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| August 31, 2004 " Barber Star school experience" I just completed the day one portion of Star @ Barber and wanted to take a minute and tell you about something that happened to me at your school. I listened intently to all the instruction that was given and found that when I was on track most of it slipped away from me, I was thinking so much about what was going on in front of me that I couldn't find the time to think about the things that were said in class. In one class session (third or fourth) Jason discussed panic braking and target fixation, he said a couple of times "look where you want to go , force your eyes up". We went out on track and I went about my business of working on different aspects of my ride. At one point I decided to really stretch the legs on my bike and on the front straight, I nailed it. Turn one came up much quicker than it had before and I went in to full on panic braking mode, the front tire howled, I got on the back brake and the back was too light for any brake at all and the back broke loose just a little, this did nothing to help my panic. I found myself staring straight at the runoff area at turn 1, then in a very Obi-Wan kind of way I heard Jason's voice -- LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO!! I cranked my head and eyes up through turn one towards turn two, turned the bike as hard as I could and what do you know I ended up going where I had looked...it was amazing. Through the rest of the day I didn't mention my little adventure because I thought I had just done something stupid (gone too fast), but I realized driving home that not only had I done something stupid, I had learned something from you. For that I say Thank You very much, you saved me a possible harmful getoff. I only got one on one time with one instructor at the very end of our last session, but Dean gave me some very useful tips for the next time I am on track. That is probably my fault for not coming forward mid-day and speaking up. Overall it was a very fun experience, and I can say I'd do it again, but next time, I'll grab an instructor early in the day and say "what am I doing?" "what can I do better?" Thanks
again, June
16, 2004 "Thanks" I wanted to thank you all for having STAR at Road America this year. It was my first track day, and I can honestly say the topics that were being presented are already starting to click with me. It is helping me towards my goal of becoming a more proficient street rider. Special Thanks to J.T. for assisting me in getting my chain adjusted to spec for tech inspection and the on track riding tips. Allysha for being so efficient during sign in. Mark Gallardo for the demonstration on Body Positioning on the bike, Bill for the encouragement offered to a newbie track rider, and James for the outstanding presentation he gave in the afternoon. And as always Jason. You really blend a talent of being so skilled at your profession and being able to share some of it with the riding public at your school. You have lots to be proud of with your program and top notch staff. I plan on contacting each and every one of your sponsors telling them how much I enjoyed my day at STAR School. Ride Safe. Regards, May
31, 2004 "What a wonderful time I had at your class in
Denver" I just had to let you kow what a wonderful time I had at your class in Denver. I really learned how to ride better & can 'almost' keep up w/ the guys on the mountain passes now. I also keep thinking about the incident you told us about when you skidded on some sand & ended up in the oncoming lane. I have told all of my friends about it, because they all ride a little crazy. . . hopefully some of them will at least think about it. . . Tom is down in NC w/ his bike right now, bragging about doing 2nd gear wheelies at 100mph. . . so happy that his bike is twice as fast at sea level. Any more hints about getting him to simmer down on the street? Also, thanks again for the ride. After 29 yrs of livin' it up & doing every extreme sport there is, from backcountry air on the skis & sleds, to jumping out of planes & getting my pilots license, none of it compared to that ride w/ you! Sincerely, May
27th, 2004 This was the third school I’ve taken from
you and it was the best yet. I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the STAR school at Second Creek Raceway this past Tuesday. This was the third school I’ve taken from you and it was the best yet. I continue to make progress on the track as a result of your expert tutoring. I was especially pleased to have Dean Mizdal help me properly set the suspension on my bike. Every member of your crew was helpful and cheerful. Please let all your sponsors know how valuable your students believe STAR school is to the motorcycling community. My only wish is that you would come to Colorado more often! Sincerely, P.S. Best of luck during the remainder of your AMA racing season. May
26, 2004 "Second Creek" I just finished the class at 2nd creek and I have to say that it was possibly the best spent money and time I can remember. My very first time on the track - after 36 years of riding. I know my bike and myself so much better. Everybody was great - the one on ones were brief, to the point and incredibly helpful. The class time really set up the track time so I wasn't just "riding around". My ZRX and the tight course were perhaps not the best match - it was 1st and second gear - but in a way it just enhanced the learning experience. Getting that sucker in 1st at the end of the straight was an experience - and your talks on feathering the clutch made it work. I will say too, that, though I didn't buy them at the track, I bought a set of D208's just before the class, in part because of your web-site. Yeah and they were great, too. Only problem with the course? I was the only Kawasaki rider there! Take care,
keep the rubber side down and I will definitely see you at
another course!
