Arizona Erc Registration And Payment - SEE POST # 30

[jamming]

Any of the Arizona riders up for an ERC? I need to retake one for my insurace discount.
Bob...you out there? Maybe you could teach one, or let us know the next class you are teaching.
Roger

[BobFV1]

Hey Roger -

I would love to do an ERC for board riders and I could possibly arrange one at a discount for a group of us. I am stuck here in Washington DC on business until Feb 10, then I have already committed to doing two complete BRC's back to back the week I get home, Mon-Tue followed by Thu eve-Sat-Sun, with a track day the preceding weekend - youch!

So I would probably not be available until about mid-March or so - if this time frame works and we have a few AZ riders I would be pleased to check with TEAM Arizona and see what we can do! I could possibly get Jeff Dean to work with me if we do the course in March - Jeff is a founder and past president of BMW MOA and was one of my trainers when I was going through my MSF instructor training - really a top guy and he is in Tucson for the Winter, until about April. You can check out his web site at http://home.att.net/~jeff.dean/

So I guess what we can do is just have any board riders in AZ who are seriously interested sound off below and I can see if there is sufficient interest.

Bob

[jamming]

Bob, thanks for the answer.

I'll start it off...I'm in...:041:

Man, it would be cool for Jeff Dean to teach with you, the trifecta would be you, Jeff Dean, and Chris Life. Chris and I have had some conversations about riding safety. Lets make it happen.
Come on AZ riders sound off!!!!!! Big papa, 1MPH, Capt black, you know who you are.

I bought an Icon Hi-Vis Mil Spec Vest and wear it all the time. I do alot of night riding.

[BobFV1]

Oh yes - Chris would be great too - with Chris and Jeff teaching, I would take it as a student!

[Deans BMW]

I think that I would be intresting in attending.

[Dallara]

Dean...

I don't think they have classes for riders as old as you... Or allow bikes as ugly as an ST in any classes. Something about the projectile vomiting being a safety hazard, as well as being a distraction for the class...

:078: :078: :078: :078: :078: :078:


Cheers!

Allan (Dallara)

[jamming]

Allan, as a former Roadster rider I know beautiful bikes, however as a current ST rider, I have to say beauty IS in the eye of the beholder, the ST is way prettier from the seat..and that motor, and the handling, bada bing bada boom.
I do miss the roadster though.
Roger
PS..come on out for the class Allen, it'll be fun! I'll bring the barf bags:037:

[BobFV1]

Okay - we have Dean and Roger - Harry, what about you, bro?

[GPM]

Sounds like a great idea, I'm in.

[BobFV1]

Guys -

I haven't forgotten about this, but I am here in DC until Friday. Next Monday I am teaching at TEAM Arizona and will follow up on us doing a special course. I have a couple of riding buddies who are Tempe cops - motor officers who got promoted out of the division but still love riding - I may invite them to round out the group - I think we can get a group of six optimally in terms of cost.

The rest of Feb, or April any time are good for me, but if you could all let me know when might work for you, that would be great. Bob

[jamming]

Thanks Bob, and congrats on the job, gonna miss you here in AZ even tho you did'nt intrduce yourself:) .
most any Saturday is good for me as long as I have a week or so of notice.
Roger

[HiOSilver]

Hey! I just found this thread - has the class been held yet? If not I am definately interested in attending.

[BobFV1]

HiHo - The class has not been held yet and you are more than welcome! We plan to do it in the first week of April and we need 6 - so far we have GPM, DeansBMW, Jamming, and Stephanie Jemison from Victory BMW. You would make 5. I am planning to teach and forego my fee to hold the cost down 0 we still need one more to fill out the class.

I will be in touch with all of you as soon as we gat some dates. Bob

[DarthRider]

Bob -

Man, I wish it wasn't so far away...I'd love to take one of your ERC courses sometime!

I re-take the course every 2-4 years as a refresher, another way to "learn" a new motorcycle and as a way to help offset the ongoing effects of aging on vision, timing, coordination & reflexes. As you well know, the more you know, understand and practice all this, the better/safer you get...or at least "hold your own!"

