I don't know why they never have any of these events, in the DC area? As there is a good number of AMG owners here.
But anyway, are there any AMG Private Lounge members in MBWorld planning on attending, the AMG Performance Drive in Monticello, NY on May 14-15th?
I hope to see you there. I was told that AMG PL members will not be given any special treatment at the track. There will be four AMGs there, for the drive event C63, E63, SL63 and the SLS AMG. The SLS AMG is on display only, and will not be driven on the track. Each person, will be given one lap per vehicle But regardless, I'm just glad that I was invited to attend.

 

not going, I will be coming down from my AMG high because on the 13th I will be at Lime Rock giving these b!tches a thrashing--I'm doing the AMG driving Academy that day
cool event though, especially since those things are free, I wish I could say the same about the AMG Academy--I bought my car a few months too soon to get it for free

 

You're going to love Lime Rock. Hope you get good weather. I did the AMG Graduate program at Lime Rock in 2005. Jeff Andretti was my instructor. It was a blast. Still dream about it.

 

Nice another person from the forum going to lime rock. I'll be there with couple of my friends.

This is going to be a really nice week for me. Atco may 12 and lime rock the next day. I can't wait.

 

I just check the AMG event listing website, and they still have 10 slots open.
So if your planning on attending, you better hurry up and register.

 

Well it's a week away before I will enjoy the experience in NY, can't friggin wait.

 

see you there brother

 

I just check the site, and their were only three slots still available. So if your interested in attending this event, you better sign up quick.

 

I just did this in chicago, it was a blast!

 

So tell me all about it, from start to finish....please

 

no problem!

Walk in, hand over your license and get a wristband.

At our event they had a SLS, CLS63, and SL63 on display to play with, sit in etc.

They had a sitting area all setup, which included free drinks, literature, some rim displays etc.

At the driving event, you had a choice to drive the SL63, E63, CLS63, or C63. We were allowed 3 runs (get back in line after a lap)

They provided amg helmets for the driving. When its your turn, jump in the car and your driving instructor is there waiting.

He gives pointers throughout the coarse, and trust me you drive very hard. I had the sl up to triple digit speeds, and then was extremely hard on the brakes in one of the turns!

No real pressure to buy or anything like that. They did have a survey at the end if you wanted to participate, and they were offering a $1000 incentive toward a new amg and were giving away a capacino machine.

What is funny is the amount of AMG items there! They had banners, cups, and custom AMG sandbags to hold down the tents, lol.

 

Thank you so very much for the information and pictures. I will be at the event in NY this weekend. I will post my AMG experience as well as pictures from the event.

 

were they giving away or letting people purchase any of the swag?
I'd love to have one of those tents to wash my car under (my driveway get sun all day)

 

I will let you know this weekend, when I attend the event in NY.

 

Well I had an awesome experience this past weekend at the Monticello Motor Club, in Moticello, NY. I drove six hours from Northern Virginia, to attend this event held by the AMG Performance Drive.
I have to give my applause to AMG, for putting on a great event, well done. And thanks you for inviting me to attend. This was a great experience, and I will remember it always. Now I have to do the Driving Academy next.





And Me at the event wearing my AMG Private Lounge hat.


CTCMike was there, with his wife Sue. As he wore his AMG Private Lounge hat. Masterianvii was there as well, but I didn't get a picture of him.

They had numberous AMG there: C63, E63, SL63, CLS63, CL63 and SLS AMG. I was fortunate enough to drive, all four cars on the track (C63, E63, SL63, CLS63).





Thanks to some networking with Terrence (AMG Coordinator), I was able to get a fourth lap.


The facility was beautiful, and well maintained, the roads were smooth.


One of the founders of AMG. Hans Warener Aufrecht


Love this helmet






This track with alot of elevation changes to promote over/understeer. Their were some blind apex, that you couldn't anticipate until you were right on top of them, when the suspension became light, right at the very end of the lap.

I went into the corner a little too hot in the SL63, see video below:

Terrence giving instruction

And a little more action from the event. these are all videos, just click on the video to watch.






And the best part of the whole experience, was that the instructors let you drive it like to stole it :ohmy:
Here a picture of the C63, that went off the course into the mud.



Let me conclude this by saying, that I'm not discriminating against anyone in anyway.The one thing that was very surprising to me at this event, was that I was under the assumption that this was only offered to current and perspective AMG buyers, to come and participate. Some people told me, that they heard about this event through friends, that gave them the link to register. I applaud those Non-Mercedes/AMG owners that were in attendance, because they now know what there up against.

 

I was there also yesterday and had a blast. I commend you for driving as far as you did for this...considering they only gave us 3 laps!

 

After doing some networking with Terrence (AMG Instructor), he granted me an additional lap. So I was able to drive all four cars.
I also made some contacts with a AMG product advisor, so that I can coordinate our AMG events here in Virginia, for a possible AMG Drive in the future.

 

I will try not to post the same pictures. Some more pictures from the AMG Performance Drive.
Unfortunately, AMG didn't allow us to take out the SLS and the CL. Too much money for us to be ripping up the track with.


