Anyone done a racing school?

[STunRunner]

Had the thought as I looked at a nearby raceway which has an association for motorcycle racing with monthly race weekends through the summer. They have a beginners-school with classroom and track time. It's a 3-mile track with what I imagine would be some fun twists.
http://www.brainerdraceway.com/road/layout.html
In the Q&A of the beginner-school it does say :: "What kind of motorcycle do I need to race? Any kind of motorcycle will do..bikes with little/no modification up to those mods for racing only"
Just a daydream right now. Would a ST hold her own with beginners or would the street bikes eat it alive?

[drrod]

I am about to find out about the ST's ability at a race school. I have signed up for one in May. I have no aspirations to race but my experience and training in car racing has saved me several times on the road. I figure that the race school will allow me to learn a lot more about the ST's ability in a controlled environment which should make me a better rider.
I am not sure what to do to the ST for the track day other than remove the bags, make sure the tire pressures are at least at 42 (or should they be higher), and crank the suspension up. Anybody else have any suggestions.
I will let you know how it goes.
Rod

[RTETR]

I've never done a racing school on an ST however I have twice driven a Pan European/ST1300 on the German Nurburgring. (http://www.nuerburgring.de/home/index.html?L=1) (11min 47sec. top speed of 232kms)

Best 15 Euro ever spent! Also likely the most risky thing I've ever done.

[EagleSix]

Hi Stun,

I didn’t get my ST13 on the track, but have been on the track riding a race/school prepared bike. However, I see no reason why your ST will not keep up on the track at the beginner level. If you get the bug to race then there are hundred of other better suited bikes for racing which will make you more competitive. In addition, racing is hard on bikes and I wouldn’t think subjecting a perfect Sport Tourer to repeated grinding of the track to be the best use of the ST. On the other hand if you approach the track as a training environment, I think you will find many benefits to occasionally cranking the ST through the beginner level.

Recently Clair and Raven attended a track day in Utah along with some other ST pilots (see their report, I’m sure they will also contribute to your post) and without even being there, I can tell by their comments they and their STeed did well.

Ask questions, pay attention, follow the instructions of your coaches, start slow and progress at your own pace and I bet by the end of the day you are not only a better, safer, more confident rider, you will have gone faster than you ever imagined you could.

But beware….there is a huge FUN factor associated with participating in a track day and it can be addictive. If I still had my ST I would get it on the track maybe once a year.

.

[Raven]

DON'T DO IT!!!!!

You'll become addicted! :D


+1 on doing a track day. Your ST will be fine at the beginner level and it's tons of fun to improve your skills and test your limits.

Depending on the track, you'll probably have to tape your lenses and mirrors and you may have to change out your anti-freeze to something less slick. The track folks will let you know for sure what you need to do for prep. (Fortunately, the recent day in Utah didn't require us to tape or drain which was very convenient. After doing a search regarding other track days and classes, most do require the taping and draining.) Obviously you also need to have tires and brakes in good shape as well as nothing falling off your bike.

Be warned.... you'll be addicted but it's definitely worth doing!

[UNTMatt]

Make sure you get setup with a good outfit. There are a couple of them around here, one of them isn't 'safe' and I would not even consider taking their course.

Listen well to those that tell you it's addictive. It can also be expensive. I know some guys/gals that do 5+ track days a year at the tune of $150 per day. Not to mention, it can be hard on your tires and brakes. Get good enough and you can probably get to a level III on the ST...maybe even level IV. It's in the rider not necessarily the bike and I've seen less capable bikes in level IV classes...the riders were just that good.

I want to do some track days but we just cannot afford it right now.

[fastflyer20]

I attended Reg Pridmore's school years ago on a RZ350. There were a ton of BMW's as you might expect as Reg caters to them. Lets just say that there was not a BMW that could stay close to the RZ350 (size is not always important, so my wife tells me) BUT the other folks learned a ton and had lots of fun. My advise is to have the proper perspective and don't ride over your head.

[Fred]

Did Reg Pridmores CLASS at willow springs 4 months ago. I was in the upper third of the pack which included every crotch rocket you can think of and 1 BMW RS. Reg kept referring to the old man on the big bike passing everyone. I had an advantage, I had done one of his classes before so I had the basics and he owns a ST1300 so he gave a few pointers. Go for it. I think the big issue with the ST on the track is dragging pegs and lower fairing. Get your body weight aggressively shifted at the right time and this problem goes away. On a small track the huge flat torque curve is wonderful. I could do the entire in just 2 gears.

[Killtimer]

Did the Fast Riding School (http://www.fastridingschool.com/english/index.html) on a ST1100 years ago. Second best thing I ever did. :D A good school is a must as has been mentioned. Do it.

[John Anthony]

Maggie and I spent a day at Willow Springs Raceway last summer in a precision cornering class. Best time and best money spent. We both had a lot of fun. I say go for it!

John

[redst05]

Hi STunRunner
I live just south of BIR about an hour. I might be interested in a track day with the ST. Let me know if you do something like this.
Its always good to hone in your riding skills on a closed environment. Knowing your limits and what your bike can do on the track can help keep you stay alive on the street

[dduelin]

I did a Sport Touring School ne track day last October and had a great time. We had three levels. I was in 2 group and was marking 1 group times by the end of the second of four sessions. I believe a track day to be a good experience to explore the performance envelope of a street bike in a safe controlled environment. I did it with primarily BMW's and it was great to smoke them. Believe me, the ST can more than hold it's own in novice and intermediate groups and won't be embarrassed in expert with a decent pilot. It's not a 600cc repli racer but it is easy to ride fast. You'll learn to lean off the inside to help peg and lower shroud clearance.