A month after the last ERC I took, one of the lessons literally saved my life, or at the very least allowed me to avoid a serious, painful, expensive crash. I'm talking about the exercise on braking in a curve or corner...more specifically how to brake *hard* in a fast corner.

A couple of Peckerhead buds & I had taken the ERC together, then went on a fast ride to-around-and back from the Texas Hill Country. It was my turn to lead on one of the "Triple 3" roads, I was on my R1150R with fresh tires, all the circumstances were good.

Except, for whatever reason...probably a brain-fart, I got into a narrow, downhill, blind, tight left-hander at about 50 MPH which was about 10-12 MPH too fast. It really wasn't a matter of "trust your tires" and lean into it...I was going too fast to make it. What made it much worse was the smooth shoulder was only 3-4 feet wide, was covered in sandy gravel, then an Armco barrier and a sheer drop-off of maybe 75 feet to a bed of boulders. Running even a few inches wide of the road would have been disaster...into and probably over the Armco, depending only on whether it played out as a low-side or a high-side. Not good!

No time to think but the ERC training & practice kicked in as a reflex...brake as hard as I could and not break traction while leaned over, then stand the bike up (pointing at the Armco!) and brake HARD, then ease up on the brakes as I leaned the bike back to the left. I only had time to do this one cycle but it was enough. The bike made a pretty arc around the outside of the lane, about 2-3 inches from the shoulder. That was all...no other drama.

This all soaked in about a quarter mile later and I pulled over to calm down from the major adrenaline rush and to un-pucker. Both my buds had witnessed the whole thing and both recognized the technique that had just saved my ass. We talked about it, debriefed it and all vowed to practice this from time to time, along with straight line braking, swerving, etc.

Bob, a most sincere "thank you" to you and all the other MSF instructors who really are helping keep us alive!

And if anyone thinks since you've been doing this a long time, know all about it, and wouldn't benefit from an ERC course, here's a challenge for you:
Take the ERC and if you don't honestly feel you have learned things there that will save *your* ass sometime, let me know and I will pay you back for the course! You can't beat that...it's that good.

Dave

[Deans BMW]

Iam looking foward to it. I have never taken any type of motorcycle course in my life with the results that bad habits abound and need to be corrected.

[BobFV1]

Dave -

Thanks for sharing your interesting story with us. I think it is very good to take the ERC regularly - it provides street skills, which you don't get in a lot of other types of training, such as track-oriented courses.

Your story really illustrates the principals of motor-skill learning. Repetition of skills in the class makes them like second nature - no amount of classroom is going to do that, and the ERC really stresses the fine motor-skill development out on the practice range. When the practice is coupled with coaching, you end up with better skills than you started out with.

I hope to have the class date for you guys within a week. Dave, sorry you can't make it!

[BobFV1]

Please let me know as soon as possible - we can probably get Jeff Dean that Date. Bob

[HiOSilver]

Bob,

That works for me! Is there some sort of payment required in advance or can we pay there? And thanks for setting this up!:eusa_clap:

[jamming]

Bob, Monday April 10th is OK withme...I'll check at work.
Roger

[GPM]

Should work fine for me. Thanks Bob.

[BobFV1]

Okay- we are go for April 10 at Gilbert, AZ.

I am reaching out for Jeff Dean to see if I can get him to teach with me.

So far I have in:

HiOSilver
GMM
DeansBMW
Jamming (what about Poopinshoe???)
Stephanie (from Victory BMW)

That leaves up to four spaces if anyone else is interested please contact me ASAP.

Group price will be USD 70.00

I will be sending applications and we will have to pay in advance at least 14 days.

Email me if you need to discuss furhter - Bob

[Capt. Blackadder]

What the bubba... how did I miss THIS thread for so long?! Oh well, guess it's moot, since I already used all my vacation days this year to stay at home with our little boy. Hopefully I can work something out, and I'll keep you posted.

