AMG driving day, Sunday 8 December

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Guy

Active Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2002
Messages
790
Location
Manchester
Car
Maserati Quattroporte : Brabus A200CDi D3 : E300TDT
Billy picked my son & me up at 7.15 on Sunday morning in his CL55, and drove us down to MIRA. There was hardly any traffic on the M6, but what little there was, was dealt with by Billy’s Distronic system.

‘Distronic’ can be set to a distance of your choice. When you come up against a slower moving vehicle, (and you would, wouldn’t you, in Billy’s CL55?) its speed is displayed on the speedometer, so you can see the difference and distance, and see them change. If you don’t pull out by the chosen distance, it slows your car appropriately. _If you ignore the system, and start tailgating, it eventually provides an audible warning.

On arrival at MIRA you have to sign an undertaking that you do not have a camera. As we both did, we signed, but didn’t use them. This is because manufacturers use MIRA by for testing barely disguised mules. They seem to respect one another’s desire for confidentiality. It was pretty clear that anyone breaching the rules wouldn’t be there very long – so no pics, I’m afraid.

We were first there, and were pleased to see that in the car park outside the AMG building there were –

2 x C32,
C32T
SLK32
S55
CLK55
SL55

Once inside we were greeted with tea, coffee and bacon rolls and a bunch of very friendly Instructors. In total there were 9 participants, and at least as many Instructors.

The morning began with wet track instruction. We were taken off to a huge roundabout with a variety of different surfaces, each providing a different level of grip, from good to Ice. (Viewed from above, it would look like a bulls-eye type target). The challenge was to spin the car with ESP on – impossible, but Billy had a bloody good go. With the ESP off, it was great fun, they taught us to balance the car, so we can now circle a roundabout indefinitely, on opposite lock.

During the morning we all got in the SLK32 with Don Palmer, to have the c**p frightened out of us, as he drove it at insane speeds, ESP on and off, round a really tight track. If anyone of us thought we were good after mastering balancing the car on opposite lock on the roundabout, here was a reminder of what a real racer can do. He chatted like he was in a traffic jam while doing it, too!

After lunch, it was a mixture of road and track with Police advanced driving Instructors. Great blokes, real enthusiasts as well as ace drivers, and just as unimpressed as the rest of us with the placement/use of certain cameras!

Billy got the SL55! What a noise – and that was just Billy whooping with excitement. It’s a fantastic sound the car makes too. I’ll let him tell you what he thought of it.

Once back at the track, the sight of Billy hammering down towards the wet section, and getting the SL55 into a double 360 spin on the water, was something I wish you could all have seen… memorable.

We went out in the new CLK55 – lovely car, definitely not as quick as the C32, but still very fast. It really comes home to you HOW fast, when you’re in the back, and your son is hammering it up to a tight left hander at 80mph, being egged on by the Instructor!

Guys, if you ever get the chance, you’ve got to do this…

Many thanks to Billy, for driving us there and back, and particularly for leaving the ESP ON, on the way home.


:bannana: :bannana: :bannana: :bannana:
 
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</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">it was great fun, they taught us to balance the car, so we can now circle a roundabout indefinitely, on opposite lock.
</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Thanks for the write up, sounds like you had an excellent time, that will help you enjoy your cars more safely &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Guys, if you ever get the chance, you’ve got to do this…</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

If I ever get the chance to own an AMG, I will make this next on the list.
 
Sounds like it was an excellant day.

Now tell us, how did you manage to get to do it?

Did you sign up somewhere, win a competition, get a special invite, or what?

If it was by invite, what did you have do to become such a privilaged chap?
 
Spike,

It's part of the deal when you buy a new AMG, you automatically get an invite (free of charge). Once you have an invite, you can pay for a guest - but its not cheap - £395 for the day.

That's a lot of money in anyone's book, but my lad (21) paid half (half paid by Dad as Xmas present) and doesn't regret a penny of it - he's now saving for 2nd hand AMG... Insurance at his age ?!?!
I rang AMG Experience for you and asked if you could just buy the day - sadly, the answer is NO...
However, they did say that stealerships can send valued customers, and those seriously considering buying an AMG.

Sorry, forgot to ask if that includes a used AMG - but in summary, the only route seems to be via ingratiating yourself with a stealership, or sidle up to someone who already has an invite...and persuade them to take you.
 
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That sounds a bit like going into work through the town with 80mph left handers and the like ..... &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>


No , seriously .. it sounds amasing ive never been in a car doing anything like that so, that AMG is looking more like a possibility when i win the lottery &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':laugh:'>


Good rightup Guy .. thanks. <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'>
 
Brings back great memories....

For those wondering what it was like in pictures, here are some from the very first pilot AMG day which I 'beta tested' for MB.... (large pics)

clk1.jpg


PIC00036.jpg



e55t1.jpg


I have some more @ http://www.maffs.org/2000amgtrackday/
 
You can go off some people, can't you &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>


Sorry mate, I am insanley jealous of you all &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/alien.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':alien:'> &nbsp; <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/alien.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':alien:'> &nbsp; <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/alien.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':alien:'>
 
So I guess the thing to do is to get scrubbed up nicely, put the glad rags on and spend a few hours at the local stealership 'pretending' to be seriously considering getting a nice little AMG at some point in the next 12 months or so - whilst at the same time subtely ...very subtely making the sales guys aware that you still need some convincing that this is the route you wish to go down.
 
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Sp!ke @ Dec. 12 2002,11:53)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">So I guess the thing to do is to get scrubbed up nicely, put the glad rags on and spend a few hours at the local stealership 'pretending' to be seriously considering getting a nice little AMG at some point.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Nope

With Billys love of AMG - I will just ask him very nicely if I can have one of his &quot;friends&quot; spaces next time he buys an AMG... or 3 <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> - From what Guy was saying it is well worth the money!

Mark

Pleeeeeeeeeese  Billy ....... beg beg beg beg

<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'>  <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'>  <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'>
 

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