Levels of magnificence at the AMG Driving Academy

7/3/2016 Levels of magnificence at the AMG Driving Academy | Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/review/levelsofmagnificenceattheamgdrivingacademy
1/3
LEISURE / AUTOS & MOTORCYCLES / CAR & TRUCK ENTHUSIASTS
One could say hot laps around Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca in an exotic $190,000, gull winged Mercedes AMG SLS with 563hp is
worth the price of admission. Others might say the insane 664 ft lbs of torque in an SL63 with the AMG Performance (P30) package is
the dream ride. What everyone can agree on is the total experience is a must-do for any automotive enthusiast or fan of magnificent
vehicles.
Held at the finest racetracks around the world, the academy offers three levels of courses, Basic, Advanced & Pro featuring superb
organization and driving instruction by accomplished current and former race car drivers. Open to the paying public or AMG owners who
have purchased within 12 months prior, I had the opportunity to experience the one day Basic session.
For the public, the $1,595 fee also included lots of interaction and instruction by celebrity guest instructor and champion race car driver
Tommy Kendall. TK shared great stories and chalk talk in between instruction duties while tasty breakfast, lunch and end of day snacks
and beverages were provided. Water was encouraged and snacks provided when we weren’t going full throttle, full braking or going
sideways in lurid, wet powerslides.
More important than free meals, provided to the participants was a large fleet of the AMG cars to drive with up to 2 students per car with
See also: amg, mercedes, sls
Levels of magnificence at the AMG Driving Academy
October 21, 2012
10:53 PM MST
AMG Driving Academy
Rating:     
7/3/2016 Levels of magnificence at the AMG Driving Academy | Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/review/levelsofmagnificenceattheamgdrivingacademy
2/3
frequent switching of driving duties. Besides the two monsters listed, also included were
CLS63s, E63s, C63s and CLK63 Black Series from 2008. One of the CLKs had 30,000 miles on
it, all from track duty!
The exotic AMG SLS is a snarling, crackling, refined exotic. The now lighter SL63 a superbly
powerful, fast and wonderful GT car with a great interior design only rivaled by the CLS63.
After time in the C63, I realized it’s a near-perfect, do-everything performance car with an
extremely well designed interior and space. It rivals the M3 overall and felt great on the track.
The first half of the day was a series of fun exercises that included a drag racing and braking
competition followed with a slalom exercise, a full brake and steer exercise, AMG SLS time
dedicated for the corkscrew to learn the correct line and technique, and wet powerslide
control. Besides getting familiar with the gorgeous interiors of some of these cars, the slowest
exercise produced the most laugh-out-loud moments. 20mph powerslides in water are so
much fun!
After lunch, it was high-speed fun on the big track. Supplying head socks and ¾ Snell 2010
safety helmets for a high speed follow-the-leader laps with narration by the instructor in the
lead car. Learning the braking zones, turn in points, apexes, and the racing line provided
valuable instruction on a world-class track. Even when it started to rain, it was valuable
instruction on finding the dry line. The final time is then filmed with telemetry and outward & incabin
views.
The big ride came as a passenger in an SLS driven by one of the professional race car driver
instructors. It’s an extreme car driven near the limit and what was oddly the most memorable,
was the insanely sudden and hard braking that tossed the head forward each time. After that, it
would be the SL63 and it's great torque and acceleration down the straights.
Unfortunately the rain negated the autocross for most of us where the timed competition would
be held for prizes (which were still given away and were fabulous) but the experience was
unforgettable. The vehicles, instruction and accommodations were simply world class. See if it fits in your schedule here:
http://www.amgacademy.com/schedule
AMG Driving Academy except where noted
View all
12 photos 
San Jose Cars Examiner
7/3/2016 Levels of magnificence at the AMG Driving Academy | Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/review/levelsofmagnificenceattheamgdrivingacademy
3/3
© 2006-2015 AXS Digital Group LLC d/b/a Examiner.com
Robert Eckaus
San Jose Cars Examiner