Friday, December 10, 2010

The Palm Beach Driving Club "Experience"


The Entrance to PBIR of the Beeline Hwy.
photo: © Jon van Woerden

After a stressful day at the office, there’s nothing like a rush-hour drive down one of Florida’s less congested highways. I’m westbound on the Beeline Hwy in Palm Beach, and to make it even nicer there’s an awesome sunset at drivers left. My destination this evening is Palm Beach International Raceway, joining a few fellow BMW Car Club of America, Everglades Chapter board members as guests of the Palm Beach Driving Club. PBDC is a private member club offering performance driving enthusiasts open track time on PBIR’s newly configured, fully flood-lit, 2 mile, 11 turn road course.

Palm Beach Drivers Club Radical SR-3.
photo: © Jon van Woerden

After a delicious catered dinner, which is provided to club members at each evening track event, the club’s VP Ken Fengler joined us trackside as the Club’s Race Pro Shane Lewis gave exhilarating track rides to prospective members and guests in the Radical SR-3 race car. Joining Ken, was Joe Lubeck who graciously offered his Ferrari and classic BMW 2002 Turbo for us to take for a spin, well maybe spin isn’t the best choice of words, around the track.

Joe Lubeck's BMW 2002 Turbo poised for track time.
photo: © Jon van Woerden

Club members not only have the benefit of four hours of open track time per session along with catered dinner or lunch, but receive from one to four hours of private instruction with the club pro, 50% discounts on private track rentals, discounted trackside services, VIP access and parking for PBIR events, and reciprocal driving privileges at 6 other road courses in the US and Canada.


The BMW's of Jim Storch, Mike Willette and Joe Lubeck.
photo: © Jon van Woerden

For those who’d like to see if the Palm Beach Driving Club is right for them, there is a guest program, which includes driver orientation with the club pro, four hours of open track time and a catered dinner for $ 500.00. How about the opportunity to be a passenger with Shane in the Radical SR-3 for four hot laps of PBIR’s exciting road course along with the catered dinner for $ 250.00. What a great Christmas gift.

For more information on any of the club’s four membership levels, and their features and benefits visit www.palmbeachdrivingclub.com or contact Ken Fengler at 561.578.5628