The 2017 Ultimate Driving School Event Dates and Programs.

April 28-30
• Ultimate Driving School, Friday April 28 (Group S,) Saturday 29, Sunday 30. Novice, intermediate, advanced, and Group S run groups. (With guests from the Boston BMW Chapter.) 
• The GVC Instructor Training School (ITS) - Friday April 28 - Saturday April 29.
• Novice orientation for the weekend school - Friday April 28, 7:00 PM, at the track classroom.
• Novice Track Day - Friday April 28 (our single day novice school.)

June 9 - 11
• Ultimate Driving School, Friday 9 (Group S,) Saturday 10, Sunday 11. Novice, intermediate, advanced, and Group S run groups.
• Novice orientation for the weekend school - Friday June 9, 7:00 PM,at  the track classroom
• Novice Track Day - Friday June 9 
• Taste of the Track - Sunday June 11 (our 1/2 day, new driver program.)

August 16 - 17
• GVC BMW / NRPCA - Combined Open Track Driving Event, Wednesday August 16 -Thursday August 17
This event is open to advanced drivers and instructors only. (SLIP level 3 and above.)

September 29 - October 1
• Ultimate Driving School, Friday 29 (Group S,) Saturday 30, Sunday October 1. Novice*, intermediate, advanced, and Group S run groups.
• Novice orientation* for the weekend school - Friday September 29, 7:00 
PM, at the track classroom
• Taste of the Track - Sunday, October 1
(* pending availability)

THE 2017 ULTIMATE DRIVING SCHOOL EVENTS OVERVIEW:

A) The Taste of the Track
Offered Sunday, June 11 and Sunday, October 1.

Taste of the Track is a low-pressure, low-risk, and low-cost introduction to the sport of high-performance driving.  Unlike a typical two-day HP driver’s school, it only takes up an afternoon of your time. Because Taste of the Track is run on a Sunday afternoon piggy-backed onto one of our regular two-day schools, you will not only get to see a full-scale driving school in action, but also directly experience the thrill of driving with your own highly-trained instructor on one of the most famous race tracks in the world.  
The classroom session is specifically geared toward Taste of the Track first-timers.  There you'll be introduced to the basics of car control and high-performance driving, flags and their meanings, and become familiar with driving school safety regulations and procedures.

After "ground school" the fun really begins!  You will hop into your instructor's car for a short ride-along to familiarize you with the track layout and experience how a skilled, highly trained driver safely navigates at speed on the Glen’s historic 3.4 mile-long road course. 

Then, you will drive your own car with your instructor coaching you about where and when to accelerate, brake and turn according to the fundamental techniques of HP driving, all at a pace you are comfortable with.  At the end of the day, we all reconvene in the classroom for a group debriefing session to share experiences with fellow drivers, instructors and staff.

The event includes:
   •    Driving school event shirt
   •    Mechanical assistance should you need it, courtesy of Eksten Autoworks
   •    Loaner helmet (if you have one of your own, it must be rated Snell 2010 or 2015, SA or M).
   •    Lunch at the track
   •    An orientation tour of the paddock
   •    Drivers meeting
   •    Classroom instruction
   •    A ride along drive in your instructor’s car at speed
   •    1/2 hour of on track driving in your car at speed
   •    Classroom debrief and driver evaluation with instructors

The cost of the Taste of the Track is $150 per driver and is open to licensed drivers over 18 years of age. Membership in GVC BMW CCA is not required for this event. 


B) Novice Track Day
Offered Friday, April 28 and Friday, June 9.
Novice Track Day drivers may additionally register for the Saturday and Sunday Ultimate Driving School as part of the “Big Weekend” option.

Our full one-day driving school for beginners, which we are calling "Novice Track Day" features four on track sessions. This school will take place on Friday and is limited to only 20 drivers. The format is similar to our novice group on Saturday and Sunday, but is one day only, emphasizes basic concepts and skills for the first-time driver, and includes a loaner helmet.  

The event includes:
   •    Driving school event shirt
   •    Mechanical assistance should you need it, courtesy of Eksten Autoworks
   •    Loaner helmet (if you have one of your own, it must be rated Snell 2010 or 2015, SA or M).
   •    Drivers meeting
   •    Classroom instruction
   •    A ride along drive in your instructor’s car at speed
   •    4 - half hour sessions of on track driving in your car at speed
   •    Classroom debrief and driver evaluation with instructors

Beginners may opt to extend the Friday “Novice Track Day” into the weekend by signing up for all three days with the “Big Weekend” option. Extending the Novice Track Day to the weekend requires drivers to bring their own Snell 2010 or 2015, SA or M rated helmet.

   •    The Novice Track Day - $295 per driver, members only.
   •    Add the Saturday-Sunday Ultimate Driving School for the “Big Weekend”* $650 per driver, members only.
   •    The Ultimate Driving School Saturday-Sunday novice group is $495 per driver*, members only.

(* pending availability in September)

The Novice Track Day is open to licensed drivers over 18 years of age who are members of BMW CCA. BMWCCA membership is only $48 per year. BMW ownership not required. You can sign up at gvc-bmwcca.org



C) Ultimate Driving School
Offered Friday April 28 (Group S), Saturday April 29 - Sunday 30  
Friday June 9 (Group S), Saturday June 10 - Sunday 11
Friday September 29 (Group S), Saturday September 30 - Sunday October 1

GVC’s Ultimate Driving School teaches advanced driving techniques, and is the main component of our High-Performance Driver Education (HPDE) program. Our school integrates in-car instruction with classroom learning. Our schools are conducted at Watkins Glen International, and are run in compliance with the strict driving school standards established by the BMW Car Club of America.

