kcarbis

I know EXACTLY how you feel on the pictures. Before I managed to finally get my knee down I used to think the same thing...."Man, I am really leaned over now, my knee must be close"....then DOH! got about a foot to go.

I've done CSS many times and ClassRides with Pridmore a couple times but no open track days. I plan on doing so this year but I am a bit apprehensive for a couple reasons. 1. I've got a family and plans for the future so I'm leary of some hooligan without sufficient skills trying to Rossi me on the inside. Heck that kinda sorta happened to me at a CSS day. 2. More than that, despite having done level IV a few times I'm still honing my skills and I don't want to instill any more bad habits than I already have. I LOVE the coaching I get at CSS and I most enjoy (in any pursuit) learning and honing my skills.

I've got dates with another organizer coming up at Sears Point and Laguna Seca end of March. CSS at Miller in July CSS at Sears in Sep. CSS at Lagune in Oct.

On a bike Laguna Seca: Awesome, iconic track. Going through the corkscrew is a thrill and more than a little intimidating. The main straight isn't all that straight and crests a hill blindly. Very exciting. Most of the turns are quite fast, very fun track. Sears Point (nee: Sonoma Raceway, nee: Infineon): Very technical, off camber turns, lots of elevation changes, esses, and of course the bus-stop chicane. Its a great place for a CSS event because it has everything, its near impossible to get through turn 2 without perfecting the basic visual skills, two-step and three-step. I did level 3 there and I'm glad I did level 3 on that track. Miller Motorsports Park - East: Very fast and flowing track. Astounds me that there are 13 (or 14 depending on how you count) turns on just the east side, I can't imagine how challenging the full track must be. Visual skills here can be quite challenging because the environment around the track is desert and can be very similar from turn to turn. The track is big and wide so its a nice place to learn as its pretty easy to stay out of each others way. Streets of Willow: Very tight, bumpy and technical. Some elevation changes and surprising number of fast corners for such a tight track. I'd have to defer to the instructional staff but I suspect that if you are quick here you are going to be quick anywhere. In a Car Thunderhill: It's been a while, but I enjoyed Thunderhill. Its a small, humble facility but very fun. Pahrump: Reminds me of Thunderhill, humble but very fun, though probably not worth a trip just for the track. Woth it if you are already in Vegas though. Portland International: Meh, as much as I'd like to sing its praises (because I love that city) this isn't much of a track.

Hi Cobie, I was going to cheat and wait until I had access to Twist II (though I usually have it in my backpack) but I'll try from memory. The biggest thing is that I can apply throttle control rule #1 and that is that I can crack the throttle open and roll it on steadily throughout the remainder of the turn. It minimizes the lean angle I need through the turn No additional turning adjustments are required through the turn I may have mixed up some Turn-in, two-step and quick-turn stuff there.

Wow Thomas, that is awesome. You and I share the same attitude and approach, have fun, stay upright, keep the lumps out of the throat etc. (Though I did go down gently at Code Race). Interestingly, turn 6 is my favorite at that place. I stuffed it up early my first day there only to realize that my stuff up was actually the right way and I've been very comfortable ever since. So to bring it back full circle, how many sessions do you reckon it took you to get those RPs down (recognizing that you've probably adapted them some as you've gained experience and speed). In essence you've captured exactly my issue, getting to a set of points as you describe, as quickly as possible.

I tend to take the first couple sessions more slowly though I get your point, sometimes it can be tough to keep the ego in check. I don't think its tunnel vision, more like scanning too widely perhaps. Though it might take me more sessions, i suspect the best approach for me, at least until I develop the skill, is to combine the advice here, ride "slowly" and apply Cobie's approach where sensible and look for something more specific where necessary and just work it one corner at a time. I tend to keep my track maps from previous sessions which should give me a head start when returning to a track I haven't been to for a while.

From Cobie: How about a large RP, that you can see from a long way away, that makes it easy to see? Then as you get closer, whittle it down, or judge from how far something else is (that you can see easilty). Also the data from the 2-step about using the turn and how the apex looks to you (apex orientation) as that gives data on where the correct turn point is. I guess this is maybe a better description of how I typically do it. I think it was Mikey that first suggested it for Turn 7 at Miller (the first of the attitudes). I do like this approach but I find I still have a tendency to turn in too early whereas having very specific points on the track seem to correct that tendency.

The answer to your first question seemed obvious at first, but then I had to reconsider. My first instinct tells me the turn-in point. But of course, you can't really turn quickly and confidently without that mid-corner RP. To stop rambling and answer I'll state my priority as: 1. Turn-in 2. Mid-corner 3. Exit Yes, I think it would be better to have a definitive point over none at all even if wrong because it gives you a place from which to start and adjust. But maybe my question is more abstract than this. Let me try explaining it this way. Session 1, my coach and I have agreed that the first session will be about learning the track and setting some RPs. I'm approaching a corner, what do I do, is it simply taking a wide view and finding something, anything immovable (preferably on the track) and doing that on each turn or is it better to just work through it turn by turn until I have them all. I'll be at Miller in July and if memory serves the East course has 13 turns. That is a minimum of 39 RPs, is it realistic to assume you can get all or even 2/3 of those in a single session? Because I'm lucky if I can get a handful.

I don't think any of us would argue that quickly finding good, usable reference points - at least 3 a corner is essential. I found the most improvement in my times came from quick-turning the bike which just can't be done well without those good reference points. But here is the rub, when I arrive at a new track I stress to myself the need to find them quickly, straight away, hell I do everything short of scratching the message on the inside of my visor. Yet mid-day I'm still searching in at least half the corners. Here is how it goes: Coach: "What are you using for a mid-corner RP in turn 2" Me: "duh....er.....I just kind of look on the inside of the curbing" Coach: "Let's get a specific and solid RP preferably on the track this session" Me: "perfect sounds good". Each time I approach #2 that session I scan, and scan and get past the exit and think to myself "doh....I didn't see one". Then I get to repeat the above conversation with my coach who by now must think I'm a pinhead. I'd be curious to hear how y'all approach quickly finding good RP's? Especially at a new track. Cheers, Kevin

It pretty rarely rans at Sears Point (nee Infineon, nee Sonoma raceway) though your chances of clear skies are better in the fall than the spring. I have ridden on that track in the wet and suffice to say, the pucker factor is beyond belief. Guys were crashing all over the place. But it is a great track, going through the carousel is heaven on a bike.

I'm just back from CODE Race at Streets of Willow and I would have much preferred having a GP shift if for no other reason than exiting turn 8. Trying the get my fat, alpinestar boot under the shift lever while trying to do a pick-up of the bike was really tough. As someone said earlier you often need to ship "up" while leaned over, typically when downshifting you are already upright, maybe even braking. My new bike will have GP shift on it.

I had a chance at Laguna Seca to work on the Braking bike with Mike. It was a fantastic opportunity to work on Cobie's point about not looking in front of the bike while braking......MASSIVE DIFFERENCE. Being able to maintain a wide view while braking hard really increased my confidence level.

S1000 RR HP4, which should be arriving any day now. Yippppeeee!