[BobFV1]

Captain - we should be done by mid-day, so hopefully you will be able to work something out and join us!

[GOGRL]

I'll try to get in on this one. Harry, that you riding with a sheep? Is that your idea of playing dirty? I'm not sure you got the right bike for that...

"If it has a kickstand or a dick, I can ride it."*

*Maybe a little better after the ERC...

[DarthRider]

She said dick!


(I think Michelle is going to fit right in here...)

Dave

[BobFV1]

Michelle -

You are in! And you won't be the only :) "split tail" :) rider - Stephanie from Victory BMW will also be in the class. Stop by and introduce yourself to her if you want, she's the apparel consultant.

Shaping up to be a GREAT ERC -

Unfortunately Jeff Dean will not be available Apr 10 - I am checking with a couple of the other instructors who I really respect and we will come up with a great teaching card - will get back to you all as soon as I have more. Bob

[GOGRL]

Split tail? Where have I been, haven't heard that before. HA! Maybe if I got off the bike now and then and socialized I might know this stuff!

Well - I know Stephanie - she's already hooked me up with some great stuff at VBMW. Looking forward to the class! I'm shooting for taking the whole week off - but if it doesn't get through, I should be able to get just the day.

You still looking for other riders to enroll?

Michelle

[DarthRider]

"Split Tail" is just the slightly less PC version of what my Old Man used to call girls..."Spindleshanks".
Don't ask me where *that* came from.

Dave

[jamming]

Wow, welcome Michelle, You'll fit right in with this Arizona contingent of miscreant Peckerheads!
Bob, I have a call into Mrpoopinshoes(john). I'll PM you ASAP when he calls back. I told him we need one Harley to make fun of:) .
I've been off the bike now 3 days with the flu. I'm having withdrawls.:icon_cry:
Roger

[BobFV1]

Okay everyone -

It's never over until the paperwork is done.

IF YOU PLAN TO TAKE THE MOTORCYCLIST CAFÉ GROUP ERC COURSE IN GILBERT, ARIZONA ON MONDAY APRIL 10 PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY AND REVIEW/FILL OUT THE ATTACHMENTS:shade: :shade: :shade:


The ERC is ON for Monday April 10 at the TEAM Arizona training center in Gilbert, Arizona. I will be teaching the course along with one other instructor to be determined. I'm trying to get someone real good - problem is the day before this is both a track day and the day of the Arizona Ironman Triathlon. Four of the RiderCoaches, including me, will be doing escort duty all day at the triathlon, and many of the others will be at the track - so I am scraping around for someone we will enjoy working with to teach on Monday - there are a couple of excellent candidates and I should have something back on this shortly.

I need everybody who plans to take the course to EMAIL the following information to me NO LATER THAN St. Patty's Day, March 17:

Full Name and Mailing Address
Home and Work Telephone Numbers
Date of Birth
Occupation
Arizona DL - "yes" or "no" and prior riding experience
Student motorcycle information (make, model, and year of the bike you will take the class on - the ERC is done on your own bike)

As the "group representative" I have to submit the requested information - so I am not being nosy - it's just the rules of the school. The easiest way to convey this information would be to fill out the attached enrollment form and send it to me. Please use my work Email address as it does better with attachments:

robert.valente@pamircorp.com

We can have up to 12 students, so there is some room left and anyone you want to spend the day with is welcome. Once I have all the enrollment forms I will plan to invoice you by PayPal and we can arrange payment that way - if you can't use PayPal I can just collect it from you at the course.

I think that's it - don't hesitate to come back to me with any questions or issues. please get me the enrollment forms as soon as possible so I can get a good feel for class size. Our group rate for the course will be 70.00 per student, which is pretty darn good.Most of all, it will just be a fun day of being around bikes and getting to know each other and having a good time!

For info on the school and course see their WebSite:

http://www.motorcycletraining.com/

[HiOSilver]

Bob,

Any updates on how we're to pay for the course? Thanks again for setting this up!:eusa_clap:

[HiOSilver]

Earth to Bob...

