michaelpannone

Hey Muhaha, I'm 53, and I went to my first CSS in 2003. So mid-life crisis, fugedaboutit, it's life, we're a curious sort and like the rest of us here on the forum, we're very interested in motorcycles and piloting them as smartly as we can. I encourage you to follow your dream. And definitely follow Cobie's recommendation about gearing up to stay protected. Full face helmet, gloves, jacket, long pants (minimum), and a sturdy-above the ankle boot. All the best.

O genki desu ka? Welcome Paul. And good on you for deciding to attend CSS at the Streets. That was something, right? Having a ringside seat in the midst of motorcycles running at speed is quite an experience. I mean priority one is doing the drills and getting those perfected but during all the instruction I do get a real wide grin on my face as any of the coaches does a hot lap past me. Nothing like it anywhere. It's something you just can't put into words for the folks back home. The setup Keith has put together is really special. The gear, the personnel, the mission. Good luck with your pursuit of the Art. In the meantime, get Twist II, if you haven't picked it up. Read it and read it and make notes in it and review and prepare for your next visit. You now have a much better idea about what it takes to pilot a motorcycle at speed. All the best.

Kat, welcome. Save your pennies and get yourself to CSS. You will be surprised with what you don't know. Definitely, get Keith's books. Twist I, II to start. And get Soft Science later. The Twist books are about the mechanicals of the Art and Soft Science is about the Brain part of riding a motorcycle at speed. IMO. That's how the study has struck me. I've now been to the school several times and every visit as been worth all my effort to get there. Good luck with your plans. Keep your street riding just that. Save your other ideas for the track. All the best.

It was 1972 and I bugged my dad for a Honda Trail 70. Lucky me, he gave in and we drove to Kennedy Blvd in Jersey City and picked out an orange four speed. I think the bike cost a little over four hundred bucks, a nice chunk of change in '72 to spend for a sixteen year old's two wheel fantasies. I had a lot of great times with that bike, wheelies, racing in parking lots, getting big air over this one dirt covered culvert, like I said, I was a lucky kid. Then for a moment I did have access to a Yamaha 125. And I did get to ride friends bikes. I even got to ride a crazy Kawasaki 500 two-stroke that was worked for drag racing, yet kept registered for the street. All black, very loud, a crazy bike. Then I was without two wheels until 1989, when a neglected 1984 GPZ 750 entered my world. After doing work to get it running I convinced the owner to sell her to me. I still have this bike. So one day, it must have been 2002, I heard about this thing called counter-steering. I decided to go and try it out. There is this s-turn in my neighborhood, a perfect platform to give this a go. It's a south only road, no opposite traffic, so it's a right then a left. I take the right as usual, because to counter-steer this thing I'm repeating in my head, "to go left-push on the left bar, to go left-push on the left bar". So as the left part arrives I push on the left bar and over goes the bike. It was an OH SH!?T moment. I got through the corner quickly reacting-picking the bike back to upright, composed myself from the shock of the bike's response to my rider input, returned home and didn't ride the bike after that for a very long while, because now I thought-"What else don't I know about riding a bike?" Subsequently, while watching motorcycle road racing on TV, I sit there depressed thinking about my ignorance about my bike, and saying these racers a crazy- look at how far they're leaning those bikes! - When a commercial for some motorcycle road racing school plays on the screen... Now I'm confronted with a possible solution to what's nagging me about my bike. Now my head is saying, Learn how to ride or sell it. But I can't run a bike like those racers-that's crazy! Sometime after the racing had ended I went to my computer and searched for motorcycle schools and California Superbike School showed in the return. I checked out the site and was sure if I was going to go with a school it would be CSS. Then I checked the schedule and they were going to be at Pocono in August. I had a little time to make a decision. The short story is, I went in 2003 and did level 1 and 2 and was completely amazed for what Keith, Cobie and the crew did for my wavering confidence piloting a motorcycle. I took a few years away then in 2008 I came back when CSS setup at NJMP Lightening for the first time. Did level 3 and 4. I did not review the books before those sessions and while running my final session of my second day and quick turning, I continued to push on the bar in turn seven and I pushed the front wheel beyond it's traction. Yes, I low-sided because of my own lack. Keith was so cool about it as he debriefed me. I was not feeling good about it at all and I would have to wait a long time before getting back on this horse. CSS was leaving the east coast for the year. I got home pulled out TWOTW II and started to read. I made notes in the margins and highlighted all the teaching points. I found the section that spoke specifically about my over application of lean angle and quick turning and re-read the entire book several times. Then I read through Soft Science Of Motorcycle Road Racing too. I characterize the Twist volumes as the mechanics of the discipline and Soft Science as the brain work of the game. With these two studies in harmony I was well on to being ready for summer 2009. The short-short story from here is, everything has really worked out well. This year I got back to CSS at NJMP Thunderbolt in May, did really well, went at it about 60% and worked on the visuals and throttle. I then signed on for more Thunderbolt in August and worked getting on-track-surface reference points for every corner, more throttle control and working body position. I left NJMP and wanted to keep working so I thought about it and signed up for VIR, September 2-3. Being at a new track has it's own benefits to rider progression plus I gave myself another great opportunity to continue practicing and learning. It was a fantastic camp for me. I finally feel, with CSS, I have created a skill set and knowledge base of a very good, repeatable foundation of the art. Those racers don't look so crazy to me any more. Addicted? I think so. Thanks CSS!

