This was my first track experience. I thought I’d write about it because I didn’t really know what to expect, maybe this will be of use to someone.
My buddy Ted and I took our bikes (my ‘74 Z1 and 2010 Triumph Thruxton) to the track this past Friday for Reg Pridmore's CLASS riding school at Willow Springs Raceway. I had been talking about taking the Z to the track for years and for Ted this was his 40th bday present from his
wife... how cool is that?
I had been looking at different track day organizations and schools and chose CLASS. I considered a regular track day but was worried about pulling up with my old hack and feeling completely out of my depth between all the modern sportbikes. I ride in the mountains at a decent click every weekend, but the idea of taking the Z to the track was intimidating to me. In short, I was looking for instruction and I don't think we could have done any better.
Reg Pridmore is of course a three-time AMA Superbike champion - he won the championship on a BMW R90S in ‘76 then in ‘77 and ‘78 on the Vetter Kawasaki. So he knows a thing or two about riding motorcycles really, really fast. He’s also been teaching riding classes since the seventies. I was hoping he would understand my weird urge to bring my 37-year old classic to the track. But all I got was a phone call after registering to make sure the machine was in track worthy condition and not in dry storage, which I confirmed, adding "...it gets up and goes!" to which he dead panned "I know, I used to race one of those". And that was that.
The Pridmore school is a street riding school not a racing school. Their goal is to teach you riding skills in a safe, controlled environment (the track) that will make you a better rider, which can save your bacon on the street. That being said you are on the track so if you want to ride really, really fast, this is the place to do it but it's by no means a requirement. Safety is extremely important to these guys so this was emphasized throughout the day. That helped calm the nerves a bit because boy, the sheer size of the track, which was cheerfully advertised as "The fastest track in the West" intimidated the crap out of us when we arrived.
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The other bikes in our group ranged from Ducati 1198, BMW S1000RR, SV650 and R6 track bikes, to a V-strom and a BMW GS. That left Ted and I to take care of the vintage/retro department. We did raise a few eyebrows when we unloaded our rides but people stopped by to chat and check out the bikes. Once on the track none of it matters anyway, it's just you and your motorcycle...
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Reg runs the school with his wife Gigi and the help of a group of veteran instructors, most of them ex-racers and all of them very knowledgeable, very fast and most importantly, very down to earth and easy to talk to. This is a bunch of guys who genuinely love motorcycling and teaching people how to ride better, smoother and thus safer, not to mention you can go much faster once you get the hang of it. They were having fun doing it and it showed.
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There were two groups (fast/experienced and slow/new to track) and throughout the day we alternated classroom sessions (while the fast guys were on the track) and track sessions. The morning started with a safety brief, track entering and exiting procedures and was mostly spent learning our way around the track, using our rpm’s (rpm’s are your friend!), mental focus and a braking drill. As the day progressed throttle, clutch, shifting technique and body positioning were all covered and revisited. The idea is that the skills learned on the track will help keep you safe on the road when you are not riding at a 10/10 pace.
After each classroom session we'd go out onto the track and practice the techniques we had just discussed. An instructor would pull in front of you on the track and tap his tail telling you to follow him to work on some lines or pull behind you and give you feedback after the session. You could also come into pit lane at any time and ask for help if you wanted to work on a specific corner or line and an instructor would go out with you for a few laps. Back in the classroom we would ask questions and discuss improvements we made using the techniques taught before moving on to the next subject.
The way the class is set up there is a gradual progression throughout the day, starting with large adjustments, new concepts and techniques and gradually fine tuning these. The difference at the end of the day was very noticeable: I was able to get around the track much faster, smoother and more confidently. I was also amazed at what my bike was capable of as long as I stayed smooth and gave the bike the right input, it did exactly what it was told. It didn't miss a beat all day and I only over-revved it once (to about 11K – sorry bike). Even the bouncy bits worked pretty well after cranking in a bit more preload on the rear shocks. It was nice to see all the go fast goodies actually worked on the track and were just held back by the pilot :whistle:
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I was hoping to come away with some new skills and left very, very impressed. I feel like I've learned a few things that can give me an edge in a dangerous situation on the street. And I've ridden my old motorbike as fast as I dared on a race track which is about as much fun as you can have with your pants on.
The next school (in California) is in September, Streets of Willow this time, and Ted and I are already talking about going back. You can check out
www.classrides.com
if you're interested.
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