driving school

A High Octane Holiday Gift from Mercedes-Benz

Looking for a high octane holiday gift idea? If you buy a very lucky someone a new Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicle for Christmas, they'll now get a free pass to the amazing AMG Driving Academy that we wrote about last year. If that's out of your price range you might still be able to afford them an adrenaline rush with a gift certificate to the thrilling course. In three skill levels, AMG Driving Academy provides race-tested instructors who teach drivers to train and use their reflexes for maximum driving excitement and performance on closed-off circuits. Drivers can bring their own cars, use the standard school cars or upgrade to the gull-wing SLS AMG supercar (above).

To purchase a gift certificate, visit www.AMGacademy.com/drive, select the Basic or Pro Class at the desired venue, and register the recipient. Pricing starts at $1,595. For 2011 the Academy is also adding Lime Rock Park in Connecticut as the third track in its impressive U.S. stable; the other two venues are Laguna Seca and Road Atlana. As an added bonus if you register before Jan. 15 you'll get a 20% discount.

Tags: AMG, Connecticut, driving school, driving tour, gifts, Holiday 2010, Laguna Seca, Lime Rock, Lime Rock Park, Mercedes-Benz, racing, SLS AMG

Lifetime Fast Pass from Skip Barber Racing School

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The unfortunate reality that colors the supercar market is that wealth doesn't come with driving skills. In other words, just because you've got the money to buy, say, a Ferrari or Lamborghini or what-have-you, doesn't mean you've got the competence to drive it. That much has been evidenced time and time again by the regular onslaught of such exotic machinery wrapped around trees and sign posts. But that's what institutions like Skip Barber are for.

One of the best-known high-performance driving schools in North America, Skip Barber is there to help bridge that gap. And if one course doesn't do the trick, the school offers a wide variety of others at tracks across the country. Want to sample them all? Skip Barber has a graduated series of memberships starting at $75,000. The latest, however, is the $295,000 Lifetime Fast Pass, which allows the holder to sign up for any standing course with open spots, get track time at any of 10 circuits or compete in any of the school's racing series. Head over the SkipBarber.com to check it out.

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Tags: driving school, racing school, skip barber, skip barber lifetime pass, Skip Barber Racing School

BMW Performance Driving School

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos

BMW's Performance Driving School in Greer, South Carolina is a great getaway for BMW enthusiasts and those who want to "discover the joy of driving" when not in a traffic-filled commute. The $12.5 million dollar center features professional drivers and tracks, slalom courses, a skid pad, a water wall and - of course - a fleet of BMWs to choose from. Courses are scheduled throughout the year and they even offer a class for teen drivers to help them sharpen their driving skills and to become defensive, safer drivers. The one we're most interested in, however, is the M School. It is a 2 1/2 day course that features the use 500 HP M5, M3 manual and M3 SMG, as well as a visit to the Michelin test track, with options to go on to visit the Loews Motor Speedway or the Virginia International Raceway. Accommodations and meals are included for $3,650.

[via UnCrate]

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Tags: beemer, beemers, bmw, bmw performance driving school, cars, driving school, performance cars, tracks

Bentley Driving Program

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

We already know that Ferrari, Land Rover, and Lamborghini have driving school programs and Maserati recently opened a North American driving school but do we really need a school to drive a Bentley? Automobile Magazine covers the Bentley Driving Program which recently came to Las Vegas. The program is for Bentley owners and those who are sales prospects. For $1500 you get to spend a day playing around with a Bentley learning not only some driving skills but also a bit of Bentley history and lore. Reading this article it seems that where the exotic car driving schools often focus on the vroom-vroom race car approach, Bentley teaches capability and grace. Of course some of the exercises do take place at 100 mph so there is still the adrenaline factor. Many of the Bentley drivers i have encountered in the Los Angeles area could definitely benefit from a little schooling.

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Tags: automobile, bentley, driving school

Maserati Opens a North American Driving School

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

Maserati is following in the footsteps of Ferrari and Land Rover and opening a driving school. The Master Maserati North America Driving School is open to Maserati owners or anyone who wants to drive a Maserati around a world-class racetrack, Road Atlanta. The school will begin next month and will offer one-and two-day programs and will offer the GranSport, Quattroporte and Coupe. The school will be managed by Panoz Racing School and each course is limited to 18 participants per session. One-day courses will cost $1,800 with two-day courses at $3,400, not including airfare and transportation. Two-day courses will include a dinner and stay at the Chateau Elan Inn and Resort.

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Tags: driving school, exotic car, maserati, race car, racetrack, racing

Ferrari Opens North American Driving School

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services, Luxury Cars & Autos

Ferrari has announced that they will open a North American driving school in Mont Tremblant, Quebec. The Ferrari North American Driving School will be located at Le Circuit race track and the Ferrari Driving Experience will teach North American drivers how to control an enjoy their cars. The new program is modeled on the Ferrari school in Italy. The program will be offered from May to October and will include transportation to/from Montreal; lodging in the Hotel Quintessence; welcome reception and dinners and the two-day driving program at the track, led by professional Ferrari instructors and using new Ferrari F430 vehicles. The fee is $8,200 and includes event registration, accommodations at Hotel Quintessence, dinners, lunches and breakfasts, course book, airport pick up and transfers and all event memorabilia.

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Tags: driving school, ferrari, le circuit, LeCircuit, mont tremblant, MontTremblant, north american driving school, racecar school