vmeraz
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Posts posted by vmeraz
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I've planned a few track days this year. Mostly with Motoyard and Moto West GP at Willow Springs. Let know if you'll be at any of these, or look for a white red black CBR600RR and ask for me (Vince). This is as far as I've planned for the year.
Feb 16-17 Buttonwillow Let's Ride
March 08-09 Willow Springs Motowest GP Round 1
March 24-25 Code Race
March 29-30 Streets of Willow Trackxperience
April 11-12 Streets of Willow Motowest GP Round 2
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Spaghetti,
You might enjoy this older thread - it addresses a similar question.
http://forums.superbikeschool.com/index.php?showtopic=3897&hl
I also finished all 4 levels, and wanted more training. My suggestion is to stick to level 4. Keith recently updated the Level 4 program and added dozens of drills to the instructor's level 4 playbook, just for guys like you.
I'm going to move on to CODE RACE, then I'll come back for some more Level 4's.
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A day at Adams Motorsports Park is a great idea Hotfoot! I'm in Bakersfield (near Willow Springs) and you can count on my presence (unless it's a Motowest GP race weekend). I'll see you guys at CODE RACE this March!
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A season of racing is definitely on my bucket list, and I'm working towards it right now!
My question is, what level of riding should a rider achieve before racing? I wouldn't want to be playing "bumper bikes" with people that have no idea what they are doing.
I'm holding out on racing until I get into A group during track days.
What's your experience? How long did you practice before racing?
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Track riding:
1st thing, I arrive early with equipment that is 100% checked several days before the event. So not a single $ of my attention is on equipment.
Once I'm on the track, I talk to myself.
I commentate and narrate my way around the track in full sentences out loud.
When I begin to stutter or stop forming complete sentences, it's my indicator that I'm going too fast and am running out of "attention $".
If I'm going so fast that I can't narrate to myself, I'm also beginning to "react" to the immediate necessities of the corner rather than planning for the next corner.
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Thanks Hotfoot! Actually, you were my coach for 3-4 at Laguna Seca last year, and my profile pic is you, Keith and myself!!
Between your comments and Rainman's I've concluded that I will sign up for a 1 day Level 4 class, and diagnose my riding with the coach. Then decide whether repeating 1-4 is better than 4 days in level 4.
Good news is that adds a 5th day of training to my study plan! Hopefully CODE RACE after, but I want I get the fundamentals down before I start racing.
FYI you are an awesome coach!
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Thanks Rainman! I've got a gut feeling that I should go through 1-4 again, because I was/am a new rider when I took 1-4 last year and probably didn't absorb all the knowledge!
I envision staying in level 4 class as follows:
Coach: "so, what do you want to work on today?"
Me: "uhhh, lets drag an elbow?"
The reality is that I don't know what my weak points are or how to prioritize them. But we have Keith to help with that!
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But if you file the claim for an accident at the track, won't your monthly rate increase on all the vehicles you own?
I'm operating under the pretense that if I break something at a trackday it's coming 100% out of my pocket.
I do have full coverage through Foremost though! Overall is it cheaper to claim the crash or fix it yourself?!
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What do you think a new rider should do after finishing level 4?
Last year i completed levels 1-4 as a brand new motorcycle rider. I've done about 30 track days since "graduating" and got into B group (1:33 laps at streets of willow using the skid pad config). Now it's time to go back to the school!
Do you recommend that a novice student like me retake levels 1-4 to ensure that I'm remembering the basics correctly, or to spend those 4 days in level 4 but without a structured agenda?
Thanks!
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Kiwi, sorry to hear about your injury. I wish you the best in your continued recovery although it sounds like you face a tough challenge. I dont know when ill go back to superbike school (ive already done levels 1-4 with Laura and Chris as instructors) but i do want to repeat all of the levels. I might be able to purchase.
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BLSJDS: I also have a track only CBR600RR (2011), and chose the Armour Bodies superbike tail for its foam seat. The seating position is slightly higher-up and tilted forward than the stock seat (which I like). What I like the most from the foam is the increased "feel" of the track surface due to the denser foam.
