Local & Community
BMW Performance Center in Thermal Puts Drivers Behind the Wheel for High-Speed Track Experience
Drivers looking for an adrenaline rush can find it right here in the Coachella Valley at the BMW Performance Center in Thermal.
The facility puts drivers behind the wheel of a fleet of new BMW vehicles for a two-hour experience on its high-performance track, with professional instructors guiding participants through the experience.
During a recent visit, reporter Noor Mila took the wheel with private instructor Brian Randall, who helped demonstrate how drivers can improve throughout the session.
Randall says many first-time participants arrive with an idea of what driving a high-performance vehicle will feel like, only to discover that pushing the cars harder requires more than simply driving faster.
A major part of the experience involves learning how to use vision, anticipate the car's behavior and apply what drivers are learning as they increase their speed.
Randall said Mila became noticeably more confident as the session progressed, describing her as a more dynamic and athletic driver by the time she reached the final vehicle.
The experience also gives drivers a chance to feel forces that are difficult to experience during everyday driving.
“Just the raw speed that they're able to achieve and the G-load that's placed on them” can be one of the biggest highlights, Randall said.
While everyday BMWs are designed to provide a smooth and quiet ride, the track experience is designed to let drivers explore the performance capabilities of the vehicles in a controlled environment.
For participants, that can mean high speeds, tight turns and plenty of adrenaline.
And according to Randall, the goal isn't necessarily to arrive as an experienced performance driver. It's to leave the session better than when you arrived.
The BMW Performance Center in Thermal offers drivers an opportunity to experience high-performance vehicles while learning techniques they can apply behind the wheel.
By: NBC Palm Springs
August 24, 2026
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