Jasonzilla

Take advantage of the off track drills. They're pretty simple, don't take too long, and will provide any necessary corrections to your form. Good stuff.

I never noticed how far in I drift until watching this.

This place is SICK!!! It was so insane doing elevation changes for the first time. If you live anywhere within a few hours of here, you've got to make the trip. I didn't do very well, and plan on going back lots to learn this track. I can't believe how awesome it was. There is one corner that has an uphill capped by a 28 foot drop into an increasing radius. I never got it right. Tried my butt off, but no line worked. I didn't get to watch Chris Peris take the corner because when I was working, I was in a simple corner. It was this places first trackday, so the track is still smooth and in really good shape. I think the owners are going to keep it up. They're junkies, and seem dedicated to making it work. Great couple of days, and it was run by TI2TT guys. I'm so glad aztrackday didn't get Inde. They wouldn't have made it such an awesome time. We got more time on the track, and they were really clear to the riders. The control riders were designated to stop and help. Aztrackday has a guy on a scooter who runs out to the crash and helps you up. The track can shut down for something simple. This is taken from my friend. I had some pretty poor lines, but there is no way I'm not going back, so I'll be able to work on it. Firebird is going to have to do something great to keep people coming back. With that and Chuckwalla opening within a 4 hour drive, they're going to see a sharp decrease in riders. There were LOTS of Firebird riders out there who've committed to going back.

If you have the TOTW II DVD, that will give you more of an understanding of riding in general, along with some knowledge preparing you for the school.

With currently accepted proper BP.

Cu-razy.

How about caring for them? Does anyone do anything special? I wear it, let the sweat dry out, wash the liner, and store it. I've had my suit for 2 years now, have worn it a lot, am not nice to it, and have gone down twice in it. I don't take care of the leather, and haven't noticed any problem in the leather, stitching, or zippers. I'm sure not caring for it is shortening the life, but by how much? Do any of you use the leather cleaner? Anyone know what the school does to get the most out of their suits?

I like to "get on it" on the street, but it's completely different than on the track. When I rode my favorite road north of Dallas, there was no way my peg was coming anywhere near the ground. I'm not going to spotting 11 miles of road. It didn't have a blind anything, but there were dirt (sometimes mud) roads that lead onto it. Still had a blast. But I'm someone who can afford trackdays a couple of times a year at least, and expensive schools. It's dangerous riding on the street, but who am I to judge?

Those temps aren't too bad. I thought it would be worse. Last May 15th in Phoenix it was 109 in the shade and 119 on the track. And it only gets hotter from there.

I would like to welcome you (howdy), and I have a couple of questions. Is there anyone besides SMRI who hosts trackdays? I'm trying to get a truck before it gets too cold, and am looking for someone to sign up with, but can't find anyone else. Also, here in Phoenix, our riding season starts in September and ends in April because it's so hot. Is yours the same, or does it get too cold? I haven't been to Arroyo yet, but definitely will when I get something to haul my bike. $150 for two days? Forget about it. We're doing Inde Motorsports Ranch in Wilcox, Az March 20th. If you could make it let me know, and I can look for you. The little I know I'm more than willing to share, and can give you more to work on that will clarify what the books are getting at.

I'll tell you how it was March 22nd. I'm going to spend a couple of days down there that weekend. I had some friends and Peris go down there a couple weekends ago, and they did nothing but praise it. I can't wait to go. There are only two places, if you're going fast enough, that the bike will be straight up and down.

You're joking, but that's what I'm thinking. I'll have to slowly get more comfortable getting the bike over quicker and farther. I opened it up once on the track in Vegas, did a 1:03 (still got passed by another rider like I was standing still), and I felt comfortable, but it's the only time I really punched it in that controlled environment. There are just so few corners with that over-run that I'd feel comfortable doing it on. The turn in Vegas by the gate (counter-clockwise) was brilliant because there was that over-run. I remember following you and seeing how fast we were going through it. I was doing that corner at about my normal pace because I had to catch back up to you after the huge roundabout. If I can get back to that at my normal pace, I can start blaming any shortcomings on the bike.

When there is a faster corner after coming out of something slow, I will use maintenance throttle because coming off the gas slows the bike too much. In decreasing radius turns, I will trail brake habitually, and the front drops just fine. And passing into a corner will have me trail braking as well. Anything else and I'm going to have that turn point where I'm off the gas, making my steering input, and then getting on the gas. Whether you're doing any of those things, maintenance throttle, trail braking, or turning off the gas, the front of the bike is going to get weighted and that will allow the bike to turn properly. Turning later will get easier pretty quickly. As long as you have your head and eyes in the turn before the turn point, you'll get over the hesitance of going deeper without any problems.

Thanks for the help guys. Stu, I don't know if it's just that I'm on my bike, but I'm not getting over like I was. I'm still getting over fast, but not as far as when I attended the school. I work on the two step all the time on the street, and thought I was really comfortable with it, but I'll re-evaluate on the 20th. I'm doing Inde Motorsports Ranch in Wilcox, Az. 2.75 mile, 21 turn track. They have a couple of pavement runoffs that I'm thinking about working on confidence in. I'll just throw it over and see what happens. Go a little faster every session. Can I borrow anyones bike?

