California Superbike School @ VIR in May

[csmith12]

Now for a little something different. lol

I am going for some training and refreshing. I will be taking the level 1 track from CSS at VIR. I haven't ridden this track before but will know the turns by heart before I even arrive. I also have never taken any of the CSS levels either.

After some emails back and forth and a couple of phone calls, the 250 is staying at home and I will be riding my black and yellow r6. And before you even ask, yes... Kevin is going too. I am soooooooo looking forward to him going and getting his issue(s) addressed where I have failed to help him.

This should be a fun trip. I will take vid and pics as much as permitted to share. And you know I will be running around meeting new people and shaking hands as time permits. It will be a busy day, I am sure... but even extra busy for me.






















ps. this thread could get very interesting after it's all said and done. We will see what happens. /feeling excited!!!!!

[allanoue]

have fun

learn a lot

[csmith12]

VIR looks to be an pretty cool facility. They have an onsite restaurant, hotel and rooms right on pit lane. So you know what I did... I reserved Kevin and I a room right on pit lane.

[adouglas]

Shiny side up.
Pointy end forward.
No rototilling allowed. It messes up your paintwork.

[chris 25Or]

csmith12, I will be at CSS at VIR, May 11 &12, 2015. My friend (Brian), brother and I met you at Jennings a few months ago.

I should have my KTM RC 390 by then. Not sure if I will bring my Ninja 250R also. See you then..

[csmith12]

Cool!

I will see ya on the 12th then Chris! Not bringing the Hondas or you riding a bmw?

[Motofool]

[chris 25Or]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Cool!

I will see ya on the 12th then Chris! Not bringing the Hondas or you riding a bmw?

I will bring my KTM RC 390 and either the BMW S1000rr or Ninja 250. I am limited to two bikes due to room in the trailer. My CBR 1000rr is in Miami at my brothers home, my winter Jennings bike. Its up for sale, want to buy a smaller bike like 675R or 636.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by chris 25Or

I will bring my KTM RC 390 and either the BMW S1000rr or Ninja 250. I am limited to two bikes due to room in the trailer. My CBR 1000rr is in Miami at my brothers home, my winter Jennings bike. Its up for sale, want to buy a smaller bike like 675R or 636.

Awesome! You know my trailer rig with the big "Reactor" sticker on the back. But if I don't find ya, look for my trailer or a black and yellow r6 with #126 on it.

Looking forward to the trip and seeing ya out again. Good luck finding the bike your after.

[burningscooter]

VIR is awesome. Youre going to love it. The run up the hill on the backside and then back down is quite breath taking.

[Sirref]

I'm looking at my budget with a bit of a grin

this is assuming that there is an open space left on monday may 11th, otherwise I'll be taking the course at NJMP the following week

I intend to take the course on the gsxr since I feel that I would benefit from it more on it than the 250

[dave42]

Have fun with the class! I started counting down the days since I first booked our spot before Christmas and we had just finished our level 1.

[chris 25Or]

Sirref,

I will be there on May 11 & 12... Try to make it out there. It might be sold out, I usually reserved as soon as they post the yearly school dates.

[csmith12]

May 11th is sold out, the 12th "might" have a spot left, but unlikely. If you want to do the 2day camp then there are spots left I believe but don't hold me to it.

[jaesun]

I did 2-single days at VIR in August using their BMW S1000RR and rental gear. I stayed in Danville at a Best Western behind a Piggly Wiggly.

It was my first time on a track, and I'd do it again. I procrastinated last year and ended up getting a nice discount rate because the sessions weren't fully booked. Ah, so I'm a little bummed that they're sold out for May. So much for my plan to call and negotiate a discount again in late April.

I got a lot better and definitely learned a lot more than I ever could have by myself on the street. The classroom sessions were actually interesting. No Keith Code, but his son Dylan did most of the instruction for my 2 days. I was surprised by this because I didn't get much out of MSF and was bored out of my mind at the Lee Parks Total Control classroom sessions with APEX.

I want some more time on a motorcycle at higher speeds before going back. Not that I'm going to get a lot of experience off the track going 100mph, but I didn't have that much experience going 70mph coming from a Ninja 250. It was a bit too much for me on a S1000RR. For the 1st session, just be careful. It's a zoo. My session was particularly bad because there were small groups racing and not doing the drill. I think 3 guys went off the course because they couldn't control their speed. None went down though. I think only 1 person went down for the 1st 2 days on the school bikes, and he wasn't in my group. Not even sure if he lost his entire deposit. And watch out for the slow people like me! Haha, I was that guy who was passed by a CBR250... multiple times.

