2013 Flat Out Classic High Performance Driving Event

A large contingent of the Iowa Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America (CAA) participated in the 2013 Flat Out Classic High Performance Driving Event (HPDE) on April 26 – 28 this year at Heartland Park in Topeka, KS. The event was organized by the Great Plains, Kansas City, St. Louis, Sunbelt Chapters of the BMW CCA. They were great hosts and made all those who attended feel welcome. This was my first time at Heartland Park and it was a great experience and a very nice track. This was also my first time to solo at a driving event. After attending several track schools as a student you are always wondering how it would feel to finally be on the track solo. It was a great experience for me and I am glad I was able to show my instructor (Marc Ellwein) that I had acquired enough fundamental track skills for him to sign off on my going solo the last half of the day on Sunday.

When you pull on the track in the car alone you are a little apprehensive as your safety net in the passenger seat is no longer there. As you go around the track at a reduced pace on the first lap all the instructions you have had from past and present instructors is running through your mind. Once the session moves into full swing you concentrate on the positives and try to let the mistakes stay behind you at the last turn. You also try to control the adrenaline that is flowing through you from being solo in the car. It was one of those life moments you will always remember and it is hard to get the smile off you face afterwards. This student had a great time as did the rest of the Iowa Chapter who attended.