Star School at Chuckwalla Jan 7/8th 2012

[dino74]

From http://www.triumph675.net/forum/showthread.php?t=58524


Hello everyone,

Thanks to all of you for making our last school of the year such a success.

As Jason had mentioned at the school, we're adding two dates to our 2012 calendar. Below are the details -

DATE - January 7 & 8, 2012
LOCATION - Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Desert Center, CA
COST - $800 (2 days only)

The lower number of students allows for more one on one training as well as more time for those important questions to be answered. It also allows for more track time and riding space. As usual, we will be taking plenty of video of our students and spending time reviewing.

The maximum number of students will be 25. We must get a minimum of 20 students to hold the school.

This email is giving our December 10 & 11 students a chance to sign up before we release the dates to everyone on December 16th.

Please call the office and ask for Nita if you want to attend.

562-802-7061




--
STAR Motorcycle School
562-802-7061
www.starmotorcycle.com

[Nemesis]

Didn't you do this D? If so, how was it?

[Trailerboy531]

possibly down for this...

[dino74]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

Didn't you do this D? If so, how was it?

I'm going to compare Code and Pridmore schools.

Code:
No matter what your skill level, you start at level I.
Specific drills to work on each session
5 sessions a day about 15 minutes a session.
Each riding coach is assigned 3 students. You are guaranteed to have your coach follow you each session.
Its not Burger King, No "Having it your way." Its Keith's way. Even if you disagree, best not to argue.

Very Quick Summary of their levels
Level I : What to think and where to look.
Level II: More visual drills and start of body position.
Level III: Mostly body position.

Pridmore:
Much more relaxed atmosphere. He has the view that there is no one right way.
Very approachable for questions.
Topics vary: Braking, throttle management, lines, etc
Lots of track time. About 25 minutes per session.
Coaches are riding the track but are not assigned to you. You're not guaranteed to get attention on the track.
Pridmore and Greg White are hilarious!
2up rides. Very Awesome.
Watching them do a 2-up ride at Chuckwalla with a laptime of 2:03 ......... at night

I did Pridmore's two camp twice. First time was awesome, learned a lot.
Second time was good but one thing happened that frustrated me.

In the beginning of the day a coach pulled me over.
Coach: How's your braking?
Me: I'm not really using my braking,
Coach: I know, don't you think you should be using it?
Me: I'm on a 250 ?!?
We spend the next 10 minutes arguing over me not using my brakes.

This confused me. My mistake was not to ask Jason about it. Instead I tried to figure it out myself and at the end of the day, I went to find the coach to ask him more about. By accident, I pick the wrong guy. I tried explaining to him the conversion and he said "Lets go do 2 laps and I'll follow you." He said I'm not getting on the gas soon enough when exiting the turn.

Code versus Pridmore.
Both are excellent schools and these are just my opinions.

Code is better for the first time track rider because it so structured.
Pridmore is better for those who have done some track days.

I'm thinking about doing this because the Pridmore school is sooooo much fun!

[Alex]

Greatly enjoyed the STAR school.

[Nemesis]

Good comparison, D. I can't believe that coach told you to get on the brakes more...LMAO. He either needs to be fired or go buy/rent a 250 and ride it around the track.

Looks like both has it's pros & cons. I've done KC a few times and personally, I think the best type of coaching is the one-on-one, not group sessions.

Video feedback after each session
One-on-One instructions
Covers basics to advance
He follows you, you follow him

Nothing beats this IMHO.

2nd to this would be the above performed by a friend who, not only understands the fundamentals of cornering but can explain how to overcome your obstacles. Simply saying, "Well, you gotta get on the throttle more" just doesn't do it IMHO.

[Zombiphone]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

2nd to this would be the above performed by a friend who, not only understands the fundamentals of cornering but can explain how to overcome your obstacles. Simply saying, "Well, you gotta get on the throttle more" just doesn't do it IMHO.

This is actually what I really liked about Star School. For the first time ever, someone actually explained body position for me better than "kiss the mirror" and "get lower." They didn't just say what to do in a general phrase and show me what it looked like from a 3rd person perspective, but I was given a clear, concise instruction as to the physical motion that will effortlessly put me in it and when I should be actually doing so. And the way Pridmore and his crew explain cornering, rpm management, reference points, learning a track, and understanding lines just left me feeling like I had control that I never knew how to realize. Some of the stuff he teaches might seem totally different from the norm, but his style of teaching and riding REALLY clicked with me.

