I'm relatively new to the Driver School scene. So as a novice, with a serious interest in being the best driver I can be, I want to tell a quick story and relay my thoughts and feelings. I hope this gives confidence to all who are interested in attending the NCC BMW drivers' schools.

The weekend began with gathering a few of the items necessary to bring to school. Since my husband, Rich Beebe, races a similar car, we had track bins specifically for going to the track. This wasn't my first school, so I wanted to be prepared just incase I needed something. Rich offered to bring our Dodge 1 ton truck to haul tires and tools for added support. I welcomed his help, but this isn't necessary for a school. A tire gauge and some fluids for yourself and your car, usually will suffice. Planning and car prep are only one of the things necessary to get yourself to a school. No matter the upgrades, accessories or enhancements you want to put into your car, you must first learn what your car can do and teach yourself the limits of your car. After all isn't that true performance driving. I can't stress this enough, if you make car mods or jump to 'R' tires too soon, then how will you know if it is you that is driving better, or the car allowing you to drive to the limit?

After 2 years of autocrossing and having completed 7 school days on street tires, I felt confident in sensing those limits to progress to driving on 'R' tires. Now I was entering into another level with drivers who strive for better track performance. One of the challenging things about pressing your car to even further limits is trusting that your hands and feet will know what to do. But as with anything, you're never in total control. I feel the school enables me to have a huge advantage over all other non-schooled drivers on the roads. I am very excited and feel ready to take on this new driving challenge on track.

My school day began early with presenting the school shirts to all the students. It's a task I enjoy since so many students are thrilled with the club’s thoughtfulness. It’s one of the rewarding ways I give back to the club for all the benefits the club has given me. I've noticed all the coordinators, instructors and workers that take to put on such a great school as ours, and I'm glad to do my part.

We unload the track tires and Rich helps me by putting my car together as I dash off to the Drivers Meeting. I'm sure I could manage, but it is nice of him to take care of this for me. But I suppose he owes me, since I crew for him all year long during the SCCA MARRS Regional race series.

My first track session began full of anticipation and trepidation. I lined up on the grid in my 'new' '89 325is, which we built after selling our '88 M5. I was used to taking the heavier 5 series on the track and didn't worry about it, since it wasn't quite a perfect exterior. Now, I am tracking a beautiful example 325is, which was just painted weeks ago. We also put on a new suspension, 16" Alpina rims and rear spoiler. I began to cautiously drive around the track in my first session. But of course, the nimbleness and feeling of speed took over quickly, so that I was up to my usual zip along the line of Summit Point Raceway. Yet, now I could feel so much more with this lighter car. Then, all of a sudden, it seams, the checkered flag came out and the session was over. I talked to my instructor, Woody Hair, about the turns and how I could improve. This discussion, and others I have with drivers, always adds to a base of knowledge I can share and draw upon.

We drove to the paddock and I rushed off to class for further instruction. After class, I followed our group to line up to go to the skid pad. The school was set to have odd numbered cars in the AM and even numbered cars in the PM. I always looked forward to the swishing and sliding at the skidpad. However, in my haste to get to the skid pad I was mistaken on my car number. Well, needless to say, they let me run during that session. I tried a few new techniques for car control. If you've never been on a skid pad, it is wonderful. The circular pavement was covered with water and I drove around and around to produce oversteer and understeer. I received my skid pad goals and instructions that day from Sue Bryan. She instructed me on how to correct and bring my car smoothly back into what little traction there was on the wet surface. The idea is to practice these skills in an extreme environment, at safe low speeds, and to adjust steering and throttle. What you learn at the skidpad alone is worth the cost of the school.

After feeling the skidpad sensations, we move those same skills we just learned to the track. There is a saying that you can ‘feel what your car is doing in the seat of your pants’. I think this is a valuable lesson to understand in order to drive at higher and higher speeds. This session began simply enough, progressing to tighter lines, faster cornering and exiting. We continued with more laps, heel and toe down shifts and increasing straight away speeds. Then I noticed something odd after about 5 laps. My car wasn’t responding properly with steady acceleration. There seemed to be some hesitation. My instructor had some idea what it was. Yet, being unfamiliar with the car made me think the worst... transmission!? We had replaced the tranny seals and installed a short shift, but you never really know when you purchase a used car. Woody figured it was the clutch and sure enough, the clutch began slipping exiting turn 10 while accelerating out. I continued once more around taking it a little easier on the car, but it was difficult to let go of the need for speed. I sadly ended my session and drove over to Rich with the news about my clutch. He already had a concerned look, asking why was I in the pit so early? I grimaced while relaying the news, "What was I going to do about my 2nd day of school?" At this point the only thing I was glad about was going to the wrong skid pad session. At least I didn't miss that.

We consider our options together and plan to limp the car home and return with Rich's M3. We autocross this car quite a bit, but with his race car, the M3 sees very little track use anymore. While contemplating the options, we ate lunch and talked to friends. At the encouragement of my instructor and others I felt confident to bring our M3 back on sunday. We knew we should depart in the daylight to nurse the failing clutch back home over an hour away.

Once we changed the tires and loaded the truck, we left feeling sad for our car and, sad to miss the much talked about evening cookout and post-track festivities. Rich took off in the car to assess the failing machine. To my dismay he quickly pulled over and announced, the car would never make it home. Oh, no... now what to do? We roamed over to our friend Guy Pavageau. He was prepping his car for an instructor track session, but always willing to help any way he can. He simply and succinctly offered the use of his trailer, and it was no problem for our truck since it is set to tow. Guy is always happy to help out. Despite the exhaustion of the early morning wakeup and concentrated driving sessions, everything suddenly was looking up. We now have a solution to the car failure. We proceeded home to face the inevitable "car swapping in the one lane, one car garage and single file narrow street. We thought, will this day never end?

