I'm Going to Get (Cork) Screwed!

[R Doug]

James (RideWV) and I were planning on a week-long trip this year to explore some great roads in northern California.  I was very much looking forward to riding the PCH, seeing Yosemite, visiting Sequoia National Park, and seeing San Fran for the first time.  However, James has been hinting that he may not be able to make it.  And today, I confirmed that with him.  He’s out.  Though I often prefer to travel alone, I was really looking forward to sharing this small journey with him.  After all, the trip was his idea.    

As I started checking airfare, firming up my bike rental, and seeking hotels along my planned route, I couldn't get a certain nagging thought out of my mind today.  You see, last night I received an e-mail from Skip Barber Superbike School promoting an early sign up discount on its track school.  If I sign up now, I could save $800 off the regular price or $2,500.  Wow, $800 off?!  

It has been more than two years since I've last completed a track day.  As some of you may remember, I used to have my own track bike.  That bike was followed by my street legal Daytona 675 which also saw some track time.  Later came the Super Duke which has never seen a track up close and personal.  For some reason, I feel intimidated to take the Super Duke on the track.  The reason being is, I’m afraid to crash it.  

Yeah sure, I could crash it on the street.  But, I believe I’m way less likely to do so.  Here’s my problem… when I do a track day, I go there to lean how to be a better rider.  Also, I go there to learn the limits of me and my bike.  I have noticed that on past track days, I push myself and my bike’s abilities to the point that I’m at 99/100 of my abilities by the end of the day.  I don’t believe I could do a track day and hold it back to say 80/100 of my abilities.  It’s a bloody track day afterall and I have no self control on such things.  

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not saying I’m wreckless on the track.  I suppose what I’m saying is that when I am on a track, I’m not afraid to push my limits just a little bit at a time.  Very methodically I trail brake just a little more, I’ll enter a corner by hanging off a little more, I attempt to slightly increase my entry speed in certain corners, etc…

So, I’ve worked myself to the point that I would feel more comfortable getting back on the track with a dedicated and relatively less expensive track bike.  I would leave the (expensive to fix) Super Duke as my street only twisty carving machine.  On the street, I don’t like pushing myself to more than 75/100 of my comfort level and abilities.  There are TOO many variables and maintaining self control is much easier to do on the street.  But, I yearn to get back on the track.    

While attending the IMS bike show in Cleveland this year, Mid-Ohio Raceway was there showing off its new partnership with KTM for seat time on their track.  This is a track day with three groups (beginner / intermediate / advance) where participants are provided a bike from KTM North America to carve up Mid-Ohio’s road course and there is some instruction.  I believe this will be a nice way for me to get my “track legs” again by getting some seat time on a great bike.  I signed up for an April track day with this class earlier this week and have been thinking about it ever since.  

So, this brings me back to today.  After thinking about how exciting it will be to be back on the track this April at Mid Ohio and receiving that e-mail last night about the early bird discount on the Skip Barber School, I pulled the trigger today on the Skip Barber school and decided against the week-long Nor. Cal. road trip (I can only do one of the two this year).  

On Sunday June 27 and Monday June 28, 2010, I will be taking the Skip Barber Superbike School at the world famous Laguna Seca Raceway on a KTM!

In summary:

   Track School with excellent instruction

   ME on world famous Laguna Seca!  

   Riding a KTM Duke, a Super Duke, and an RC8 to my limits for two days!

Oh hell yes!

I plan to provide a full report once I am back home later this summer.  


http://www.skipbarber.com/superbike_school/

[chornbe]

Awesome!

Having ridden with you and it's always raining when we do so, I'm definitely looking forward to riding with you on dry streets. You must be pretty quick on the track - you definitely don't mozee on the street. Ought to be some great fun. Enjoy it for everything it's worth.  

[lizard]

Found the time machine? Sun & Mon with the same date...how's that work?

[R Doug]

Nope, no time machine.  It's a typo that I didn't catch when editing.  For some reason, the dialog box gets jittery once you go so far so it was hard to catch everyting.  

[kendenton]

Glad to hear you're able to salvage a good trip when the original plans fell through.

[Mr Sunshine]

Good luck with the school...you're gonna find Laguna to be a knarly track!

BTW: The PCH is in So Cal....not Nor Cal.  In Nor Cal it is simply Highway 1.

[R Doug]

Good luck with the school...you're gonna find Laguna to be a knarly track!

BTW: The PCH is in So Cal....not Nor Cal.  In Nor Cal it is simply Highway 1.