I was slower than usual my first trackday afterward, but I've only been getting faster since, and I attribute a lot of that to having a better understanding of real techniques. My only regret is that I didn't take it sooner.

That said, I won't be there in January, but I definitely want to take his school again sometime next year.

[Nemesis]

$800 dollar is a lot for most folks which is why more seat time on the track, riding with guys who are faster than you on the same bike & seeking their advice is cheaper than any school.

But the hard & bad part is weeding out those who give bad advice.

For me, Zman (Rudy) from Socalmoto was very influential and explained things in a way I could understand it; and helped me to overcome my fear/obstacles.

[dino74]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

Simply saying, "Well, you gotta get on the throttle more" just doesn't do it IMHO.

It was a little more than that.

[dino74]

For anyone interested, there are 5 spots left.

[abhijitz]

umm ... at what price, 800$ ?

Originally Posted by dino74

For anyone interested, there are 5 spots left.

[dino74]

Originally Posted by abhijitz

umm ... at what price, 800$ ?

$800...Yeah that's a good chuck of change...

[cynicalkit]

I want to go back sometime in 2012

[dino74]

Originally Posted by cynicalkit

I want to go back sometime in 2012

I believe Jan 7/8 is in 2012 You should sign up before that whole Mayan Calendar thingy blows up.

[alex.s]

fun fact, the mayan calendar repeats every 52 years and has for a long time.

[Trailerboy531]

Zomgz we're all going to die

[copperaxe]

This would be a good school. I hope to take one this year to speed up my learning curve... after my motor is back together.

[dino74]

My write up. Remember this isn't STAR school normal class. (See first post)

Saturday morning is beautiful, forecast is mid to low 70's. I check in, pass tech, and start class. Turns out the class is limited to 20 students not 25. (Only 18 show up). First session, everyone is out on the track doing orientation laps. After that, we immediately break up into two groups.(One group is on the track while the other is on the classroom) The splitting of groups was by choice not skill or displacement. For whatever reason, our group only has 6 or 7 people in it. We are warming up in the second session but I'm in my trackday mentality thinking I got faster, faster, faster. Luckily for me / unluckily for him, a dude on a BMW crashes in front me going into turn 5. The bike is flipping over and over. Turns out 40psi in the front tire isn't good for the track. Anyway, I realize I got two days of track school, why push it and risk crashing out. Save it for the end of the last day.

For the rest of the day, our group only had 5 students in it. I think there were more instructors on the track than students. It was awesome. Turns out I didn't know as much about body position as I thought I did. Towards the end of the day I was doing 2:24. (I know, its slow) but I felt comfortable in the turns. Last September, I did 2:30, and that didn't feel anywhere near as comfortable or smooth as my 2:24. I finally I think I can start going faster without feeling like .

By the end of the day, the wind started to pick and sand snakes where everywhere. Sunday was even worse, so they had to cancel the whole day.

For me, it was worth it. The STAR school crew is just awesome.

[Nemesis]

Great job, Dean!

Trust me, wait until you start racing. Guarantee you'll drop 5-8 seconds if not more. Something about racing mode that just bring the best out of us.

Can't believe it was windy over there around this time. Can't wait to ride with you this month.

[cynicalkit]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

Great job, Dean!

Trust me, wait until you start racing. Guarantee you'll drop 5-8 seconds if not more. Something about racing mode that just bring the best out of us.

Can't believe it was windy over there around this time. Can't wait to ride with you this month.

I'm ready to drop about half a minute!

[Rexbo]

Originally Posted by dino74

Towards the end of the day I was doing 2:24. (I know, its slow) but I felt comfortable in the turns. Last September, I did 2:30, and that didn't feel anywhere near as comfortable or smooth as my 2:24. I finally I think I can start going faster without feeling like .

First race weekend at chuckwalla I think we were doing 2:17s as the fastest 250 times. Now we're nearly 10sec faster than that after one season, with still more room to improve. Track time is the only way!