[csmith12]

Thanks Jason!

I have very specific riding goals to reach while attending CSS. I am a coach at other tracks already, so I will have no problem slowing down and sticking to the drills.

[leed]

I miss Oak Tree

VIR is a great venue, and an even better track; you should have an absolute blast!

[jaesun]

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/...nges-to-curbs/

[csmith12]

YAY! No sharps on the curbing! Thanks for the heads up.

It may hurt like hell to have your leg jerked when a puck is snagged up.

[gogoKawi]

I'm curious to hear your thoughts as a seasoned rider attending the school. I've held off doing a write-up on my CSS experience. I want to hear others' experiences before I put mine out there. Mainly for balance.

Good move taking the R6. At that track, I think you will get more out of it than on the 250.

[csmith12]

Don't hold back Dre! Here is my friend and fellow ninjette member iZapp's review.

http://ohioriders.net/index.php?/top...school-review/

No need to wait on me to do a review.

[gogoKawi]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Don't hold back Dre! Here is my friend and fellow ninjette member iZapp's review.

http://ohioriders.net/index.php?/top...school-review/

No need to wait on me to do a review.

My thoughts are similar to your buddy's, with a slightly different ending. I loved the experience. The school? Well... I'll write something up. It's been on my mind a lot over the LONG winter.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by gogoKawi

My thoughts are similar to your buddy's, with a slightly different ending. I loved the experience. The school? Well... I'll write something up. It's been on my mind a lot over the LONG winter.

Thank you sir,

I have been researching and reading all the reviews I can, and am running out of time to formalize my plan of attendance (it's more complex than ya'lls know). While I understand and have the self restraint to complete the level 1 drills and soak up everything I can get out of them, I also have questions that need answerin', after all... I am a paying student.

/turn off modesty for a moment
My questions are waaaayyyy beyond level 1, but that should be "ok" from what I have been told and read. Thing is... I will not be able to put their answers into practice on track and I know and accept that ahead of time. I am not attending the school to "ride vir" for the first time. I am going to reset and to honestly check myself to ensure my head and ballz don't get too big, too fast.

One championship later, I realize I am faster than the average rider, but not the fastest. But I do believe I go faster than average in a safer way though. 100+ track days + 50 or so races later... I have only recorded 3 crashes and I know exactly why I crashed, but more importantly why I didn't. I also know that everything I have learned and post on this forum can be tossed away in an instant when you want the position in front of you in a race, especially if it's the #1 spot.
/turn back on modesty

Anyway... Looking forward to your review! (hopefully before I leave for the track) I believe my expectations are appropriately set. We are going to work on the fundamentals, because fixing a window on a house that is falling down doesn't really help out much.

ps. There are way too many "I"'s in this post.

Can't wait, am super excited!!!!

[csmith12]

Trailer is locked and loaded!

Link to original page on YouTube.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Thank you sir,

I have been researching and reading all the reviews I can, and am running out of time to formalize my plan of attendance (it's more complex than ya'lls know). While I understand and have the self restraint to complete the level 1 drills and soak up everything I can get out of them, I also have questions that need answerin', after all... I am a paying student.

/turn off modesty for a moment
My questions are waaaayyyy beyond level 1, but that should be "ok" from what I have been told and read. Thing is... I will not be able to put their answers into practice on track and I know and accept that ahead of time.

One championship later, I realize I am faster than the average rider, but not the fastest.
/turn back on modesty

Anyway... Looking forward to your review! (hopefully before I leave for the track) I believe my expectations are appropriately set. We are going to work on the fundamentals, because fixing a window on a house that is falling down doesn't really help out much.

ps. There are way too many "I"'s in this post.

Can't wait, am super excited!!!!

First of all I have never taken the school. I do believe it's the best, or one of the best, you can take so I believe asking any question will get a serious reply. Since there is laps on track you should be able to try any of their answers to your questions and be consulted on your results.

Congratulations on any Championship, however; nothing really counts until you turn professional. It is still an acheivement that you should be proud of but the difference between being fast in a club and fast as a pro is great.

Being a family man riding safe and having fun should be the most important thing!

[Fishbine]

I'm looking forward to hearing your take on CSS.

[csmith12]

I will give ya'lls a good review when I get back.

