So when did you decide you were a track guy?

[Suds]

Thinking back, I heard a family friend’s son, home form Viet Nam, fire up his black ‘65 Chevele SS in the church parking lot when I was about 7-8 years old, that throaty exhaust. Then there was the family friend with a mid 60’s Lotus.

So what turned it on for you? Motor memory’s from you, my dad was not a car guy, so it is not hereditary.

[CanAutM3]

I did not decide anything, it just happened

[D_SheerDrivingPleasure]

It all started with a shitty go-cart with a 5hp Briggs and Stratton engine. I was the neighborhood menace.

[jfritz27]

I took delivery of my '17 ZCP in late 2016. I bought it because of the vibe surrounding the M3 and its overall apparent awesomeness, but was not a "car guy" at all prior to this. I then took advantage of the M School credit that came with the car and did the 2-day school in SC in 2017. And that's when it started for me.

Speaking of family, it's funny that growing up, my dad was always working on our cars. He wasn't a car guy in that he watched motorsports/NASCAR, etc, (he didn't, nor could we afford fast/expensive cars) but because where I grew up in a blue collar/rural area of PA, people tended to fix their own stuff. I have distinct memories of him in the garage, filled with cigarette smoke I'm sure, working on the old Pontiac Phoenix with a timing gun in his hand. Growing up though I never got into that stuff. As my career/life path was starting to take off after college, unfortunately he was diagnosed with lung cancer, and <2 years later he was gone. This was almost 20 years ago. A big regret is that he didn't make it to see the M3 come around and make it to the track with me, and see me wrench on the car (or at least try!) -- I'm sure he would have gotten a kick out of it.

[Jbonly21]

I am not even sure I am, but it was in 2015 when Bimmerfest was moved from the Rose Bowl to AAA Speedway, that was the first time I learned you could track your personal car. Haha, before you guys make fun of me, quick back story, I was born in West Africa and came to the US when I turned 18. I have been in the US for the last 20 years and I am still learning new things. Fast forward, bought my M3 2 years ago, and so far I have done about 6 track days. The more I go, the more I love it, hoping to do at least 5 to 6 days a year.

[kyrix1st]

I knew I had to race the day after I got my license, when I put my foot down in my mom's A6.

[Driver407]

Been a car nut my entire life. Car models, car shows, drag events, race events as a child in florida. Played nintendo NES to Modern day racing games, Euro trip to BMW HQ (dad euro delivered 5 series) and Ferrari in 2001. Full on Sim racing rig last 8 years.

However, tracking i put off for faaaar to long. I knew it was a pricey hobby and basically said... When I can afford to "do it right". Bought a boring new 2010 mazda 3 hatch in 2009 and had for ~10 years.
Then in 2019 I felt the time had come. Bought my F80. Now about 20 track days and counting. Looking to do about 9 or so this year. Not looking back now.
Also on the hunt for a 350z dedicated drift car atm. However market is shit.

[jmg]

In the late 90's, I was in the street racing scene that was hilariously depicted in the first Fast and Furious movie. Although I was only a spectator for the drag races, we used to to really teenager-y things in our cars, highway races, canyon races... crashed my cars a few times, lots of tickets etc. I outgrew that nonsense, but years later I got an F80 and took advantage of the M School voucher they sent me.

Then I learned how all that fast driving as a teen was pretty much fueled more by stupidity than skill. I wanted to take it further and really learn how to be fast. The day I drove home from the BMW Performance Center I signed up for a track day.