Rider Education

[arkline]

I'm sure many of you have experienced rider education beyond what is offered by the MSF. If you've been to a 'track' type school, I'd be interested in your comments about what you learned, how much it cost, where it was held, whether it was worth what you paid and so on. I don't want to become a racer, but I do want to hone my skills a bit.

I'm especially interested in Freddie Spencer's school, since it is located in Las Vegas, which is about an hour and a half away by air. Anyone done that one?

[Dallara]

Ron,

I know that Bones has done Freddie Spencer's school, maybe even more than once. However, Bones is on that trip right now for a few days so you won't be hearing from him early in this thread. You might want to drop him a PM or an e-mail so he can give you some first hand info upon his return.

That said, I know Freddie pretty well, and saw his school set-up out in Vegas when we used to race the cars out there. It's all absolutely first-class. Knowing Freedie like I do I can say I doubt you could do any better than his school. I know there are some fine ones out there besides his, but how many are actually run and administered by former 250 and 500cc World Champions? And Freddie is usually there teaching the schools, which is a real plus. He is a really nice gentlemen (and his wife Cheli is pretty special, too, if you get to meet her...), very approachable, not pretentious, and always ready and willing to answer any questions.

If you want give me a call some evening and I will fill you in on what I know and see if I can get you hooked up with Freddie direct so you can book a date you know he will be there for sure.

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NAABSCD)

[arkline]

Allan,

Thanks for the offer. Since this is in the pre-pre-possible stages, maybe we can talk it over in July in person. It looks like Fast Freddie is moving some of the operation to the new Miller Motorsports facility at least part of the time. I think that would be interesting too, sort of like going to Barber to learn from Schwanz. New, new track with a lot of money behind it.

The thing that attracted me to Spencer's school is that it is a riding school not a racing school per se. I don't really want to learn to race, but I would really like to ride better...

[BobFV1]

Hi Ron -

My training with track schools has been with Keith Code's California Superbike School out at Firebird Internaional Raceway. I am signed up to take more Code training at Virginia International Raceway in August.

I have heard that people go through the Code school on street bikes but I have never seen it. The couple of sessions I have been to have been all folks on Code's Kawis or people on their personal bikes - I did two levels on my Yamaha R1.

Code starts out at a very basic level. Level 1 are all skills which are easily transferred over to the street, as is most of Level 2. In Level 3 you get your knee down and get pretty technical and it goes on from there.

I use the skills I have learned at the California Superbike School all the time in more challenging riding situations, like twisty mountain roads. Last month riding up Smith mountain on Route 33 in Virginia I felt very comfortable and planted and confident applying skills I first really practiced at the Code school. I also do a lot of track riding on my own and so I get a chance to practice these skills in a more challenging and faster-paced riding environment.

I know that the California Superbike School travels all around the country and they will be at the new track in Utah this Summer, I believe. I suggest trying out Level 1 and seeing if it is for you, and if so you can do as I have done, and keep going back for more. Taking Code Level 1 will definately not HURT your street riding and I think chances are you will learn some new stuff, and see if the methods and techniques used by the scholl are for you.

In terms of the teaching, they mix didactic with motor skill development and provide post-ride reinforcement. Each technique gets a one hour lecture, followed by a hot session on the track practicing the technique, including 1 on 1 instructor particiapation, and then you have a debrief afterwards - very good motor-skill development teaching techniques.

Good luck finding a school that fits your needs.

[Promethean]

Bob,
Don't they require racing leathers at the Superbike school? I read that textiles are not acceptable. Is that accurate?

Code and Spencer schools are definitely on my to-do list....




Hi Ron -

My training with track schools has been with Keith Code's California Superbike School out at Firebird Internaional Raceway. I am signed up to take more Code training at Virginia International Raceway in August.

I have heard that people go through the Code school on street bikes but I have never seen it. The couple of sessions I have been to have been all folks on Code's Kawis or people on their personal bikes - I did two levels on my Yamaha R1.

Code starts out at a very basic level. Level 1 are all skills which are easily transferred over to the street, as is most of Level 2. In Level 3 you get your knee down and get pretty technical and it goes on from there.

I use the skills I have learned at the California Superbike School all the time in more challenging riding situations, like twisty mountain roads. Last month riding up Smith mountain on Route 33 in Virginia I felt very comfortable and planted and confident applying skills I first really practiced at the Code school. I also do a lot of track riding on my own and so I get a chance to practice these skills in a more challenging and faster-paced riding environment.

I know that the California Superbike School travels all around the country and they will be at the new track in Utah this Summer, I believe. I suggest trying out Level 1 and seeing if it is for you, and if so you can do as I have done, and keep going back for more. Taking Code Level 1 will definately not HURT your street riding and I think chances are you will learn some new stuff, and see if the methods and techniques used by the scholl are for you.

In terms of the teaching, they mix didactic with motor skill development and provide post-ride reinforcement. Each technique gets a one hour lecture, followed by a hot session on the track practicing the technique, including 1 on 1 instructor particiapation, and then you have a debrief afterwards - very good motor-skill development teaching techniques.

Good luck finding a school that fits your needs.

[Dallara]

For those of you interested in Freddie Spencer's schools you might want to note that he takes his teaching on the road during the summer to the new Miller Motorsports Park outside Salt Lake City, Utah. Might be closer for both you and Abhijeet, Ron.

Here's a link to Miller Motorsports Park's Spencer school info:

http://www.millermotorsportspark.com/motoDrivingSchool.cfm


And if you will look on Freddie Spencer's page you will see the dates for his schools taught in Utah:

http://www.fastfreddie.com/


Maybe this will help some...

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NAABSCD)

[BobFV1]

Bob,
Don't they require racing leathers at the Superbike school? I read that textiles are not acceptable. Is that accurate?

Code and Spencer schools are definitely on my to-do list....

Abhijeet -

Not sure what is required - I always wear leathers on the track - two piece are generally okay if they zip all the way around - I wear my one-piecers when they fit. Some places will let you wear a stitch but I have never seen one worn at the Code school.