The BMW CCA Golden Gate Chapter is returning to Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca in 2014! There is a one-day driving school on Saturday, May 31st. Whether you've enjoyed Laguna before or have been waiting for the perfect time to try this famous track, late May should promise exquisite driving weather. Plus it's the week AFTER Memorial Day, so you don't have to give up the big family BBQ or long weekend sports/spa/gambling/shopping trip to attend this school.

In addition the GGC will have its annual 2-day driving school at Thunderhill on November 15-16, and this will include both the current Thunderhill East and the new Thunderhill West, which adds 2 more miles of track. I think they plan to link both sides into one huge track, which should be fun and challenging.

The 2-day school at Thunderhill normally costs between $425 and $475 for two days. The cost of Laguna Seca school has not been finalized yet (maybe $225 to $270 for one day?) but should be posted soon on the Golden Gate Chapter web site, here: http://ggcbmwcca.org/event/driving-school-laguna-seca/

CCA driving schools include an in-car instructor for all sessions, until you either get signed off to drive solo or corner so hard that your instructor gets motion sickness and needs to escape your car. If they do an A+ group, then advanced A+ drivers only have the instructor in-car for the first session of the day and then the instructors observe them driving from the tower or from their own cars on the track. But it's not clear yet if the A+ program will be offered for these events.

Both events require a BMW CCA membership, which is $48/year if you are not a member. I plan to drive in both events and will post updates as I get more news.