I only had one drawback with the Armour Bodies; I had to change the stock headers and exhaust because of belly pan clearance issues. I got a Leo Vince SBK Factory EVOII full exhaust, but it just barely rubs the belly pan and burned a hole through it. Next time I have an "off" I'll do some fiberglass work and make a tiny bubble below the headers for additional clearance.
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At the end of the day you'll receive a booklet that outlines all the drills and the formats practiced during each day. The booklet contains the drills with tons of annotated references to "Twist of the Wrist" and "Soft Science of Roadracing Motorcycles."
Take these booklets to your regular track-day and you can recreate the entire CSS day. Track days as homework!? Nice!
Hello all! I have a question that seems silly but I have to ask anyway. I am taking level one this September at NJMP!!!! I do not want to miss anything in the class session but at the same time I would like to have detailed notes from the class. Does the school have anything that you use during the class sessions that you take with you when the day is done? I am worried about forgetting what I learn in class. Especially being the end of the riding season in New England(MASS) I will not have a lot of time to practice what I have learned. I hated homework in school but something tells me I won't mind this homework! Any insight or your experience would help.
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Thanks for the feedback. I found a decent inexpensive hotel in Monterey called the Best Western Ramona, and I'll arrive on Wednesday afternoon and leave on Saturday. I've been playing the MotoGP08 video game all afternoon to memorize the Laguna Seca track! I can't wait to drop into the Corkscrew and set up for Rainey. It will be an excellent challenge and amazing feat once I get the line right with some speed. I'm sure the Level II quickturn drill will really make a difference through the corkscrew. I'm not sure what skills I'll focus on for level 4 since it is rather "free-form" but i'm sure the coach will find tons of things I can to improve.
I'll go over to Monterey Fish House for dinner on Friday so thanks for the recommendation. If anyone wants to join for dinner any night give me a ring at six six one six two three five two seven six, I'm going up there alone so some company would be great. I'll call the school tomorrow to find out about the slide bike. Unfortunately I'll have to verify that they have the usual closet full of leathers too, I lowsided my bike at Buttonwillow last week and the darn seams popped open on my Dainese leathers! I've got a custom Pilot suit on the way but it isn't here yet.
Cordially,
Vince
Hey Vince,
Sadly (for me) I will not be there. Wish I could be, riding Laguna Seca is on the bucket list.
As for where most students stay, you might try giving the office a call (800-530-3350). They should have an idea which hotel is most popular with the students (and can verify which off track bikes are available). I do my CSS classes at VIR and like to stay at the track for the same reason you mentioned. There is only one place to eat within about 15 miles and it's also at the track so it's pretty easy to find other students. In May we ended up with eight people at the table for dinner and most of us had never met before. I swear I haven't laughed that hard in years, I was a bit worried they were going to ask us to leave
. If you don't happen to hook up with anyone the night before just get to the track a few minutes early. In my experience most people are headed to CSS alone and arte keen to find someone to share the experience with. It's a big part of the reason I wish more people discovered this forum before they attend a class.Good luck and let us know how it goes. I want to hear how you feel going around the Corkscrew for the first time!
Best,
Carey
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The Laguna Seca camp is almost here! Will you be going, or if you've ridden there what was your impression?
-What hotel do you plan to stay at? It would be great to be in the same hotel as other students for some dinner time discussions.
-Is it true that the slide bike can't be used?
-Do you expect it to be hot and over 100F or ocean-breeze cool?
I've attended CSS levels 1 and 2 at Streets of Willow, but couldn't resist the dream of riding at Laguna Seca because of its history. I'll be in levels 3 and 4. See you there!
Vince.
. If you don't happen to hook up with anyone the night before just get to the track a few minutes early. In my experience most people are headed to CSS alone and arte keen to find someone to share the experience with. It's a big part of the reason I wish more people discovered this forum before they attend a class.
Tank Traction Pads
in School Questions/General Discussion
Posted
What do you think about the super-aggressive Stomp Grip pads on the 2014 school bikes? I really liked them. Unfortunately, they're not on the Stomp Grip catalog, and I want some for my race bike. The bumps are so much larger than those on the Volcano Stomp Grips (which were on the school's 2012 bikes) and provide a lot more grip.