Euro Auto Festival Oct 17 - Oct 19 Spartanburg SC

[DeanG]

Anyone going to the Euro Auto Festival held at the BMW in Spartanburg, South Carolina? We are seriously thinking of making the trip but have not committed yet.

 

http://euroautofestival.com/default.aspx

 

We were there a few years ago, it was great fun, in a nice location with good food. The only problem was the lack of Lotus & Se7ens! The most fun part was the track time driving new BMW’s. This year there is the option ($100) for the following.

 

Wet / Dry auto-X: Driving 335s or 650 (TBD) through a coned autocross course that combines normal dry asphalt with a wet polished concrete surface.

 

Performance Drive: Drive an M5, around a large road course.

 

Sports Handling w/ Timed Runs: Drive the all new 335 around a road course and try to post your best lap time.

 

Off Road course: Driving the X5 or X3, you will challenge the capabilities of BMW’s X Drive all wheel system.

 

Match / Rat Race: Driving the M3 6spd or 335 Steptronic, you will race your opponent around a course to see who gets back to the finish line first.

 

I found out that BMW drivers are wimps! I was driving a 7 series when the rear started to feel light. I figured that I could keep feeding it throttle and see how the electronic drivers would save me. Not! The rear tried to pass me! Afterward I asked one of the instructors how many cars they lost in a year. He said “none”, they had never crashed one.

 

 

[DeanG]

Excellent event. Rain made the ground so soggy that the show was moved to the BMW parking lot rather than on the grass. By my count there 8 Lotus in attendance. Reportedly 495 cars were signed up for the show. $20 bought me 3 AutoX runs in a BMW 135. Nice family car. Met a guy who claimed to have owned a #411 (an extremely early Seven). Also met a early Lotus dealer, since moved on to better things.

 

Next year they will be having several track events at this meet. In 2006 I did several of these events (all in new BMWs) for $80. Best driving deal I ever saw.