[BobFV1]

Hey Chris (and all)

Sorry I have been busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest out here in Washington, DC this week.

So far I have five who have "confirmed" to me for the April 10 ERC - those are Roger (Jammin), Dean, Michelle, HihoSilver, and Stephanie from Victory BMW. I need six, but I am pretty sure Harry (GPM) is participating as well, so I am going in to confirm with six today.

Because of a lot of new classes on the schedule and few instructors, I am scheduled to be the lead instructor for a newbie BRC on Apr 10-11, so I am trying to switch that around as well.

Will try and get back to you with payment/confirmation info by tomorrow.

Bob

[BobFV1]

Okay - we're confirmed for the 10th - will get back to you with payment info. I only have 5 confirmed, would be really nice to have one more - please let me know if someone you know wants to join us!

[jamming]

Bob, have'nt checked my email at home. Would it be easier to just bring a check to the ERC?
Roger

[BobFV1]

Bob, have'nt checked my email at home. Would it be easier to just bring a check to the ERC?
Roger

Roger - I think so. I am teaching this weekend so I will check and let you know - but the course is all confirmed....

[BobFV1]

Hi All -

Please call the TEAM Arizona Office at your earliest convenience to pay for the course - you can pay by credit card or they can make other arrangements with you. I am teaching this week so if you need me to "cover" your fees and then you can pay me back, let me know, but the easiest would be for everyone to call the office and tell them you want to pay for the course.

The course is scheduled and "on the board" at the training center as an ERC on April 10, "Bob V.'s Group". You should get a group discount so your fees will be 70.00

Let me know if I can do anything else to facilitate the course. I will be there but will probably be teaching the BRC.

Best regards, Bob

PS - TEAM Arizona's Number is 480-998-9888

http://www.motorcycletraining.com/

[GOGRL]

Just talked with DEAN at Team AZ and I'm all paid up. See you all on Monday.
Michelle

[Deans BMW]

Just signed up with Dean as well.

What time does this thing start, I have to ride 180 miles to get there???????????????????

[HiOSilver]

I'm in and paid! See everyone on Monday...:028:

Thanks Bob!

[Deans BMW]

Recieved my team paper work in todays mail.

See you at your house Sunday, Bob.

[BobFV1]

Hi all - glad to hear things are moving forward. Look forward to seeing you all on Monday - and you on Sunday, Dean-O!

[BobFV1]

Hi All -

We have five confirmed, 2 gilrs and three guys. Four are Cafe members, one is an FOB (friend of Bob).

We just had a schedule change at the school, so it looks like I will actually get to teach the ERC along with my colleague Earl, a retired Mesa cop and all around good guy that I just taught with earlier this week. Then it looks like Earl and I will also be teaching a BRC in the afternoon.

Since we will have two coaches for our ERC, that means we can have up to 12 students - so if anyone else wants to participate it will be fine as long as you call the TEAM AZ office and register by COB Friday. We may also be able to take walk-ons on Monday morning at 0800.

Okay - looking forward to seeing you all and to doing a little bit of riding together! Not too many boards are able to mount up a group of riders and put on an ERC - this is a pretty cool gig!

[BobFV1]

To the AZ group that participated in the ERC this morning - it was great meeting you all - Deans BMW, Michelle, Onefuzzy, HiOSilver, Jamming, and one person from outside the group - Gerald - invited as a special guest of a member.

It was great to see you all and thanks for your participation. I hope you found it useful. I taught brand new motorcyclists in the afternoon - had two crashes and two dismissals - oh my......

[jamming]

Bob, thanks, I had a GREAT time!
I used to think I was a decent rider, brother, have I got a lot to learn!
Practicede alot of the stuff, we learned on the way home, " follow your nose" and I used 4 fingers on the brake.
Here's a pic I took of some of the group"
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/63902967-S.jpg
2 pretty girls and 2 pretty bikes, the other 2 are just well...filler:)

Here's Dean looking at a Masarati...what the hell is THAT car doing there?
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/63902972-S.jpg

It was a great way to spend a Monday, good people, good bikes, good instructors, and we learned something.
Can I do it again?
Dean...where's your pics??????
Roger

[Deans BMW]

I just have a few pics. Arrived home up here in Show Low about 4 this afternoon. I really enjoyed the ERC course and Bob (NTGM) is an outstanding instructor, he is a full fledged motorcycle enthusiast, 100%.