We actually arrived back at the track Sunday rested and I was eager for another day at school. But of course another change of tires and car tech inspection awaited us. Again, I have more time to ponder the off track possibilities, but at least I was familiar with our M3. We have the suspension set up similar to my 325is. The car also has a set of performance seats, which hold you firmly against the g-loads forced on you by Summit Point's challenging turns. So, with helmet on, I begin right where I left off Saturday, smoothly gaining confidence and speed. I think to myself, "wow, this car can handle". The M3 has great brakes and the car is evenly balanced, so I loved it. My day proceeds nicely until we are red flagged on our 2nd session. The red flag, as per the school rules, required me to check my mirrors and stop safely on track with the next flag station in sight. We must wait for safety reasons and wonder, now what? Then, after some time, the corner workers show us the black flag sending us into the pits and stopping the session. We now see what happened. Two cars ahead of me, under the bridge, a student hit a deer, denting the hood almost back to the windshield on the driverside.

We discuss what happened in class and it seems it was an accident and not driver error. Yet, there were possible ways to avoid the incident. It is common for drivers to focus on the object they will collide with. For example, with road driving, it could be a tree or a car, or in this case, a deer. The instructor reinforces by telling us to always "look where you want your car to go". Thus, the driver should have looked at the space where the deer was leaving, not at the deer, and the driver may have missed the deer. Knowing what to do can help any driver to do the right thing, even under stressed situations that can arise during highway driving. [or during accident avoidance.]

Our next session increases my confidence even more. I continue to pass cars swiftly and safely with everyone doing well, until our next red flag. This time, a serious off track excursion, really makes me think about what I would do if faced with driving off track. These two red flag incidents on the last school day, I understand, were the only red flags (and only car damage) the whole year. Yet, this is another important thing drivers' schools teach students. The importance of knowing when due to excessive speed or the wrong entry line, your car CANNOT be steered through the turn and you MUST give in to drive off safely. This applies to ALL road driving and accident avoidance. Practicing your car's limits in a controlled instructed school is a great help to avoid damaging your car, but most importantly yourself.

I have a classroom session next to review more driving skills and technically discuss various turning techniques. The instructor hands out a ditto called "The Benefits of Driving Slow". It explains that "Entering a corner a bit slower may well mean exiting it faster, and that faster exit translates to big-time speed down the straightaway". With this understanding and a little trepidation, I go out on track knowing in my heart I will slow down. The main reason is because I would like my car and I to come home intact. I tell Woody, my instructor, I will be slowing down this session. He is fine with that, since he knows I will continue to learn by driving the track line at slower speeds. We talk about taking some of the turns off line for added car control practice. This way if I'm ever caught offline, in a pass, I can adjust my speed and braking to compensate.

The first turn I proceed into with more brakes to tighten my apex and gently squeeze on the throttle, unwinding the wheel, using all the track and increasing speed. I feel faster automatically... What happened? I'm surprised, but I look ahead for the next turn and prepare for my braking point. More and more turns go by and Woody and I are conversing about how to nip each apex tighter. I notice I'm passing even more cars. I ask myself "Is this what they mean about slowing down and you'll go faster?" Wow, it feels wonderful. The car seems to have more adhesion through acceleration. Woody explains that this is a very safe way to drive within car physics. For performance driving on the track, each turn begins with hard braking. Then progressive acceleration from the turn-in point, past the apex, to the turn exit will allow me to put the power down with out breaking loose the rear end. So with repeated laps, I practice the exact amount of brake and throttle for all the various turns in order to gain the best car control possible for my car and I.

Towards the end of the session I notice a little repeating thump up front as I enter turns. We decide not to press the car further. I take a cool down lap to bring the car into the pits. I am a little disappointed for my last session to end early, but ecstatic over all I've accomplished at this driver school. So much car theory to practice and so little time. The checker flag comes out shortly and the track time is over for everyone. School finishes with one-on-one instructor /student discussions on what we've learned and things to work on in the future.

I am very pleased with my school weekend, the cars performance and all that I learned. I couldn't blame the school for my 325is needed a clutch, it was evidently worn long before I took the car on track. It turned out that the clutch disk was worn down to the rivets. As for the thump in the M3, that turned out to be a loose sway bar link. It wasn't a big problem, we tightened it before we drove home.

I hope you enjoyed this review of my school and possibly learned something too. I know I talk about driving every chance I can. Since Rich and I have many friends who race, like Mike Wendell, Pat Donahue, Matt Yip and Rick Ricker, I get to hear and participate in many discussions of driving aspects. There are even some Pro and National level drivers like Grant Carter, Guy Pavageau, Rob Hines and Don Caldwell, who are friends of ours. Each has given me excellent input about driving and car setup. Everyone is always encouraging of me to continue to increase my skills in performance driving. I want BMW club members, and their significant others, to feel they can contact me if you're interested in getting started in our schools or to talk about driving. Feel free to e-mail me lucy@beebecomm.com

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A woman's perspective on performance driving.

by Lucy Beebe

photos by
Rich and Lucy

originally published in the

BMW Car Club of America,
National Capital Chapter newsletter magazine called 'der Bayerische'