Hey all,

I've signed up for Reg Pridmore's CLASS Motorcycle School in March at Laguna Seca.

http://www.classrides.com/index00.html

Has anyone taken this class before? Any info or feedback you could share on the class or the track?

Bob? Pandy? Roadstergal? Impart your wisdom, please... 

I've done lots of track days at Laguna, but not with Pridmore.
From what I've heard, it's a bit restrictive for me.
If they think you're riding over your head they will give you a hard time.
But that may be a good thing
They were one of the original schools from the beginning and I'm sure you'll have a great time and learn alot
The track is great. Very smooth surface compared to other tracks. Turn 3 is unbelievably slippery if it rains
Going up the hill from turn 5, you don't need to brake too much for turn 6(left kink after bridge).
Let off the brakes early, turn in and accelerate through the apex. Make it a straight shot to the curbing on the right at the top of the hill and brake for the corkscrew. Don't turn into the corkscrew too early or you'll be headed toward the curbing at the bottom when you drop down in. Turn 10 seems daunting since you're headed downhill carrying alot of speed, but it's slightly banked. So it's not as bad as you think it will be. After turn 11 as you head up the front straight, position yourself to crest the hill in the middle to slightly right of middle. The track will turn left after the crest down toward turn 2. You can stay on the gas until you pass the apex, then brake hard and downshift in the short straight section before you lay it into turn 2. It is a double apex corner, so turn in to the first apex and let it drift out in the middle section, then bring it back to the second apex so you get a good exit towards turn 3.
The key to double apex corners, is to make a smooth arc, so you end the arc at the proper point of exit.
You'll have to find the sweet spot to enter the turn so you don't make any adjustments mid corner.
Stay to the left before turn 3. Don't turn in too early. If you do, you will be headed toward the left edge of the track when you exit 3. By turning in a little later and getting the bike turned quickly you will not push the front so bad through the corner. Turn 4 opens up as you exit so you can carry good speed through there up to 5.
Brake and downshift before you turn in at 5 and accelerate through the corner to carry you up the hill to 6. 
Focus on finding the right spot to apex every corner (the point where you come closest to the inside edge of the corner). If you apex too early you drift out too much at exit and could go off the track. If you apex too late you lose momentum and speed to the next corner. You should be apexing at the point where you drift out of the corner to the edge of the track, but are still able to continue accelerating and carry maximum speed to the next braking point. :

What day is the school?
I might stop by if I can

Quote from: pronator on February 11, 2009, 10:29:36 PM
Hey all,

I've signed up for Reg Pridmore's CLASS Motorcycle School in March at Laguna Seca.

http://www.classrides.com/index00.html

Has anyone taken this class before? Any info or feedback you could share on the class or the track?

Bob? Pandy? Roadstergal? Impart your wisdom, please... 

Oooo, makes me seriously consider taking a trip up to my parent's house in Carmel on my motorcycle for some riding at Laguna Seca. I used to sneak onto the track when I was a kid when it wasn't in use and ride my bicycle around it... If you ride through the old Fort Ord, you can get into the track via a back way that is about 15 miles from the trail head. I guess they figure no one is willing to put in that much effort, so they don't guard the entrance (or didn't back when I was in high school). I've done many laps on that track, but probably never been much over 40 at the fastest...

My first lap of the track was in the 60's.
My cub scout troop cleaned up after some event.
My dad did a lap in our 62 Rambler American and scared the livin crap outa me 
Now I scare everyone that drives with me

Quote from: Bob Broussard on February 12, 2009, 12:00:38 AM
My first lap of the track was in the 60's.
My cub scout troop cleaned up after some event.
My dad did a lap in our 62 Rambler American and scared the livin crap outa me 
Now I scare everyone that drives with me

Very cool! I remember feeling like I was riding off a cliff going down the corkscrew.

Bob!! 

I knew you'd be able to give me a turn by turn. You rock!

I'm glad you said that about R. Pridmore's CLASS. I actually chose his program for exactly that reason. I'm not trying to drag knee (yet! ). The purpose of this class - for me - is to gain confidence on my turns, especially hairpins. I know I can and SHOULD be accelerating while in turns; looking through the curves; leaning more, especially when a turn tightens up. I know all of these things intellectually. I've read lots of training books, etc, and I know all these concepts and techniques in my head. I just don't feel confident about "trying them out" on the street.