Yesterday, at the track, I figured out my problem (inconsistent times) since CSS levels one and two. At our East track I used to run 1:08, having done 1:07 once. Strictly. MAYBE the occasional 1:10, but I was otherwise like clockwork. I was stuck, and knew I needed help. And the school did just that. Helped me. I have things to learn now that I KNOW are going to make me faster, and have really improved and become even more comfortable. But my times are wildly inconsistent. I do 1:08-1:11 now, and have the faster lap here and there, and have even done a 1:03. Once. It's a small track, so no one, not even someone at my level, should have a 3-4 second difference in times. I couldn't figure out what was going on, and then it hit me. It was something I remembered from school when I was flagged by a corner worker. It was my two input turning technique that I had perfected. I used engine braking (takes control from you in setting corner speed) and, naturally, after being in too slow after the first input, I gas it to get myself around the corner as I lean it in more. That's bad, and here's why. When I'm leaned in I should be getting on the throttle and maintaining lean. Leaning in farther decreases available traction, and getting on the throttle before or while I'm increasing my lean (making my second input) increases wheel spin WHILE I'm reducing traction. That's not just asking for trouble. It's actually telling the bike that I WANT trouble. I've lowsided once, and just chalked it up to too much throttle. I'll bet a lot of money that this is what caused it. I've gotten off the throttle since the lowside, as I thought I had reached and surpassed my tires capacity. The thing is that with my new-found ability to quickturn I've also become inconsistent in my lean angle through every corner. And I don't make adjustments, I just follow the one input policy to turning. My angle has decreased, as my feeler (knee) doesn't make it to the ground near as much as it used to. I'm there-fore slower altogether. Is it just practice and increased confidence that will get me to do 1:03's consistently, or is there something to my technique? It's only my second trackday since the school in October because I've been sick, but I'm going to hopefully get a couple in before the summer heat strikes. And in a couple of weeks I'm doing Inde Motorsports Ranch. Brand new track in Wilcox, Az.

Good point on the checkered flag. We have 4 groups, and even being in the 3rd group there are riders who will get on the brakes even if they just went past the pit entrance and still have to get around the track. I like the "explain why you wrecked" policy. That sounds great. When I went off track at CSS (dodging a slower rider) I pulled into the pits and had to explain what happened. It's weird because what was safe for me passing slower riders was way too dangerous for them (I got the dreaded black flag once). Maybe where I ride IS dangerous, I just might be so used to it I don't notice. Not many wrecks in a day, though.

Kind of. I'd guess that pic were from the early '90's. Agostini, I'd say, was more progressive than most other riders for his time. I would LOVE to know what year that Spencer pic is from. Had to be before his Moto GP days.

Most of you have probably seen this, but I just did. It's cool.

Howdy. You're going to love the school. Be sure to come back and tell us what you thought, especially what you think of the bike. I can't remember the name of the track they use now, so I can't find anything on the net. I'm sure someone will come along and have something.

It's really progressed. Two things could have fixed the basics of their problems. 1. Open your hips to the turn. 2. Keep your back aligned with your hips. That would have gotten them started, but most of the older pics had the riders using their bodies to gauge the bikes lean limits. It's the same progression most of us went through, or are going through, to get the proper BP. Angle has SOME to do with it in these pics, as does where they actually are in the turn. Hayden gets off the bike almost as far as other MotoGP riders, and in his pic that has been posted, he doesn't seem to be that far off. Probably isn't. That's because it's the beginning of his turn. Look at the rumble strips above him. Looking at Kenny Sr. you see how stiff his arms are. No way he's setting records with arms that stiff. He's in the beginning of his corner also. He'll end up with the same BP as the rest of the people of his time, but those arms being straight out like that wouldn't work no matter what decade you're talking about. I wonder how much drive suffered back then when compared to todays BP. Best of all these pics? Stoner. Perfectly straight, hips open, on the balls of his feet, head up, and wrists locked. Outstanding. Watching Lascourz in WSS, I began thinking he might have a new coach. In the beginning of the race he's in the standardized BP most riders, especially the young ones, are in, and as it goes on and the competition gets more intense, he's farther and farther off the bike until he's back to where he was last year.

Try putting a layer or two of electrical tape over the microphone, that's what I do. Awesome, Greg. I'll try it Sunday if I get on the track. Might rain, and I need to see if I can get into my suit (still with stiff joints).

Our advanced group has plenty of riders without proper training, but they are all pretty safe riders. I'm in the intermediate group just below it, but if they needed lap traffic to practice racing, I'd trust every one of them except the trackday organizer (least safe rider out there) to safely get around me.

Howdy Bobblehead. How did you like Schwantz's school? I've looked into that one, but there doesn't seem to be many people who've done it.

Howdy. You're not going to be stuck after this school. You're going to get plenty to work on that will help you improve. I went through the same thing. Read those books, participate on this forum, ask questions, and watch the video a few times. You'll start picking things up and improve from there, but nothing like going through the school.

We have 4 groups also. Beginner, Superstreet, Intermediate and Advanced. Superstreet is the dangerous one. They're "high on confidence, low on skill" riders. I was through there pretty quick, but it's where most of your accidents are going to happen. Sometimes they combine Intermediate and Advanced, and everyone is usually cool, but sometimes you get a Richard like the owner of our local organizer and people get hurt. I'm running Superstreet next weekend, but it's only because I've been sick for so long, and I'm so much faster than most of those riders, that I'm not worried about anything happening.