RichardCranium3

Evening all,

Went through the AMG Academy Basic course at Laguna Seca yesterday. Results? Could not recommend enough!! Started out of the gate with the big guns! Our group was lucky enough to start out on the track driving the GT and GTS, then the new E63s sedan, SL63, and ended the morning in the C43. Ended up with about 8 laps each and every one was freaking awesome!! Our group had Kevin and Earnie for instructors and they did an awesome job!

After lunch, we did skid pad in an C63s coupe, then slalom track in the CLA45 AMG and emergency braking in the SLC43 AMG and SL63 AMG. Skid pad was awesome...definitely a challenge getting started though, but I ended up the only one in our group drifting the full circle almost two full orbits. The slalom was definitely the most challenging exorcise though, but our team ended up winning the team competition!

Last treat of the day was taxi laps. I got selected for a full speed lap in the GTR driven by lead AMG instructor AJ Alsup. Helluva ride!

I'll post up the link from the Academy page when all the pics are posted.

alwazsidwaz

Amazing!!! Still waiting to hear from my dealer why I didn't get an invitation to the lounge... :/

Star4life

you have to sign up for private lounge. and from most people it takes roughly 3 months to get the driving academy letter.

OP sick time. I am trying to get to the laguna seca track for the experience.

RichardCranium3

Link to my day...I'm the idiot in the blue under armor shirt.
https://www.amgacademy.com/gallery/p...october-3-2017

Regarding invite, I never formally received one. I just signed up based off info from the AMG Academy website and feedback in here. No issues. Buy an AMG, get basic for free.

oofie810

Nice! Around how many participants were there? Also, was it 8 laps per car that you drove? So 8 on the GT, 8 on the GTS, etc? That's a lot of driving!

I'm joining the November event and I'm really excited for this one.

alexasa

iTrader: (1)

This one?

oofie810

I think this one:





Also, that helmet prize and duffel bag looks sweet!

18bora

You don't have to wait, just register on line using your vin# https://www.amgacademy.com/register/

I went to Lime Rock in Aug. It was great driving all different models, but the actual track time was too short and slow. They make you brake way too early, almost ruins the apex/exit.

Don't get me wrong, it was a blast and would do it again, but I wish if they let us (some of us) a little loose.

They picked me and another guy to drive a few "semi-hot" laps in the E63s, and I brought my own helmet with me.



I got yelled at the slalom for hold it too long.

RichardCranium3

Yeah, we were on the track for three straight hours, with exception of a 10/10 braking session right away with the GT's just before the pit exit and bio-breaks. I think we had about 60 drivers in our class.

Yeah that's me and my sweet hoodie-skirt...that was just after the taxi ride with AJ in the GTR.

Regarding the speed, I definitely agree that we weren't going fast enough in the GT cars, but I totally understand why. They have no idea on anyone's skill level so they're judging everyone from the first turn...grading our instinct, ability to learn and correct based off their instruction, etc. I will say that by the time we worked our way "down" to the C43's, my instructor was definitely letting my tread in to the outer limits of the car when I was the first follower.

I talked to one of our instructors quite a bit throughout the day...once all the instructors are back at the hotel, they basically fill out a report card on every driver that sticks to our name in the AMG Academy system as people take courses at other tracks around the world or move up in levels. Overheard they have a guy that's taken a mix of Basic and Advanced over 20 times and another that's done Drift 13 times!

alwazsidwaz

Doesn't it come as courtesy from the vehicle purchase? I looked at the website and you can register but it cost money...

18bora

If you purchased a vehicle, they need to verify the vin number. They will charge $250 to your credit card as a deposit. It's refundable, unless you reserve and don't show up. However, it looks like all events are full for this year, you'd have to wait for next year's schedule.
You can always give them a call too
US AMG Driving Academy/
Mercedes-Benz USA
303 Perimeter Center North
Atlanta, GA 30346
1-888-604-1766

alwazsidwaz

Great! Thanks for the info.

RichardCranium3

FWIW, during my day they mentioned they have AMG academy all over the world. If you're willing to travel somewhere exotic, it might be worth while to check the global schedule.