27th August 2022, 19:30
| #1 |
| Team-BHP Support  | AMG Experience at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands, UK What You Will Like
What you wont like
With COVID, Inflation, UK summer etc. Track experiences are very limited. I was hoping to do Thruxton but alas there were no events since the BTCC was being run over a couple of weekends , so I decided to explore Mercedes Benz World. My schedule was packed so at the last minute, Monday opened up. They have choices ranging from One hour experiences
Half Day Experiences
The available slots were limited, I decided on the 1 hour with the AMG GT and a 3.00PM slot was available. Due to some credit card glitch, I could not make the booking on Sunday night, so I tried on Monday morning but no slots were available. I called the centre on Monday and they confirmed that the 3 PM slot is available but online booking could not be taken for the same day. They needed to check with the Experience Team. I was promised a call back in two hours. They called back in an hour and confirmed the slot but I needed to pay on arrival Fair enough I whipped out my Mercedes T Shirt, and reached well in time in Munich's finest!!! Mercedes Benz World is located in Brookland as part of the old circuit. It is a basically a huge dealership with an experience centre tagged on. As a brand cetnre, it works, as a dealership, it is a tad impersonal. Once enters the reception and you see a couple of cars parked in reception  Source You see the Experience desk on the left and I completed my registration and sign a waiver. I was liable for 1500 pound excess but if I paid 20 pounds, I could get that waived. When asked about my chances of crashing, "All cars have dual control, so very little chance!" 20 quid saved then! I am then ushered to the Drivers lounge straight ahead. This steps out to a driveway where various AMG's are parked.     After each session, they come in and are parked. I am then introduced to my allocated instructor for the day - Dylan The Experience centre has 5 track areas
  Folks, can only talk about the experience as the public are not allowed in the area due to safety reasons The Experience Dylan plugged in a USB for my session which is recorded. We jump into an AMG C63S. We check position and whether I can brake and accelerate. We set off slowly "Do you have track experience?" "I have but that does not mean I know everything!" Plan was C63S - Handling Circuit + Wet Skid Circle (AMG GT not permitted there) AMG GT - Handling Circuit - Dynamic Straight - Wet Dynamic Straight We set off to the South Circuit - the last one at the bottom of the picture. This is a short circuit used for one you get familiar. After a couple of laps "I can see you get it, lets move to the handling circuit, next door This circuit is narrow compared to a race track with tight curves including a hairpin bend and a quarter km straight. I spent around 10 min there, the AMG63 is pretty accurate but rolls slightly. Steering feedback compared to the M4 is muted but the harder you push it, it goes in. Turn in is more neutral but you are going fast but don’t realize it. On the straights the accepration is blistering and I brake hard and the car slows down easily to tackle the next corner. Quite a few times, I tried to late brake but Dylan cut in and spoilt the fun. We then exit and go to the Wet Skid circle and try and drift the cr. Sounds easy but it was not.The circuit is wet and coated with silicon compound. Am instructed to drive clock wise at 15 mph, 2nd gear and floor it at 4000RPM (max torque). Tail slides out and I need to catch it. The co-ordination of mashing the throttle, and catching the skid which is a little exaggerated is an art. I barely make it. Am then told to go anticlockwise, and sure enough , I crack it, my co-ordination was a lot better. Here are some short videos taken from the cafe By then 30 min was up. Time to return to base and swap into the AMG-GT.  In this car, you sit really low and the car is snug. That long bonnet psychologically makes you feel well endowed 'nuff said! Controls are similar except that the seat controls are deep down although accessible. Hate to lose a phone down there!  We get to the Handling Circuit, I take the first lap slowly, it feels well balanced and takes corners flatter for sure and the steering is more eager especially after the C63S. I then push it, hoo boy it is fun, the car hugs the road and if you get the lines right rewards you immensely. Going down the straight, mash the pedal and the car surges, late braking wiped out the speed in no time although the instructor did brake before I did. "Ok, lets do the Dynamic Straight" so we cross the access road to the other section There are three lanes, there was an A45S taking off as we approached, a C63 was next and then us. The rule was to ensure the car has completed its run and on its return before you launch. This straight is half a mile long. Its simple, You do a CARWOW and mash the pedal and accelerate hard. When you seem to be 6 feet from the wall, the instructor tells you to brake hard and you stop, no drama, no nothing. All the velocity has disappeared into the brake discs! First time you just felt relieved. We then repeat this, I was getting better. "Lets do this again, this time , use Race Start and Launch Control" We position ourselves
The AMG GT took off like nothing else. It was as if Thor's hammer was powering up your rear end. This was a defining moment of an automotive climax. I hit the brake and if I had not been belted in, my grin would have been plastered on the windscreen. Note - the Race Start will not happen until all systems have reached operating temperature That done, we tried the dynamic wet straight. I kept making a hash of it so Dylan suggested we use the last few minutes to do a couple of more laps. The AMG GT gripped despite wet tyres and then it was over. I did have the option of buying the video content for 30 pounds but I felt it was not worth it unless the car exterior had been captured in action. Returned to the drivers lounge, parked and thanked Dylan. Time for a cup of coffee. I sat on the terrace and watched the handling circuit from afar and realised how fast I had been going and how comparitively fast the AMG GT was. Should I have taken the 3 hour session - I don’t think so. If it was a race track yes, but not the handling circuit. Its too small for so much time. My recommendation - spend time on the handling circuit and the dynamic straight. Caffeine infused, it was time to walk around the Mercedes Benz Centre Last edited by ajmat : 27th August 2022 at 20:55. |
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27th August 2022, 19:51
| #2 |
| Team-BHP Support | re: AMG Experience at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands, UK The Ground Floor was the Classic Car area and couple of the current range The Classic Cars 190SL  280 SL (facts listed on this were wrong!)  500SEC - still gives me goosebumps  Took a look at the EQE - bit of a coal face inside and lot of screens and hard plastic. Tesla lowered the standard for them!     The AMG A45S - having seen them on track, I must try these next time around  Take the escalator  View of the circuit  The deconstructed F1 Car - This was really cool         Various Mercedes powered F1 Cars - Force India included       The Formula E car  There an F! simulator - 16 pounds for 10 min  Last edited by ajmat : 28th August 2022 at 14:09. |
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27th August 2022, 20:04
| #3 |
| Team-BHP Support | re: AMG Experience at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands, UK Took the steps down to the AMG Lounge This was cool - AMG Sound Tracks A45S C43 E63S S63 Some AMGs There was a G63, ML63 and some others. This CLA shooting brake looked cute   Some classic AMG's SLS    W203 AMG 63  AMG CLK Black  Like some of the classic cars shown elsewhere, these are on loan from collectors. One or two are from Mercedes UK and Germany's own classic collection. Tucked away at the end is the S Class Lounge (note most S Classes in the UK are hybrid)  |
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27th August 2022, 20:09
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| Team-BHP Support | re: AMG Experience at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands, UK The Remaining Floor was the Electric Car range. Nothing really of interest for me after an hour with the AMG sound track and the return journey in an M4   By the time wrapped up, it was 6 PM. The place was coming down. I missed out on the Brooklands Museum - that's for another day Last edited by ajmat : 27th August 2022 at 20:49. |
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27th August 2022, 20:57
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29th August 2022, 06:26
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29th August 2022, 23:02
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25th September 2023, 10:31
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