I also climb and one comparison I make between the two activities is the idea of "smearing" on the wall and leaning into a turn. When you "smear," you're putting your foot against the wall and not on a foothold. To do it successfully, it requires lots of friction and that involves putting all your weight on that foot. You have to commit. The more it feels like you're going to lose your footing, the more weight you have to put down. Otherwise, you don't have enough friction to stick it and you'll fall. When taking a turn, you have to commit in the same way. If it ends up being a decreasing radius, you have to push further into the turn, not let up.

The difference is that I can practice and perfect my climbing technique in the gym or on top rope before I lead outside. I wish I had a similar way to do that with riding. I feel like being a track with instructors is the closest I'm going to get to a controlled environment.

Okay, that was a really long explanation, but I think you guys can get it. Not all of us can be natural kick ass racers like Bob. 

The track day is on Thursday, 19 March and I would LOVE it if you could stop by!! 

Fred, do it if you can! It'd be awesome to see that new Infinity suit in action. And maybe the rack will be ready to fit and set up on your bike by then.    Plus, I didn't know that you were from Carmel...Bob's in Salinas and we went to the same high school, though a "few" years apart. 

Thanks for the beta. Keep it coming! 

Quote from: pronator on February 12, 2009, 12:43:41 AM
Bob!! 

I knew you'd be able to give me a turn by turn. You rock!

I'm glad you said that about R. Pridmore's CLASS. I actually chose his program for exactly that reason. I'm not trying to drag knee (yet! ). The purpose of this class - for me - is to gain confidence on my turns, especially hairpins. I know I can and SHOULD be accelerating while in turns; looking through the curves; leaning more, especially when a turn tightens up. I know all of these things intellectually. I've read lots of training books, etc, and I know all these concepts and techniques in my head. I just don't feel confident about "trying them out" on the street.

I also climb and one comparison I make between the two activities is the idea of "smearing" on the wall and leaning into a turn. When you "smear," you're putting your foot against the wall and not on a foothold. To do it successfully, it requires lots of friction and that involves putting all your weight on that foot. You have to commit. The more it feels like you're going to lose your footing, the more weight you have to put down. Otherwise, you don't have enough friction to stick it and you'll fall. When taking a turn, you have to commit in the same way. If it ends up being a decreasing radius, you have to push further into the turn, not let up.

The difference is that I can practice and perfect my climbing technique in the gym or on top rope before I lead outside. I wish I had a similar way to do that with riding. I feel like being a track with instructors is the closest I'm going to get to a controlled environment.

Okay, that was a really long explanation, but I think you guys can get it. Not all of us can be natural kick ass racers like Bob. 

The track day is on Thursday, 19 March and I would LOVE it if you could stop by!! 

Fred, do it if you can! It'd be awesome to see that new Infinity suit in action. And maybe the rack will be ready to fit and set up on your bike by then.    Plus, I didn't know that you were from Carmel...Bob's in Salinas and we went to the same high school, though a "few" years apart. 

Thanks for the beta. Keep it coming! 

Hmm, March 19th eh? That's the day before my little sister's birthday, and it is highly likely she'll be home, very tempting. I'll have to poke around and see if the logistics will work out.

Yeah, I grew up in Carmel. I went to school at Stevenson in Pebble Beach and had many friends who drove in from Salinas. I actually learned to drive in Salinas at Elischer's during an El Nino year. The first time I ever drove, 68 was flooded and I had to take Reservation Road to get home. I also learned to fly in Monterey and used to do touch and go's at Salinas airport for hours on end since they aren't allowed at Monterey...

I haven't taken it, but I've heard good things about it.

If you're new to track, I won't overload you with info; you'll get plenty of that from the instructors (and if they're good, feedback specific to you, which is what you're payin' for, after all ).  The only thing I might mention is a common newb mistake, which is to look at the ground too close to the bike.  Make sure you're looking far ahead and planning far ahead, especially if things seem to be happening too quickly.  Once you know you're going to make the entry (which should be before you're there), be looking for the apex.  Once you know you're going to make the apex, be looking for the exit. Etc.

Work on precise lines instead of getting your knee down.  Speed will come when the precision is there, and kneedrag happens when you're doing a lot of other things right.  (It can also happen when you're focusing on the drag instead of doing all of the other things right,; that's what I'm gettin' at. )

If you're nervous about leaning the bike, as you say, then long, sweeping turns are a good place to get a feel for how bar pressure controls lean angle.  This translates well to sharper turns once you're comfy.

So friggin jealous. 