Mr. Cowboy - I have no interest in becoming pro at this point. And... just so you know, 2.5yrs I was only 5 seconds off the winning AMA pro lap time at mid-o. On my mostly stock r6 with no damper lol... I am fine with that.

Family and friends is what it's all about for me.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by csmith12

I will give ya'lls a good review when I get back.

Mr. Cowboy - I have no interest in becoming pro at this point. And... just so you know, 2.5yrs I was only 5 seconds off the winning AMA pro lap time at mid-o. On my mostly stock r6 with no damper lol... I am fine with that.

Family and friends is what it's all about for me.

That is some good riding!

I was trying to bring you back into the "check myself to ensure my head and ballz don't get too big, too fast" state of mind.

I hope some day we can ride together.

[csmith12]

Good morning from VIR

[adouglas]

Exhale.

Now take a deep, full breath through your nose.

Smell that?

That's the smell of pure awesome, right there.

[Sirref]

You're making me look forward to the motoamerica races even more

adouglas put this better than I ever could

[DEFY]

@csmith12 superstitious ? where's number 13 lol

[snot]

Full report please.

[adouglas]

Shhh... leave him be. He's basking in the coolness.

[csmith12]

/Feeling VERY relieved... but VERY tired

[student report]
Short report - We came, we saw, we kicked ass!

I got exactly what I wanted from level 1 with CSS and their coaching is top shelf. My coach was Johnny Haynes. He had no problem letting me do what I came to do. He answered my questions (even the hard ones) without even the slightest of hesitation, with 100% accuracy AND was tailored to my current riding ability. Near the midpoint of the day and the brakes were allowed to come back into the track riding, he gave me the freedom to basically go as fast as I wanted to as long as it was safe with other traffic and I was working the current drill at the time. For me, this is when the drills made the most sense and I could "feel" where improvements were made. As a student rider, my riding was pretty close to where I thought it was and was needing some work here and there. Exactly my prediction….

Longer student report later...

[coach report]
I hinted in the OP that my plan attendance to CSS was more complex than normal. I will finally let the cat out of the bag here. I also went to CSS to complete the riding portion of the CSS coach tryout. As a select few of you already know, I have been working with CSS to become a coach since Jan. of this year. After completing all the other prerequisites/application/riding resume/interview, I was invited to come do the riding portion and "grilling" question and answer sessions with senior CSS staff. I was specifically paired with Johnny Haynes for this purpose and he grilled me all damn day too. hahahahaha Here are a few quotes from him;

I am confused... you're in level one but using terminology associated with the school. Have you taken the school before?
Perfect textbook answer
I see you have come very well prepared
This next session, I would like to see you turn the bike a little more slowly.

It was the busiest day at the track in my life... Ugggg after a long drive and getting only 4 hours sleep, Cobie Fair (Chief Riding Coach World Wide) gave me a checklist to complete first thing in the morning. The first action item was to LITERALLY meet EVERY CSS staff member! The other items on the checklist were easy enough to complete but consumed all my free time.

At the end of the day and to make a long story short, I decided that my style of coaching is NOT a match with CSS. It has nothing to do with their program, it’s a personal conflict with me just from my point of view. I am honored that I was even considered and I thank them for their time and attention. As a coach, I learned many things from their coaches that I will always remember.

I am a little bummed that it wasn't a match, but I am happy and comfortable with my choice and would make it again if I had too.

[csmith12]

@chris 25Or

I am sorry I didn't get to catch up with you. If you check the post above, I was super slammed but I did make a lap around the paddock to find you. I guess you were on track at the time. I seen one KTM, was that yours? I waited for a few mins to see if the rider would come back but I guess class was in sesssion.

Next time man!

[csmith12]

Oh!!! So I am sitting down reading my checklist and reach for my coke. It's not in the drink holder of my chair. Kevin tells me it's on the car and then I see it... and know for 100% sure that it would be a good day.



I about fell outta my chair Kevin said "omg... how will you ever put your helmet on again with a head that big".

[adouglas]

Oh, man, that must have been a tough call....

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Oh, man, that must have been a tough call....

Actually, it surprisingly wasn't.

When I put on my student hat, I was completely happy.
When I put on my coach hat, I felt uncomfortable.

All I can say is, they run their program in a format that is not compatible with me. It's not a good or a bad thing, it just doesn't work with me. And if "I" don't work, then my students will get a less than "100%" coach. It's not fair to them.

/decision made

[dave42]

Can you go into why the format doesn't jive with you as a coach?