As you all know, we have had our doubts about Bob, in fact he has frequently been accused of being the "Gay Mole". I am convinced that that he was not the "Mole", but Gay, not that there is anything wrong with that....................BUT....................... .....I think this is proof, you be the judge..........

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/63915876-M.jpg

He does cook a mean steak however.

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/63915907-M.jpg

The bikes lined up and ready to go.

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/63915925-M.jpg

The crew filling out paper work.

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/63915931-M.jpg

The little gal sitting in the center Michelle in the yellow hat is an absolute delight. She started riding a year ago taking the beginner course, then bought some little bike to practice what she had learned decided she liked it. She then after much research bought a BMW 650GS and has not looked back, she has already put something over 17,000 miles on it and because of the type of community that BMW garners she has become a true blue BMW nut and an excellent rider, she has even ridden California 1 along the coast. She and I road together up to Payson and let me tell you she can ride. She has the knack and the proper instincs. Thru the sweepers taking the Beeline to Payson with me following, 90,95 99 MPH excellent form and with good judgement, clearly very good and well over the 50 percentile in true Hoon fashion, not squid sport riding ability, I was very impressed, if I was only 25 years younger................. She can make that 650 dance.

Thanks to Bob for the great hospatility.

[GOGRL]

Since I seem to be unable to attach pictures at ANY forum because my files and photos are just TOO DAMNED BIG, here's a link to two pics from yesterday's ride:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZOWrFizcOXng

One is of the group with Steph bustin' a move, the second is of a guy named Glen. He was coming North on the 87, pushing his bike, when I saw him across the median. I felt bad, rode to the next turnaround (5 miles, just before Sycamore creek, so I got to do the fun twisties again) and caught up with him. He was a bit farther along as he had rolled the bike downhill to the Bushnell Tanks sign just across a dry riverbed. Take a close look at his leathers and trinkets stuck to the jacket - what a character!

I ended up riding 30 miles back into Fountain Hills to pick up gas for him. Strapped it on with some electrical tape (one of my handiest items on the bike) and off I went.

But back to the class, I had a wonderful time - had an opportunity to get to know some of you folks better and make some new friends! Dean - I had a BLAST riding to Payson with you and thanks for the compliments at this site! Hope to ride 666 with you soon!

I really enjoyed the class - having taken the BRC course I was familiar with the course, but you also saw evidence of my height deficit - something I just have to deal with. Anytime I get that bike off balance just a little, well, it just goes down! (I tried telling the officer you just have to go fast or it just doesn't want to stay up!)

Bob - thanks for setting this up and thanks to Earl too!

Looking forward to riding with you all again!

Michelle

[Deans BMW]

http://shim1.shutterfly.com/procgserv/47b6da30b3127cce9854886a997f00000017108AZOWrFizcOQ

http://shim1.shutterfly.com/procgserv/47b6da30b3127cce9854886b184e00000017108AZOWrFizcOQ

[Deans BMW]

The more I think about it, he kind of looks like some one I once knew. Remember, he had a HD for a while and was pontificating on the old site.......well perhaps not......but a flashback for sure.....or something like that, ....oh well back to the main channel.......

http://shim1.shutterfly.com/procgserv/47b6da30b3127cce9854886b184e00000017108AZOWrFizcOQ

[BobFV1]

http://shim1.shutterfly.com/procgserv/47b6da30b3127cce9854886b184e00000017108AZOWrFizcOQ

That guy looks like he needs a new GS!

[Promethean]

He can probably win one in the sweepstakes being run by BMW right now.

http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/events_promos/index.jsp