Strap on Your Boots

It is downright impossible to not feel a rush of adrenaline at BMW’s West Coast hub for precision driving.

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The BMW Performance Center and MINI Driving Experience in Thermal.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY BMW PERFORMANCE CENTER THERMAL

Imagine getting behind the wheel of the “Ultimate Driving Machine” in an adrenaline-pumping driving experience beyond comparison. That is the BMW Performance Driving School.

It is downright impossible to not feel a rush of adrenaline at BMW’s West Coast hub for precision driving, where more than 100 different vehicles are available for high-octane lessons in cornering, braking, skid recovery, slaloming, and accident avoidance.
Your visit starts inside a state-of-the-art building tricked out with classrooms, a gift shop, a coffee bar, and event space.

The main attraction, though, is an exclusive 1.1-mile course populated with multiple corner types, elevation changes, and a starting straight that dares wannabe Mario Andrettis to zoom past 100. A separate 360-degree wet skid pad provides the perfect spot to learn how to drift.

Don’t miss the chance to buckle up in the passenger seat aside one of the instructors for a thrilling Hot Lap, or drive the track in an M Series. Adventurers can ramp it up with a two-day school or some private instruction.

VIDEO: Take a seat and enjoy the ride at BMW Performance Center in Thermal.