BMW of North America will be at Atlanta Motor Speedway next Saturday, March 21, 2015 to launch the nationwide 2015 BMW Ultimate Driving Experience Tour. The tour will use more than 90 BMWs—to include M vehicles and i-cars—to give participants behind-the-wheel experience to learn safer driving and see the dangers of distracted driving.
A popular part of the Ultimate Driving Experience is the BMW Teen Driving School, which is an extension of the course taught at the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
The BMW Ultimate Driving Experience will be in Atlanta from March 21 to March 29. From there it will move on to nine more events in major U.S. cities:
April 11–19 - MetLife Stadium in New Jersey
May 9–17 - Hialeah Park in Miami, Florida
June 6–14 – Fedex Field in Washington, DC
July 25–August 2 – Emerald Downs in Seattle, Washington
August 15–23 – Santa Anita Racecourse in Los Angeles, California
September 12–20 – Phoenix Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona
October 3–11 - Lone Star Park in Dallas, Texas
October 24–November 1 – Arlington Racecourse in Chicago, Illinois
November 14–22 – Citi Field, New York City
All programs other than the Teen Driving School require participants to be at least 21 years of age and hold a valid driver’s license.
The Teen Driving School is an interactive, two-hour Teen Driving School that will let students use the BMW X1 and BMW 228i. There is no cost for the Teen Driving School. Following an introduction to driving theory and improving driving skills through classroom instruction, teen drivers will experience hands-on driver awareness activities and other driving exercises. The Teen Driving School seeks to create awareness about the consequences of distracted driving, especially when it comes to texting while driving and the dangers posed to everyone on the road, not just teens.
Drivers who hold a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit and who have not yet reached age 21 are eligible for the Teen Driving School.
“We are excited to once again be providing BMW fans and driving enthusiasts across the country the opportunity to get behind the wheel,” said Kevin Philips, Head of Retail and Experiential Marketing, BMW of North America. “The free, two-hour Teen Driving School program is a key element of the Experience, allowing new and inexperienced drivers to learn invaluable tools relating to safe driving and the dangers of distracted driving.”
Ultimate Driving Experience participants may receive dynamic driving experiences through:
• Professionally guided demonstrations of the BMW 535i Sedan and X5 xDrive50i that include Hill Descent Control, which is a BMW electronic function that allows for safe descent and proper vehicle balance on uneven surfaces, and Skid Pad, showcasing vehicle control on wet surfaces.
• Street Drives that allow for twenty-minute self-guided test drives per vehicle in a selection of BMWs including the BMW 2 Series, 4 Series, 6 Series, X Models, and the all-electric BMW i3.
• Autocross, during a two-hour, closed-course driving program featuring the BMW 3 Series, 4 Series, and X4, that pairs attendees with BMW’s Professional Driving Instructors who will highlight advanced driving theories and defensive driving techniques, culminating in exciting laps around the track.
• Car Control Clinic. This full-day driving school puts drivers behind the wheels of M3, M4, and M235i cars for a day of driving with individual instruction from BMW-certified Professional Drivers. The course is intended to provide drivers with a sharper understanding of BMW’s responsive handling and performance while learning advanced driving theory. The Car Control Clinic is offered for a fee of $750.
The BMW Ultimate Driving Experience will also feature a main pavilion with interactive displays.
For more information and to register for The BMW Ultimate Driving Experience visit: http://www.bmwusa.com/ude or call 800-558-4BMW (4269). BMW NA does have a disclaimer that dates and locations are subject to change, so check the web site.
In our experience, BMW NA usually puts on great events that are well worth the time it takes to get there and attend, so if you’re interested, you should check it out.
This video gives a taste of what you might see at the BMW Ultimate Driving Experience:
For those Club members whose schedule doesn’t match up or who don’t live close enough, you might want to check out your local chapter’s events for car control clinics, high-performance driving schools, and of course, TireRack Street Survival teen driving schools.—Scott Blazey
[Photos and video courtesy of BMW of North America.]