Thanks, I can't wait to try out Laguna.   I'm sure it will be a totally different experience.  

Regarding Hwy 1, I was going to take it from Morro Bay all the way up to Eureka.  Isn't the part south of San Fran part of the PCH?  If not, you knew what I meant.  

[Need For Speed]

last night I received an e-mail from Skip Barber Superbike School promoting an early sign up discount on its track school.  If I sign up now, I could save $900 off the regular price.  Wow, $900 off?!  

Is that deal available for anybody? I looked on their website and only saw a $300 early sign up discount. If the discount was deeper, I may be inclined to sign up myself.

Thanks, Gary

[SVTNate]

Freaking out of staters.

I don't know what those hella nor cal people call PCH, but it's PCH, not "THE PCH".  "The" prefaces numbered freeways. The 91, the 57, the 405, etc.  PCH has a number but we do not refer to it by number, just like Ortega Highway.  (some call it "The Ortega" but not many).

I just wanted to clear up this small but important nuance of SoCal public road nomenclature for you guys  

Nate from OC (not "THE" OC, that was a television show for little girls)

And congrats on the class, I'm jealous.  I live relatively close to the Corkscrew but have yet to see it in person let alone drive/ride it.  Like you, I'm very apprehensive about taking my personal bike to a track day, not only because I don't want to crash it, but like you I'd ride hard to discover my limits and expand my abilities.  In doing so, I might hurt myself, and I could not/would not take time off work for it.

Someday I'll have the time, the beater track bike, and the extra money for a tow rig/tires/etc and do track days.  Until then, I'll read ride reports

[Blunder]

It's a stokin' deal, dude!

Keep us posted. There are plenty of Southland and NorCal types who'll gladly learn you the vagaries of road nomenclature.

Again, it's a stokin' deal.


Report: Most College Males Admit To Regularly Getting Stoked

[Busy Little Whiner]

To get the corked without getting screwed... as soon as you get your knee over the left turn candy cane flip
the bike over to the right as if you can see the right apex... those two quick moves will set you on the right
path...

[R Doug]

Is that deal available for anybody? I looked on their website and only saw a $300 early sign up discount. If the discount was deeper, I may be inclined to sign up myself.

Thanks, Gary

$1,999 is a discounted price from the normal $2,500 cost of the school (which is in-line with Keith Code and other similar schools).  So, $1,699 is $800 off the regular price.  

@Nate,  Thanks for the clarification.  I've was under the assumption that Hwy 1 was it.        Now I know better.  

[Tyrroneous]

Jealous!  

[Need For Speed]

$1,999 is a discounted price from the normal $2,500 cost of the school (which is in-line with Keith Code and other similar schools).  So, $1,699 is $800 off the regular price.  

@Nate,  Thanks for the clarification.  I've was under the assumption that Hwy 1 was it.        Now I know better.  

OK, I get it. Thanks for the info, debating now. Just found some luggage I want to buy - decisions, decisions!

[R Doug]

The cost of the school just went up today.  I'm in at the price I locked on Sunday (whew).

I just booked my flight on Southwest.  Is it June yet!?  

[garry]

Sounds like great fun Doug. I suspect you'll be on the hook for $1500 or so if you crash the borrowed KTMs at the track day, so keep that in mind when pondering life at 99/100s...

[Smoker]

You suck.




That is all.






 

[R Doug]

Sounds like great fun Doug. I suspect you'll be on the hook for $1500 or so if you crash the borrowed KTMs at the track day, so keep that in mind when pondering life at 99/100s...

I paid an extra $400 for zero liability insurance.  

[stefrrr]

Sounds like great fun Doug. I suspect you'll be on the hook for $1500 or so if you crash the borrowed KTMs at the track day, so keep that in mind when pondering life at 99/100s...

 
If I believed in jinxes, I would say this is one.  

I paid an extra $400 for zero liability insurance.  

Clever...

[miles]

Freaking out of staters.

I don't know what those hella nor cal people call PCH, but it's PCH, not "THE PCH".  "The" prefaces numbered freeways. The 91, the 57, the 405, etc.  PCH has a number but we do not refer to it by number, just like Ortega Highway.  (some call it "The Ortega" but not many).

Freakin' L.A. area people.  It was never "the" 5 until Los Angeles traffic reporters started that crap.  It was alway "I-5" or "I-15" with no "the" in front of it.  Now we have all these damned people using that terminology here and it drives me up the wall.

http://www.languagehat.com/archives/003203.php