Tyler and I had a lot of fun at the school and enjoyed riding with you. At the CMRA race at Hallett Tyler and I won the lightweight class in the 5 hour big bike endurance on the motard by 3 laps and got 12th overall in a 48 bike field. We were very excited. Tyler beat me pretty bad in the 85 class. Then on Sunday we rode the 125’s. I won the first one which was formula 2, me and Tyler we hooked up for the first few laps but then I got a sv650 between us and got away. I got 2nd place in that race and was gaining on a sv650 but the checkered came to soon. I got down to a 1.24.5 in that race, which was my fastest lap on that track. Then in the next race (heavy weight twins) I started to run with the sv 1000’s and Ducati 999’s but decided to just practice lines brakes points and conserve tires for the 125 gp race, but Tyler’s bike lost a barring and lost power. So in the 125 gp race he rode my TZ 125, and I took the lead going into turn two on the brakes from Daniel Browning, I led from there on, I got first over all and beat Eric Fault on a SV650 and Craig Montgomery on an SV 650. I think Tyler and I are going to try and go to as many of your schools as possible all over the country, we are gonna try to go to some of the USGPRU races and to some other 125 races, we are off for Summer and are gonna hit the rode in the van with the bikes. Hope to see you again soon. Thanks For your help on the track. Will Gruy April
22, 2004 "Renaming STAR Motorcycle School" After completing my two day STAR school with you at the Streets of Willow Springs, I find myself back at work, but compelled to write you before focusing my attention back to our artists and their upcoming album releases. First and foremost your staff was first class. From my introductory conversation with Sheila booking the school, thru the 6 (yes 6) individual on-track coaching sessions with Mark, Dean, Chris and Buzz... Everyone of these professionals had the gift of being able to share their specialized, scientific skill sets in very understandable and consistently obtainable riding techniques. Everything from Body Positioning, Throttle Control, Lean Angle Management, Braking, Downshifting and overall Track Strategy, was not only discussed in the classroom, but reinforced and practiced throughout the day until managing the 16 turn track felt like 2nd nature. Bike Suspension, Brake, Tire and Safety Equipment instruction helped to demystify what makes for a compliant, well sorted fast and most importantly, safe motorcycling experience. I never expected you or the instructors to show as much attention to each and every student... While still allowing us the freedom to experiment with all the classroom concepts, in a race track environment. I have been riding for less than a year and had only been to Streets of Willow once prior to your school. The demonstration sessions and strategies discussed over the two days broke the technical track down into 4 much more manageable components. When I ride now, I will absolutely remember that the fastest way around the track is to not merely jam my knee into the pavement and scramble for the throttle.... But to set my exit speeds so that I nail the entry points for the upcoming segments. Moving from the Street Group to the Advanced Group gave me a wonderful opportunity to ride with fellow students, who also happen to race Canadian Superbikes, 10x Motocross Champion Jeremy McGrath and AMA racers JJ Roeitlin and Corey Eaton... Man what an amazing experience to see your techniques put into motion by these pros. Well it seems that this little thank you note has gotten a little out of control. But, my enthusiasm for the sport has never been at this high of a level, as I feel that my eyes have been opened... Not only to my cbr600rr's capabilities, but to a new range of skills honed due to your selfless contribution of such a wealth of REAL MATERIAL! The only thing that could have made my 2 days at Star any better would have been one of your infamous 2 up rides... I'll definitely be hitting you up for that during my next school. Overall... 5 STARS to you and your staff! Good luck with your recovery as I look forward to many podiums to come for you and yours. Always my best, Brian
Vosko March
