Race Instruction ?
 

Your recommendations please ?

I've been riding 5 years (road based) and need more track time and some help.

I have a lot to learn and would like to know how best to spend the limited budget. I was 10 seconds or so off the pace at Woodlands with a 58.10 and I know where I lost those seconds despite being on a 583 - thats no excuse as Andy admirably demonstrated.

I know there is no substitute for track time which is what I intend to do and I have a basic idea of what i'm doing wrong.

So between now and Castle Combe i'd like to improve my race riding - How best should I spend my funds ? Your collective wisdom sought!

Anyone willing to tutor me ? I'm a good pupil ;)

Thanks :)

if your budget will run to it i would recommend California Superbike School. To get the full effect you would do levels 1,2 and 3, although a lot of people make big improvements with level 1.

I am confident that TP will confirm that it helped with his racing

It really depends on how much money you've got to spend. There's two schools of thought on the major schools and that is the European Superbike School and the California Superbike School.

I've never been on the ESS school's before but I have a bit of an understanding of how they work. I think I would be right in saying that you are at the entry level, no disrespect intended, and I think a very structured approach would benefit you and this is where I think the CSS will help you out. I've done all 4 levels of the CSS and I can't recommend them highly enough. But they're not cheap and I don't know if that's in your budget. Check out their website here

ESS is here

If you money is tighter than I would consider a track day with a company that has instructors that will show you around and do a date at a track that you are racing on later. No Limits has our very WeeJohnnyB as an instructor and we all know he's a bit quick!

Whichever you choose I wish you good luck :D

[Edited on 8-5-2005 by TP]

Join us at Llandow on Fri May 27th at a cost of £65.22 and we can hopefully pair you up with a experienced Club racer, good couple of hours tracktime on a uncrowded circuit.

Are you doing Castle Combe on the 18th, my mate Rob Jones should be instructing there (he was at our last Llandow) he would be worth asking for a bit of help

Amen to that, it's really given me a lot of confidence and pace that I didn't have before. I did my first track day last year and was fortunate enough to do it with the DSC at TA3 at Rocky in September.

I never thought I'd go from there to running the pace I can now and I owe that to the CSS (and to Sigma Performance for the great bike prep) so I can highly recommend their instruction.

Give me more details Kev please ?
Not doing 18th unless Domski still has his place to sell ?

There is no substitute for race time.

I never did trackdays or race schools. Straight into racing me.

However, I was crap to start with, but didn't take long to pull my finger out.

You can't do better than talking to other racers at a race meetings. You're not doing much wrong if you're lapping in 58's in your first race.

I'm sure myself, Skids, Geoff & Ian Leah would be more than happy to spend some time with you discussing lines and brake markers etc.

Trackdays & Race Schools are probably ok, but they don't teach you how to 'RACE'.

Practice makes perfect ;)

Thanks Domski :) I did speak to Geoff and Andy and they did give me some ideas to work on. Posture is an issue as evident from photos - I look stiff and I don't understand why really as I don't feel stiff on the bike - get no arm pump or stiff wrists ?? - Also I don't get off the monster - I used to on the cbr6 but don't find I need to on this bike.

http://www.trackday-coop.150m.com/ site setup by my mate Andy

Myself, Senna3, his wife Trudi and Dallas are going, we are hoping Chippy is going to join us.
Last time as well as Rob Jones instructing, we had help from a few guys from North Glos including race winners from the ultra competitive 600 Supersport class.

We head down the evening before and camp at the caravan site next door.
One group is for newcomers to track riding one group is for those just starting racing, this includes Andy and Senna3 who have done one raceday and Damo who has yet to do his first race. The third group will be for those who have done a few trackdays.

Righto - I'll call him tomorrow and make a booking - Do you have the details of the campsite please ? and Thanks :)

Don't worry about that too much, it's not a style parade.