I removed my bags, pulled the fuse for the headlight, taped all lights and the mirrors, and ran the tire pressures recommended by track staff (28/30F and 30R). Turn up the shock preload and close to full rebound damping.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n291/dduelin/DSC_1641.jpg

[Highrider]

Be aware that most of those classes require fresh tires on your bike, they watch the safety issues very closely. I took Reg Pridmores class last year at Road America in a hard rain all day, that was my 3rd year in his class and one of the best classes I ever took. I learned a lot about riding in the wet and the limits of my bike.

[pdfruth]

Not yet.. but I'm doing Jason Pridmore's 2 day Skills and Techniques for Advanced Riding Motorcycle School (http://www.starmotorcycle.com/about.htm) class in Pueblo next month.

Would the ST13 hold it's own? I think the sport bikes have the definate advantage on the track. But then that's what they were built for. I ride both. The ST13 is a very capable ride. I think it would do just fine on the track.

I'll be taking the RC51 :D

[dduelin]

I guess this day doesn't really count - it wasn't a track day - but I did get to ride my ST several laps.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n291/dduelin/100_6222.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n291/dduelin/100_6223.jpg

[blatherskyte]

I guess this day doesn't really count - it wasn't a track day - but I did get to ride my ST several laps.

Man those are great pictures!

Bloodworth BMW (http://www.bloodmotor.com/) here in Nashville, TN is sponsoring a track day at the at the Speedway on April 21 & 22. The cost is $135/day or $255 for both days.

I'm sure if I went I'd be addicted to it.

[STunRunner]

I guess this day doesn't really count - it wasn't a track day - but I did get to ride my ST several laps.
Sweet mother! You got to drive on Daytona??! So cool. What was the event you could do that? Heck, even the track tour, they don't slow the cart enough that a guy can even step foot on the asphalt.
Did you get up on 'the high banks'?

[dduelin]

Sweet mother! You got to drive on Daytona??! So cool. What was the event you could do that? Heck, even the track tour, they don't slow the cart enough that a guy can even step foot on the asphalt.
Did you get up on 'the high banks'?

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18164

[Phil]

Had the thought as I looked at a nearby raceway which has an association for motorcycle racing with monthly race weekends through the summer. They have a beginners-school with classroom and track time. It's a 3-mile track with what I imagine would be some fun twists.
http://www.brainerdraceway.com/road/layout.html
In the Q&A of the beginner-school it does say :: "What kind of motorcycle do I need to race? Any kind of motorcycle will do..bikes with little/no modification up to those mods for racing only"
Just a daydream right now. Would a ST hold her own with beginners or would the street bikes eat it alive?

My Reply is kind of late but...

I say go for your race license. It will be some serious fun, even if you cross the line LAST every time.

As far as your questions:
You need a bike that doesnt leak, and wont blow up to race. Get an old Ninja 250 or SV 650. All you need is a belly pan and some safety wire to get by tech in most orgs.

Beginner against beginner (for the most part), you are going to get smoked on the ST. Maybe if you were racing a pack of Ninja 250's you'd have a chance, but even a rider of lesser skill than you on something like an SV 650, R6, or *gasp* liter bike will gain so much time on you in the straights and coming off the turns you won't see them after a few laps. That said......who cares! Go out and have fun :D

[gerrys]

I did Keith Code's school a couple of years ago (see my avatar). I would have taken my VFR, but had to dump the antifreeze, tape the lights and safety wire a bunch of stuff. So, I used his 600 Ninja. It cost $600 with the bike, and was great fun. The Ninja could handle just about everything in 4th gear. Some guys scraped their knee pucks, but I was there to learn, not to be the fastest guy in the class.:biker:

[Clark]

I've also done Code's school. (California Superbike School, it's called) It's a tightly focused day with classroom and track sessions interspersed throughout the day. Each session is focused on a specific bike handling skill. Subsequent sessions build on the previous ones. I'd been riding for 20 years when I took his class and wasn't sure if I would get anything out of his "level 1" class. Plenty, it turned out. My riding improved more in 8 hours than it had in the previous 5 or 10 years.

If you take his class, or one similar to it, and go out and practice what you learn, you will be both faster and SAFER at any speed. The difference is really incredible.

[jtormo]

I have done several track days with my ST1100, in California and in Texas. You can certainly run well with the novice or intermediate groups, but you will probably get smoked by the experts riding 250/500cc 2-strokes, Aprilia Milles, Duc 999/999's, or liter 4's.

I had a blast every time, got better every time I went out, and then had the pleasure of riding my ST back home at the end of the day, while most of the others rolled their bikes onto trailers or cargo vans.

You will likely change out your coolant for water + water wetter, you will put on fresh tires (Z6 or Avon street tires are just fine), you will drop the tire pressure to mid-20#'s, and you will wear good leathers (or an Aerostich suit may be acceptable for some groups). You will pull off the mirrors, tape up the headlight, and disconnect the front, rear, and turn lights. Most of the prep can be done by your local race-oriented dealer or non-dealer, and the last minute stuff really only takes 10-20 min at the start of the race day.

I doubt that I'd really want to RACE my ST - it's not the most appropriate tool for that task unless you have aninteresting class grouping with BMW's and other sport-touring rigs. Usually, the ST gets lumped in with 1000-1300 cc superbikes becuase it has 4 cylinders, not a twin. The power/weight is all wrong for winning a typical road race. An endurance race might be more fun - the ST has great ergos for a long race at high speed.