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Re: [ST] Racing Schools



rmasiak wrote:
> 
> Penguin vs. California Superbike School
> 

I don't personally know of penguin, but CSS is out here on the left
coast, and it is good.  I have friends/fellow racers who are CSS
teachers.

The likelyhood of crashing at CSS is low.  CSS is tiered, and the first
class is done at a slow pace, where you work on certain skills during
each session.

- --
> 
> My calculated differences in price are as follows with bike and gear rental
> 
> KC = $645 ($1595 lose damage deposit, i.e. wreck)
> 
> Penguin = $565 ($875 lose damage deposit)
> 
> Penguin school+race = $765 ($1075 lose damage deposit)
> 
> Odds are highly unlikely I'll wreck during the school because I'll be
> cautious and learning.  

unlikely in CSS..  I wouldn't advise that anyone do a race on their
first track day.

about the money.

CSS is good, and worth the money, especially if you haven't been on a
track before.  The bikes are well setup, so you don't have to worry
about the bike being funky if you use their bike.

for my money, I would purchase a small CC used bike (ex-250 or ex-500),
set it up for the track, do a track school (STARR or CSS), and learn how
to ride the track on this bike.  As a racer of small bikes, I spend alot
of time at the track with the "big guys."  some track days are schools,
most are open track days.  The purpose of track days is to improve
confidence and cornering technique.  The latter being what we love about
our two wheelers.  At a number of track days, the "big guys," most of
whom aren't racers, are amazed at how "fast" we go on our little 30 hp
machines.  Last year and Thunderhill, I led a couple of guys on TT600s
around -- they managed one pass on the long straight, but it didn't
stick.  Lots of the guys (and gals) are shocked when they see our little
baby bikes in the pits.  In summary, it's the rider, not the bike.  get
a cheap bike, when you get it in your garage, kick it over, so you have
no emotional attachment to the cosmetics, check the valves, safety wire
the important bolts, replace the green gunk in the radiator with water
wetter, set the static sag / preload -- front and rear and go have fun!

I have a collection of bikes some have lots of CCs and torque, and I am
not at a point where I could or would want to take those out to the
track and ride them at 9/10ths.  
Will I take my ST to the track?  eventually, but only to circulate at
8/10ths to enjoy some of what the bike can do.  My ST is my street ride,
and it will remain that way. 


My feeble racing career has made me a much more competent mechanic, and
that alone save money from my biking budget which, naturally, goes
towards more track days.

Lastly -- Track riding requires safety gear.  I spent about $1300 on my
first 250 but spent twice that on </shameless plug> helimot leathers,
bohn back protector, RX7RR helmet (smaller and tighter), held gloves and
sidi vertebrae boots  </shameless plug>.  

- --chuck
02 ST


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