I wish that they had the tents for sell, because I would have bought one, to do my detailing and washing the car under. Sweet!


The instructor learned that someone had gone off track, fro driving the White C63 like an animal. Granted alot of people weren't AMG owners, so they wasn't used to the power.


The SL63 was trememdous fun to drive fast, the MCT was so fast on up or down shifts.

But without a doubt the C63, was probably the most favorite of all the cars to drive like a lunatic, although you cant rip off shifts as fast as the MCT, but it was not a slouch....trust me.
These cars got more seat time then any other, from what I seen.
This car dared you to drive it like a hooligan....and I did
Although, I don't drive me C63 like I stole it.

The CLS 63 was a absolute dream to drive, with the performance Package, loads of HP and torque. AMG should revamp "One Man, One Engine" and change it to "AMG, the most fun one could have under their right foot"

I was shocked that they used Continentals on these cars, because the OEm are Pirellis. They did offer great grip into the corner, when your braking hard. I have to say, that the AMG staff let you push these cars hard, I mean hard. i was bouncing off the rev limiter in the SL63, in one of the corners. I wish that you could have seen my cheesy smile. One off the AMG guys asked me what size helmet I wore, I said XXXL. That is how big my head was, no kidding. This event was brillant, when is the next one. If Joliet, IL was closer, I would have went to that one as well.

You eye balling my car, yeah! You wanted to run them! Your about to get spanked, well bring it on! On three, one , two, three goooooo

This is the SL63 that, I was pushing hard in the corners from the video.

Was that you, out there driving like a mad man......yeah

Where can I get one of those jackets






Driving instruction being conducted by Terrence. Because some people need it, not me........

Where can I get a helmet like that?



This was a beautiful SLS AMG



And my favorite engine

And this says it all

AMG if your listening, next time brings these AMG jackets for sell, you will make a killing off of them. Trust me. Everyone wanted to buy them, including me.
I have to upload five more videos, and their large when I get home.

 

Thank you, Sir.....
I left VA at 6 AM, and got home at 11:30 PM.
I did allot of driving on Saturday, 6 hour drive up, driving at the track, and a 6 hour return trip back. Luckily, I didn't get any speeding tickets.

 

looks like fun and it was free right?
I did the Basic training on Friday 13th at Lime Rock and you must do it, it is awesome.
BTW, who is the dude in the white PL hat--he was at my Basic training class on Friday and I think his wife was too.
I recognize them from photos I have--now that is one dedicated fan and the fact that his wife goes with him is awesome--my wife is not a big fan of my car habit

Looks like fun, so did you get to drive the SLS?

 

The guy in the White private lounge hat was CTCMike, he was there with his wife Patty Sue. And yes he was at Lime Rock. He talked about the great time he had there. I have to go to the Driving Academy. I'm afraid not, no one drove the SLS AMG, did you get to sit in it, and mess with the stereo, and the instructor fired in up, and it sounded the best out of all the cars.

 

I enjoy the fact, that I could experience four different cars, and their different handling characteristics. The C63 is light and nimble with a hint of oversteer when pushed hard, but the electronics help reel that in. The MCT, transmission is outstanding, the shift and super quick, and the power delivery is almost seemless, going thru the gears. There wasn't a hint of power loss, when shifting. And the torque comes on stronger and faster at a lower rpm cmpared to the 7G Techtronic. my biggest surprise was how the CLS and E handled on the track, for such a heavy car. I have to say, that I had my doubts about the new E63, about having a steel suspension with air springs in the rear. This car actually handled nicely. I have a new respect for the W212 E63, compared to my W211 07 E63. I thought that AMg, had dropped the ball on the new E, boy was I wrong. I'm still not to keen on the angular styling, but AMG has the engine, tranny and suspension dialed in. I think from my opinion, that the C63 handled the best around the track, for the size and power that it had. The CLS63 for such a heavy car, you could easliy throw this thing into the corners, with power oversteer. Oh, and the brakes on these cars, simply outstanding. I take for granted my brakes on my C63 and E63. But on the track, I was cooking into a corner jammed on the brakes hard and they never faded, and this is after hundred people have cycled thru it. The biggest lesson, I learned is to jam on the brake hard, by pushing the brake pedal thru the floor, and steering into the turn. Not one time did the ABS kick in, and I was pushing 100 mph in some corners.

Another video, click on the image to view

 

Here are a few more videos of Terrence explaining the track, and how to handle the car. Keep in mind, that allot of the people at the AMG Performance Drive, never driven an AMG. So this guy had allot of questions.

 

Here are some more photos, that were provided by 601. i was standing next to him and his Ukranian friend and didn't know it.



The instructor in their group huddle.







One of the track layout, we just occupied a small loop of the overall track.


Here is the back of my AMG jacket that everyone was talking about.




And the red SLS AMG

 

The MCT transmission is phenomenal, the shifts an crisp and fast. They are no delays with gear engagement, as compared to my 07 E63. I was ripping off gear changes, in milliseconds. I really like this tranny. The 5.5 Bi-Turbo engine is strong, with tons of hp and torque under your right foot. There is no turbo lag trust me.