19, 2004 "THANK YOU!" Thank you so much for an incredible, unforgettable weekend in Pahrump! I can't begin to express what a great time my son Travis and I had at STAR school. The experience began even before we got to Pahrump with Sheila's great kindness in helping us secure rental leathers for Travis. Then at registration, she came up and gave us a great big hug, making us feel very welcome. Pahrump was an amazing track - every kind of turn you could imagine.What a great place to learn to ride better.The first laps around the track Saturday morning Travis looked like mostnewbie riders - stiff straight arms, sitting upright, looking uncomfortable, etc. But throughout the weekend, with the help of some very helpful and patient instructors, his technique (and mine!) improved dramatically. On late Sunday afternoon, I followed him around the track for several laps and he looked like a MotoGP racer! Dragging his knees and footpeg feelers, passing everybody right and left, and with a smile that should last forever! I will enthusiastically recommend STAR to everyone, and have already done so on the internet (www.fireblades.org). Thanks for making Travis and me better riders, and for providing us memories of a lifetime of one of the most fun and exciting weekends a dad and his son ever had. Sincerely, March
18, 2004 "Thanks, Pahrump March 13,14" Just a
quick note of appreciation for the fine job all of you did
on the STAR course last weekend in Parump. The main thing I have to say, as a retired teacher and aircraft engineer, is how well designed and structured the class was. A school of this quality can only be created by someone on a higher mission. I spent over twenty years designing and teaching an engineering class on structural dynamic simulation at Northrup and Boeing and know how much commitment it takes to make a complex class effective. I was still making improvements on my class shortly before I retired. The teaching techniques used in STAR would make any professional educator proud. The world is full of knowledgeable people but few of them have the ability to communicate complex ideas and skills effectively. Jason has the gift, the dedication and the experience to make it happen as well as the ability to attract a talented likeminded crew. Looking forward to seeing you all again. I will be taking the school again sometime soon. Thanks
Again March
15, 2004 "3/13 Pahrump School" I learned a LOT from the school, and KUDOS to Steve the instructor for very early techniques! He was pointing out things on the track that we didn't cover in the school (yet!!) while on the track. Great communication while on track, but I was a little confused as to what he was doing some of the times.... covering some of the motions that the instructors do would have helped a bit if discussed the first classroom setting. I have one question, but I want to compliment on the style of teaching first. It started a little slow, but as things progressed, it all started to make sense. I've been riding since '89, and this is my first "track" event. I have over 100 hours of track time at Pahrump in a cager, so I guess that's why I thought things went slow at first, but once it all started to get faster, it was awesome! It even went SLOWER while trying things or being aware of things such as smooth inital braking and smooth release, and the shifting portion took a while to while to get down, but when I could get it down, and start downshifting earlier, the rewards were much greater! I see on page 3 there is a line about suspension setup. I really wanted to learn more about it, but I had enough to work on in the short day. I hear alot of myths, read up on the internet, etc etc.... but I forgot about that part. We never covered that part in class at all. Any tips you can give besides, adjust and see how it works? My bike did great on the track 03 R6 with almost stock settings, on street mich pilots. I'm a bit worried because I'm a mm away from rolling over the front tire. I've never seen this before, but I guess you could say that I'm using ALL the tools ;) I'm also an officer for Sin City Sportbikes (sincitysportbikes.com, drop in and say hi to the local Vegas group of responsible riders!!), and we had a total of 4 members at the class, 2 for sat, 2 for the whole weekend! We do track days with socaltrackdays.com, and this really got me hooked on advanced riding techniques, and I'm hooked on track days after this class! Thanks again for putting together a school that I will never forget, and I hope to make it back out in November! Thanks,
I just wanted to say thanks again for the chance to ride this past weekend at Pahrump. First I would like to say that being a guest at a few of your schools, have made the dreams of ever being able to ride the bike I'm riding (GSX-R 1000... Thanks to Corey Neuer) and riding a track I seriously only dreamed about ( Laguna Seca ) come true, I can't even begin to tell you on how I love motorcycles, I was lucky enough to race for a couple of years in the early 90's, due to kids ( witch I do love more than motorcycles.... but thats about it) haa haa I had to put a stop to the racing, I had to think of braces for teeth....not braces for forks :) I never thought I would ever be able to step foot on a track again, but wrenching for Corey and Richey on the Moto TT stuff was damn near as good as being out there, kinda living through them, being out at the tracks, gettinn my hands dirty, it was all great, O.K. I'm kinda getting off track