Drivers are grouped according to ability and experience into separate “run groups”. Each run group typically has four 25-30 minute sessions a day. Driving techniques during these sessions are learned under the guidance of a trained, experienced in-car instructor. Between sessions, run groups attend classroom sessions taught by a highly-experienced instructor that are tailored to the experience level of each group. The classroom teaches the theory and practice of car control, including such topics as car preparation, vehicle dynamics, cornering, and braking techniques, and is a forum for peer group discussion. 

Participants select their preferred run group when registering for a school. The DS Chief Instructor and Registrar review all self-selected skill classifications, as well as evaluations from previous schools, to determine final run group assignments. Our run groups are determined by ability and experience, as defined below.

Novices are drivers who have very limited HPDE track experience (typically less than 3 events), and beginners who have never before participated and are just starting the journey to driving excellence.
Intermediate drivers are those with a minimum of 3-6 events’ experience. This group is very diverse with drivers spanning the broadest range of skills, and it is not uncommon to have two separate intermediate run groups (lower- and upper-level) at an event.
Advanced drivers have many days of track experience and significantly elevated skill sets, and are able to routinely adapt their driving to traffic and track conditions. 
At the recommendation of the instructor, and with permission of the chief instructor, drivers may be “signed-off” to drive “solo” (i.e. without an instructor) for one or more sessions. (Such a designation does not indicate the driver has advanced to Group S.)

Group S (GVC’s version of Solo, formerly A-Solo) is for very advanced drivers. This group does not have personally-assigned instructors like drivers in all other groups, but is instead under the tutelage of 5-6 Group S coaches. Admission to Group S requires 1) an extensive resume of track experience; 2) excellent evaluations; 3) a rigorous on-site checkout ride conducted by the Group S coaches; and 4) very importantly, consensus of the existing Group S drivers. After admission, Group S drivers may freely sign up for Group S at subsequent events as long as they remain in good standing with the Group S drivers and coaches, as well as the GVC Chief Instructor. 

The Ultimate Driving School event includes:
• 4 half-hour track sessions per day, interleaved with classroom
• Driver’s Resource Center
• Novice Orientation (Friday evening, April, June, September schools only, for new drivers.)
• Track Walk (Saturday evening, April, June, September schools only, pending availability)
• Seneca Lodge beverage tokens
• Event Shirt

Novice*, Intermediate, and Advanced Groups (2 days) $495 ( Saturday - Sunday)
Group S (3-day) $735 (Friday open track, and 5 sessions per day Saturday- Sunday)
Group S (2-day) $575 (5 sessions per day Saturday- Sunday)
Group S (2-day) $595 (Friday open track, and 5 sessions Saturday)
Group S (1-day) $325 (Friday only - open track)
Group S (1 extra run group) drivers at the track may opt to run in additional availible run groups at any point during the weekend for $50 per session. 
(* pending availability in September)

Non- BMW CCA Members, add $100 to above fees. BMWCCA membership is only $48 per year. BMW ownership not required. You can sign up at gvc-bmwcca.org.  Event registration for non-members is delayed, and opens only 6 weeks prior to the event.

D) Advanced HPDE at Watkins Glen, co-hosted by GVC and Niagara Region PCA.
Offered Wednesday August 16 -Thursday August 17

This event is open to advanced track drivers ONLY and provides a great opportunity to develop your high performance driving skills. There is a unique DE format that includes two run groups, faster and slower, self-assigned according to your preferred pace and comfort level. Regardless of run group, all drivers have the option to drive in either group at any time the track is "green" as long as respect is paid to the group's "culture". Each driver will enjoy LOTS of track time! This event sells out quickly, so early registration is highly encouraged.

All standard BMW and PCA safety protocols and passing rules will be in effect. Due to the nature of this event, the number of drivers accepted is very limited. To be confirmed for this event, you must satisfy all the following criteria:

• You must be a member of either BMW CCA or PCA.  Priority for filling slots off a wait-list will be given to GVC and Niagara Region members
• Be an advanced or Intermediate driver that has been frequently soloed.  This includes:
- BMW club: Group S (Solo ), A and upper-level B drivers (SLIP L3 or higher).
- PCA:  Black and White run group drivers.
- GVC or NRPCA driving instructors in good standing.
- Professional racers with valid competition licenses.

Please be sure your driving history in your motorsportreg.com profile logbook is up to date and accurate. Instructors, while not assigned, will be available for consultation on an individual basis. Only soloed drivers and Instructors are eligible to participate.

Registration options:
• Two-day event:  $550 per driver 
• One-day event (Wed or Thurs):  $330 per driver (max. 10 drivers per day; no garage option)

Garage rental: $60 half-bay (2 cars per bay max.; 66 bays available)

New for 2017 - “Bring a Friend Discount”

Starting next year, any GVC BMW CCA member who brings a “new to the club” friend with them to the track as a school participant will receive a $75 credit for use at any future event, or free garage space at Watkins Glen International during the event. This invitation is open to all students and instructors.