Autocrossed and road coursed the BMW M6, 650, 640, and 750 yesterday

[Paul Workman]

A friend of mine and a guest was selected with about 40-50 others for a day at the Autoban track facility near the Route 66 tracks to test drive some new Beamers yesterday afternoon. Gentlemen, I gotta tell ya, if you pair up against an M6 with the 560 hp sport package (including the biggest carbon disc brakes I've ever seen!) yer gonna have your work cut out for ya!

The M6 (with "sport" mode selected) on the autocross course was as nimble as any Corvette I've ever driven, and that automatic transmission on the course was phenomenal - never in the wrong gear and kept the turbos spooled and at the prime rpm throughout the course - automatically. Really, I mean REALLY(!) impressive!

The only "hitch" being a bit of a turbo lag - very little at that, but noticeable. However, you quickly learn to anticipate and adjust for it by hitting WOT a split second before you would normally go to full throttle on a supercharged or NA car, and it was fine!

By the time I made my 3rd pass, I only had to touch the brake at the hairpin at the far end, following a 65 foot "straightaway" to the cone marking the start of the turn. The transmission was all the braking needed, otherwise. Braggin rights: I got to push the M6 to the limits of the tires (and my driving) on my last pass, which turned out to be the best pass of the day for the entire group, according to the instructors. (The Dragon's Tail and Six gaps from the Mountain Run was a fine tuneup!!) But, hey! I was the only ZR-1 driver there, among a couple C5'ers and 4 C7 drivers...Had to put some "whoopazz" on 'em while wearing my NetRegistry ZR-1 colors, doancha know!!

Then we got to drive and play "follow the leader (the pro in a pace car)" and do spirited laps around the Autoban course, each getting to do laps in the 640, 650, and 750 series Beamers. All of them were quite impressive, even the big 750 handled quite well. But, it was the "hot laps" with one of the pro drivers in the M6 that was really an eye opener for me. You'd never think of a sport sedan being able to track like that - or at least I never did, until sitting shotgun with a pro. It made me think of Marc and his "new" ZR1. I'm sure he'd be able to handle the task w/o too much trouble with another 100 hp and a lot less weight.

Anyway... If ya ever get the chance! Thanks to Bill Jacobs BMW in Joliet, IL for the opportunity to pound on some state of the art BMWs, using their gas and tires. It was quite an experience!