I always look awkward on the bike in photo's, it makes me cringe, BUT it feels comfortable when I'm riding :)

Email sent - and thanks Kev :)

Did you sell your trackday at Castle Dom ? And I agree - I feel comfortable so I stick to that way for now- but then I don't know any other way and haven't been taught any other way either.

http://www.llandowcaravanpark.com/

Llandow
Cowbridge
South Glamorgan
CF7 7PB
Tel: 01446 794527

They have a shower block and a site shop and the local chinese will deliver although we prefer our social BBQ, they charged £6 the night for a tent/van, caravans are a bit more as you get electric hookup.

http://www.llandow.com/

I have sold my spare one (not the 18th)

...and have a list of people for the 18th should I not make it. Sorry.

I'm hoping I can let everyone down... in the nicest possible way of course ;)

Thanks :) Will await email from Andy and organise me BBq :)

Tp - thanks too - I had looked at CSS and Ess and couldn't decide between what either offered which is why I asked the question really. I would prefer one to one tuition from a racer but i'm willing to try most things - once ;)

Bugger - heal quick then :)

i hasve done css and think they are great but now you are racing i personally think the best experience you can get is racing itself. bear in mind you can do s.o.t too if you want to. good experience for race starts and track experience of upcoming venues.

Llandow for now then - followed by Mallory afternoon and possible Snet track day and new tyres!
I'm going to try and follow Kev - providing he's fixed his brake problem that is ;)

Can you restrict your bike down to 583 ? ;)

He doesn't need to..... :frog:

You have 2nd gear???

Why haven't you used it before now?

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

reply of the day..................:P

Phil

At Llandow there is the odd cone out for turn in and Apex points that work well, there is also a chicane at the end of the paddock straight that has a escape road so is ideal for practing late braking. On the 600SS I hardly use the brakes at all except for entry to the chicane which is why the brake problem didn't show there last time.
Now if we could arrange to get Bradders 600 Monster there without him having to ride it he would probably turn up as well.

Where is he Kev ?

Edited - I looked - too far for me to help I reckon.

[Edited on 9-5-2005 by phoenix n max]

yep Lyn he is a bit off your patch and mine for that matter as he is down Portsmouth way.

I've another Monster plus rider to bring if there's spaces. I'll see when I get a mail back from your mate.

There are still places as far as I know, we have a few on the maybe list but not all of those will send there cheques. So just need to get the cheques in

Lyn can you resend Andy your email at this address andrew.turner@mbda.co.uk

not sure who is meant to be picking up the ones from the website link but they don't appear to be getting passed onto Andy

Done - thanks :)

Well Lyn thats the day nearly booked out, we are now trying to line up a few quality instructors. Just checked the dates of the BSB and MRO rounds and it doesn't appear to clash so hopefully will get a couple of quick guys along to instruct the fast group, see if we can get Dallas going a bit faster. That would then leave the top club racers to help the likes of you, me, Andy and Senna3.

Looking forward to it Kev - seems like ages since Cadwell.
With so few of us on the track at any one time it should be good for learning.

That is the whole idea, for some it will be their first time on track, a proper Novice group, fast group is mainly racers with little race experience that want to get out on track and learn, middle group is for those that want to try things that they have either read, been taught or just fancy a no pressure trackday with mates,
I'm looking forward to it, hope we get good weather.

how many places left skidlids?

You coming out to play ?
Last email I had yesterday said there were 4 slots left.

first reserve for cc on wednesday pheonix but if that doesn't work out i may well do this

As far as I know there are still 4 slots left as the max number is 30 which will be split into 3 groups of Ten.
Today emails have been sent out to various racers about instructing, one of them Dave Hockham is hoping to do it providing he gets through a trackday at Cadwell where he is instructing and providing he gets through the NG race meeting at Cadwell Next weekend. Dave is currently 6th in the NG 600 championship one place behind Randy Kitzmiller who will hopefully also help us out as he did last time.