I also want to thank Keith and everyone on his staff. Always on point. And always keeping us students focused. Thunderbolt is my home track too. I feel very fortunate to have such a great facility in New Jersey and really lucky to have CSS here twice a year. I spent May 11 and 12 with CSS and again I improve. Did a lot of TWOTW II review before class and made a conscious effort to ride just a little slower in order to stay focused on the drill at hand. For me, RP's and wide view drove most of my sessions and then later started to work on locking on and some throttle control. Locking on got me tired so I got to do some work on the body and that is happening now. Never thought motorcycling would have motivated me to circuit train and ride a bicycle. I also had a thought to do some dirt riding to get my head further into machine dynamics, throttle control and traction. Cobie, can you chime in on this idea? I love to have some input about this. Having a successful session on the brake bike was a good bonus, Thanks Pete. Adam, Lonnie, James and Cobie directing my progress, thanks again. See all of you very soon. Mike

I've spent six days in total with CSS. Four of those days break out like this; last August attending a CSS 2-day camp doing level 3 & 4 and two days earlier this month with CSS doing more level 4. At level 4 the student chooses which skills need work and with a track coach and a consultant, they meet and construct the curriculum for that student and that day. I prepared for these past two days by thoroughly reading through Twist II. Why? Because in my previous time I did not review and it made for some mistakes on my part. I was determined to be more focused this time. Sounds like you want to do the same. So may I ask... Have you had any formal training for road race bikes? If so, what skills did you learn and what do you want to improve? If not, what do you think you are doing well and what do you think needs more work? Speed comes with confidence gained from experience. There are a lot of factors at play building the proper confidence. Let the members know a little more of your experience. MP

CSK, It's good to hear you're traveling to Thunderbolt. It's a good facility combined with CSS it can't be beat. I live in southern NJ in Ocean County. Let me give my input about getting there and staying. It looks like NJ Transit has train service between Philadelphia, PA 30th ST Station and Atlantic City. It looks like they stop in Hammonton. Check the next link and see the map link there to see the line. http://www.njtransit.com/sf/sf_servlet.srv...eAction=TrainTo The town nearest the track is Hammonton. But it's still about 10 miles from the track. So here's info on hotels. http://www.google.com/search?q=Hammonton+n...lient=firefox-a And you'll still need a rental car. I suggest using Enterprise, they'll deliver a car to you. Here is a link for car rental info. http://www.google.com/search?q=Hammonton+n...lient=firefox-a As for airports, since I don't know from where you are flying, I'll say there is Philadelphia and Atlantic City. As Kristi suggested, there is Philadelphia, I'll add it's probably the most convenient. Newark is two plus hours to the north. Atlantic City International may not offer service for your origination point. I hope this can help you as you make your plans. MP