the day went:
7:45 a.m.–8:15 a.m. Arrival at Racetrack and Breakfast
8:15 a.m.–8:45 a.m. Welcome Introductions and Technical Classroom
8:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Drive Modules
›› Agility Slalom and Drag Race
›› Skid Pad (Wet Cornering)
›› ABS Brakes on Lane Change
›› Line Technique
12:30 p.m.–1:15 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Drive Modules
›› Skid Pad
›› Lead/Follow 1 with Taxi Rides
›› Lead/Follow 2 with Video
›› Competition Autocross
5:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m. Victory Ceremony and Farewell
We arrived at the track to a overcast, wet track with hanging clouds, but the event was to take place irregardless.
Classroom session and introductions.
We were broken out into 4 groups of roughly 15-20 people a group from all walks of life. All of which had something in common AMG cars, except for my father and I. Both Benz owners, not AMG owners. We had purchased our passes, but most people receive the passes when they purchase a new AMG automobile. Most of which have never driven a car like we were on this day. The only thing that was reiterated time and time again was that, NO RACE or MANUAL mode and ESP always had to be on in every car, every time.
Each car was equipped with a one way walkie talkie that the instructors communicated to the specific group of cars that we were in at the time. They also carried a radio that they could speak to the rest of the instructors throughout the park. Worked out very well.
Since with was the AMG Academy, no reason not to have EVERY AMG car there for us to drive, RIGHT.
10 GT-S
5 SL63
5 CLS63 S
10 E63 S
10 C63 S
10 CLA 45
First car we drove the new '16 C 63 S which is a STUNNING sedan, which I will be trading our E350 for in the next year. Our first session was the wet skidpad.
Got it very dirty, fast.
Next session Slalom and Drag Race the CLS 63 versus the E 63 S.
This was a blast as these two cars are pretty evenly matched in a drag race, but you had to stop them in a specific spot from a full 1/4 mile pull. Made it very interesting. Whomever won the race, went first through the high speed slalom.
Next session was the ABS lane change and panic braking in the CLA45, which is a neat little car. During this session our instructors specifically to us,"not your brakes, not your tires, not your car, not your problem", drive it like you stole it.
Then it was off to the line technique in the GT S. This where it became fun, as we got to drive the wheels off this car. We spent several laps driving the line and slip seating to get the feel of the track, on the short course.
A look down the main stretch during this session.
Next was lunch which was fantastic. Then off to the afternoon session. Got to snap a few pics of the cars they had staged.
Amazing car, I am enamored with this car.
We went back to the skid pad for another session with C 63 S first in the dry this time, then they soaked it down way wetter than the morning session.
Got a video when they had just wet it down.
https://youtu.be/_VUy-caP8lQ
The real fun began from this point on. First was the autocross in the CLA45, around a fairly short and tight course. We were allowed to run this in MANUAL mode and do brake boosted launches(fun shit). As with any autocross, clipping cones resulted in penalties to time. We got three runs around the track, then swapped seats and went for another 2 laps. Then they brought everyone in and put specific cars numbered and paired them off with drivers. 3 laps, against the clock, fastest overall team wins a prize, then 3 podium places for fastest times of the day. The pro index time was 26.892 seconds, most in our group hovered around 30 seconds.
My pops ended up posting a 29.157 and I posted a 28.524, I haven't lost my touch. :mrgreen:
Next it was off to the full track passes in the GT S, C 63 S, E 63 S and SL 63. This was a lead follow setup with the instructor in front leading a pack of 3 cars. 3 laps, 3 position changes so everyone got to follow the line of the instructor. This was an awesome experience, as they really didn't hold back in the GT S, but controlled the overall speed of the 2 bigger cars as they are not quite as nimble. We saw speeds of 140 - 150 mph down the back straight in the GT S. Pretty freaking cool. We got to drove each of these cars 2 to 3 laps, then swapped to another car.
After everyone had made it through we got to hop back into the GT S for hot laps with video. These were all out, except they limited us on the back straight to about 130 mph while filming. And these are what ended the day of driving. I had an amazing time. Best part was spending this time with with my pops.
Final Lap Video http://amgacademy.com/gallery/final-lap-videos?video=9357&event=20151211
After all the groups had finished, the 10 instructors gave ride and drive sessions in the CLK 63 BS, the SLS and then the fleet of GT S. It was chaotic for a bit, but I decided to hop in at the end with one of the drivers. What a great experience to see the track at all out race, manual, no esp mode in the GT S. 180ish down the back straight was just awesome, got to see lines on the track that I hadn't as we were not allowed to push the cars that hard.
This guy launched it like this every time.
https://youtu.be/wsK9kPUFZNY
Oh the beautiful sounds.
https://youtu.be/0s5NpEodJNM
When everyone had the satisfaction of doing this we returned to the classroom for some much needed beverages and the awards ceremony.
The announced the RED team had won the autocross group award, a little deflated but was expected. Next they started announcing the autocross podium winners, 28.808 seconds was third, no way I was faster cool. I did not expect to take the overall fastest time of the day but I did. As the winner I received an awesome set of Bang & Olufsun headphones and a custom AMG Driving academy helmet which I will receive in 8 weeks or so.
What an amazing experience, and I encourage everyone if they have the opportunity, go. We will be taking the advanced course sometime in the next year, not sure at what track. We will be attending the BMW open event at COTA with our 997 in the spring.