here, anyway, I don't know if you have any idea of how greatfull I am that I have been able to attend the schools I have, and to tell you the truth sometimes I feel a little awkward that I am getting all of these chances to sit in on classes that I could never afford, and I don't take for granted the fact that you are willing to hand me so many tools to help my riding, Lick is just AMAZING in the class ( I know he rails the track as well ) but he is just AWESOME in the classes, he makes you understand the reasons why we are doing what we are doing, not that we are correcting them overnight, but I am constantly thinking of things he points out, many, many weeks and months after the schools are over, the first real school I went to was the last Pahrump of last year, and I remember so many things that stuck in my head, mostly being the clutch release, and down shifting, these two tools have helped and haunted me ever since then, now when I'm at races I'm like..."did you hear that downshift.." "sounds like my 4 year old shifting" LOL... So I do listen, and I take learning what you guys are willing to teach me very seriously, even though I am a guest. I also think of Mark for many days after the schools as well, being in construction, I get to walk up and down stairs alot, and being that Mark scares me, I make a very, very strong point of staying off my seat, which helps my riding sooooooo much, but my legs have the last laugh, for many days later, and I have taken it to the next " Baby Chick" level, when I ride, I think of a baby chick being under my ass, and not wanting to hurt the little guy, I stay off my seat.... not to say that by days ends, the little chick is probly a bit flatter than he started out as... but its a start :) I have talked to many guys after the days are done, and all are glad that they came, all have learned something, all will most likely ride better thanks to your schools, and hope to return. Jason is so damn good in the class rooms as well, I can tell that alot of these guys paying good money to be at your schools are usually A) scared B) nervous C) confussed... But Jason has such a great way of crackinn jokes and really loosening up the tention that these guys create for themselves, makining it soooo much easier for them to relax and learn. While Mark for some reason still scares me, the demo that he and Lick do in the class really makes guys see that most if not all of us have been using the wrong body parts to move the bike around, and having some of the students try this with Mark really opens there eyes ( as it did mine) as to how little pressure we need on the bars. The instructors are the coolest bunch of guys there is, no doubt !!!!! For the most part, I think most students look up to these guys with so much respect..... These guys go out of there way to ride behind you, in front of you and then stop you to point out how great you are riding, but could make little corrections to help things feel much easier or more comfortable while riding, so we don't have to change our underwear so many times in a day..LOL..... I am trying to find a good stoping point here as I could go on and on about how greatful I am to have the opportunities to attend your schools, but I'm sure at some point you guys are going to be like..." Damn, does this dude ever stop typing???"....LOL.... While I would love to ride at as many of the schools on the west coast as I could, I always feel bad about asking Richey or Jason if it is O.K. if I show up, I want to earn the right to ride at your schools, BUT.. I cannot afford the tuition ( not that I'm saying you guys are expensive :) but I am raising my two awesome kids myself for the most part, and I cannot justify spending the money for a school when I need to be buying clothes for school...get it...Haa haa.. Riding is so important to me, I don't care what it takes to ride, for instance, on Sunday, my rear tire was so shot, it would be unsafe to ride it, so I got a tire from Lincon that he was going to throw away, some old street compound dunlop 207 ( Yeah, I have been spoiled by the 208 G.P. take offs) but we slaped that thing on there and I got to ride the whole day on it, and it actually worked really well, I was just so stoked being out there working on the things I want to learn. So I think I am somehow INDIRECTLY asking Mark if there is a job that I could do for the school either at the tracks or at the shop to where I could feel like I am doing something to help the school and in return I get to do something that I could not do any other way and that is to do what I love the most and that is to RIDE !!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to all of you again !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eric Nugent a.k.a. E-money (as in I never have any....LOL....) |
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