Get some pictures, if you can.  So that we can live vicariously through you. 

Maybe you can duct tape a video camera on your helmet

Quote from: Bob Broussard on February 13, 2009, 11:42:07 PM
Maybe you can duct tape a video camera on your helmet

Damn...I'm always late to the party.... Track day's today!? Can't wait to hear all the details. I haven't done Pridmore or been to Leguna Seca (I've only been to Thunderhill and Buttonwillow...so far!), but I've heard good things, too!

Quote from: pandy on February 19, 2009, 12:11:58 PM

Quote from: Bob Broussard on February 13, 2009, 11:42:07 PM
Maybe you can duct tape a video camera on your helmet

Damn...I'm always late to the party.... Track day's today!? Can't wait to hear all the details. I haven't done Pridmore or been to Leguna Seca (I've only been to Thunderhill and Buttonwillow...so far!), but I've heard good things, too!

Ha! No worries - track day isn't actually until a MONTH from today: Thurs, 19 March! Any track riding beta would be appreciated. I don't want to report back about how good the Laguna Seca dirt was... 

Quote from: pronator on February 19, 2009, 03:15:01 PM
Ha! No worries - track day isn't actually until a MONTH from today: Thurs, 19 March! Any track riding beta would be appreciated. I don't want to report back about how good the Laguna Seca dirt was... 

All I saw was 19th, and I got all excited! 

I think it would only be fair if you reported on Laguna Seca dirt since I reported on Thunderhill dirt.    At least you're doing things in the right order. I'm looking forward to track school...perhaps I should have done that BEFORE track riding...  A friend took Pridmore's Star School, and she said her track riding increased tremendously (and her confidence!). I believe she took it at Sears (aka Infineon). She worked on smoothness and lines, and she was thrilled with her progress.

P.S. Thunderhill dirt SUCKS!    

Quote from: pandy on February 19, 2009, 03:24:14 PM
P.S. Thunderhill dirt SUCKS!   

Quote from: pandy on February 19, 2009, 03:24:14 PM

I think it would only be fair if you reported on Laguna Seca dirt since I reported on Thunderhill dirt.    At least you're doing things in the right order. I'm looking forward to track school...perhaps I should have done that BEFORE track riding...  A friend took Pridmore's Star School, and she said her track riding increased tremendously (and her confidence!). I believe she took it at Sears (aka Infineon). She worked on smoothness and lines, and she was thrilled with her progress.

P.S. Thunderhill dirt SUCKS!    

Trust me, if I eat dirt, you guys will know about it. In fact, I'll bring home samples for everyone.   

Actually, I'm taking Reg Pridmore's class (he's Jason's daddy!); I don't think it'll be quite as race driven, but I do look forward to improving my riding skills and control. 

Quote from: cafeboy on February 19, 2009, 03:25:58 PM

Quote from: pandy on February 19, 2009, 03:24:14 PM
P.S. Thunderhill dirt SUCKS!   

Bahahahahahaha!!!!! You're gonna earn yourself a custom title, son! 

Quote from: pronator on February 19, 2009, 03:30:57 PM
Trust me, if I eat dirt, you guys will know about it. In fact, I'll bring home samples for everyone.   

Actually, I'm taking Reg Pridmore's class (he's Jason's daddy!); I don't think it'll be quite as race driven, but I do look forward to improving my riding skills and control. 

I still have some Thill dirt and gravel in my fairing (I really need to swap out my fairing soon). You'll likely ride on by any dirt, be smooth as silk, and you'll likely not sleep for three days before or after your schooling due to adrenaline and excitement! 

Quote from: pandy on February 19, 2009, 03:42:56 PM

Quote from: cafeboy on February 19, 2009, 03:25:58 PM

Quote from: pandy on February 19, 2009, 03:24:14 PM
P.S. Thunderhill dirt SUCKS!   

Bahahahahahaha!!!!! You're gonna earn yourself a custom title, son! 

AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Make it good. 

You have a month?  Ride dirt.  I have a spare bike and some gear.

You can ride a sportbike on the dirt, you can use the brakes, you can come back on - just as long as you do it smoothly.

Quote from: Roadstergal on February 19, 2009, 05:40:27 PM
You have a month?  Ride dirt.  I have a spare bike and some gear.

You can ride a sportbike on the dirt, you can use the brakes, you can come back on - just as long as you do it smoothly.

Ride dirt? I'm not sure that I would even know where or how...