My wife & i went to the AMG Challenge on Friday, October 6.

I have a few pics, but the site doesn't let me upload them. When i can, i will. I met a couple of other MBWorlders at the event: AMGDAN & E55 Pilot, both of them were really nice guys, we had a great time

The event started at 7:30 am with a breakfast buffet. Shortly after breakfast our host, race car driver Tommy Kendall talked a little, & introduced the instructors who would be with the different groups (Blue, red, green, white) We then went to the first event of the day - C class autocross, this was timed autocrossing with a C55, i had a blast in this. After that we went karting, we had a small race with the go carts, that was extremely fun!! I got third place in my sub group, lol. Then we went on the CLK63's & one 55. Personaly, i didn't like the handling of the CLK63 cab, i just did not feel comfortable in it.


Next was lunch. After lunch we went on to the SLk55 timed autocross. That car is too fun to drive, you could toss it around like nothing. We had a really good time there. AMGDAN got the best time & he had the privilege to take out the SLK55 one more time before we left.....without ESP. That was funny, the car was all over the place, he was practically doing donuts & spinning everywhere. Tommy Kendall & our instructor Clarky, were also driving the cars without ESP, but they had a little bit better luck with them, lol. Those guys can really drive.


The next event was on the main track with a few E55's, E63's, & CLS63's First they took us on a "video" drive were they recorded us with an in car camera. That was really cool, they gave us a DVD with our recorded lap (video of both inside the car & the track as we drove) & all the stats. Next i drove an E63, my first impression was that the car definitely didn't have the same punch as the E55, but the handling was much better around the track. I felt much more confident in the E63 than i did in the E55. I'm not saying that the E55 was not handling well, on the contrary it handled much better than i thought it could, but there was a noticable difference between the two. I also drove a CLS63, & liked it very much, it also handled very well. After a few laps in all the cars, we got to go on "hot laps" with the instuctors/drivers driving, that was great.


That was the last driving session. We finally had an awards ceremony with a champagne toast at the end & got a bag with some goodies! All in all, i had a terrific time & would recommend this to anyone, i can't wait to go to the graduate program next year.


We got to meet Rob Allan at the event, He was a nice guy who interacted with all of us. He sat down at our table at the end of the day & we just talked with him for a while & no we didn't ask him about the 63/55 debate. We mostly talked about the event & how they could make it better, etc.. He did mention wanting to bring some models to be hostesses next year, lol!

Oh your lucky wife. I would love to go but someone has to stay home with our 10 y/o and if only 1 can go it's always Wolf

OK, finally i can upload some pics.

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Wifey in the SLR

MiamiE55 - I had received an invitation to go to Homstead and drive an SLR for the afternoon, but didn't go. Was that run at the same time as your AMG Challenge ? Did you meet anyone who drove the SLR ?

Nah it wasn't the same one. There is an AMG challenge, an AMG challenge graduate & then The SLR driving experience. You get to drive the SLR in the graduate program & obviously in the SLR program. You have to do the basic AMG challenge before you can do the graduate. Hopefully i'll be going to the graduate program next year.

wife looks great in that car... now you have to get her one!

Thanks, but i think i'm gonna wait a little on the SLR, lol.