CSS at Barber

[lawnchairboy]

holy cow, I'm tired... I even managed to be escorted off the track by someone more than a few of you know today... pictures will follow after I get home... WHAT A BLAST!

[russell_bynum]

Cool!

 

Barber's a great track.

[David]

holy cow, I'm tired... I even managed to be escorted off the track by someone more than a few of you know today... pictures will follow after I get home... WHAT A BLAST!

 

Well, when I saw no. 12 run off the track, even though it was somebody else's fault and not yours, our own rules mandate that I bring you in and turn you over to control so that they can get the details. I honestly didn't know it was you until you took your helmet off.

 

It was a great day today--I had four excellent students, the corner works were excellent, beautiful weather, fun track. Can't wait until tomorrow.

 

I actually was the first to come across THREE people who went off. None went down, though.

[lawnchairboy]

Many of you have heard this stuff before but others' impressions helped me decide to go to CSS so as I enjoy all the new muscles Misty was kind enough to help me find today on the track my impressions...

 

1) FUN. I had a great time.

2) a highly organized, well controlled, safe and track riding intensive program which included both on track and off track classroom instruction with a well organized curriculum.

3) mrs. code makes good eggs

4) My respect for pro riders increased by a factor of 20

5) I think that the great majority of the information has direct application to street riding,especially the level 2 "vision" stuff

6) ideal riding body position on the RT and on the ninja are just a little bit different

7) the coaches really have some stamina, I am pretty beat and they did twice the track time we did over two days... and they still have two more days to go. We got 13 track sessions in two days and missed one due to the weather.

8) every member of the school staff were pleasant and professional, even if they were telling you politely and instructively, that I ... err.... I mean that... One was being slightly bone-headed in some way or another.

9) Track control is outstanding, the coaches are very visible on the track and made it clear that bulls**t would not be tolerated.

10) drills and goals are constantly reinforced to keep you mentally on target.

11) I was quite surprised at how mentally and physically taxing it is to ride on the track. see numbers 4 and 7 above.

 

Misty, thanks; it sure was fun seeing you smoke the corners trying to teach me something!

 

$$$ and TIME well spent for most riders I would think. If you are considering this, do it, I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

I'm sure I'll be able to wipe the silly a** grin off my face when going through the airports tomorrow.

 

pictures to follow

 

chris

[StretchMark]

Glad you enjoyed it Chris! Sorry we missed you. Had a great day working the corners today.

[lawnchairboy]

I believe I saw you mark, grey stitch'? I was running around the barber bike warehouse on turn seven from about 1000 to noonish and saw some big tall dude in a grey stich on a GS with motolights bookin' it around the track and lookin' pretty decent doing it I might add... sorry to have missed you guys too.

[PhillyFlash]

I believe I saw you mark, grey stitch'? I was running around the barber bike warehouse on turn seven from about 1000 to noonish and saw some big tall dude in a grey stich on a GS with motolights bookin' it around the track and lookin' pretty decent doing it I might add... sorry to have missed you guys too.

 

You should see him bookin' around Torrey 2-up.

 

 

Glad you enjoyed CSS. I did three levels and thoroughly enjoyed them.

[lawnchairboy]

some pics:

 

looks like a whole lotta' green flavored fun

 

what have I gotten myself into?

turn 7

norton black night

a TON of bikes

one of those people looks familiar, the one who is easier on the eyes is Misti, who I was lucky to have coaching me, it was VERY humbling to watch her burn up the track.., the scary thing is that I bet the pace she was at was quite pedestrian for her...

 

the corner is turn seven, the shot was taken from the museum window.. it took me a long time to realize you really can carry a good deal of speed into that turn and hammer it outta there. Chalk that up to total inexperience...It is really interesting to step back and view the track from the outside like that after riding it a couple of days. What an incredible facility, it is worth a LONG ride just to see the museum.

 

DAYUM, that was some fun stuff. Now I'll be jonesing again until I have the time and funds to work those skills again in some way...

[Marek]

Last week I went to CSS at VIR and I have to say that I was a little disappointed. There was nothing wrong with the school or the coaches etc - but I think with all the hype about the school here I anticipated more. I'm not sure what I anticipated. I've to say that CSS's format or coaching wasn't any different, any better than what Aaron Stevenson of www.cornerspeed.net does at VIR for less money.

I had a great time - weather on both days was great, I've no regrets, and if I hadn't sold my SV I possibly would do level 3.

 

Mark

[90%angel]

4) My respect for pro riders increased by a factor of 20

 

Doesn't it though? We just did a track day at Pahrump this weekend, and it was HOT...conflicting reports have the weather anywhere from 97-103, so I only did about 30 laps the whole day. Then I think about the racers at Laguna last year, when the temp was 104, no breeze, and they did 28 laps all in a row at race pace!!!

 

9) Track control is outstanding, the coaches are very visible on the track and made it clear that bulls**t would not be tolerated.

 

I like Code's course control; best out there. This weekend, there were more than a few scary passes on me, making me miss Trevor and his crew!!

 

Misty, thanks; it sure was fun seeing you smoke the corners trying to teach me something!

 

Did you see Misti smoke the corners at Infineon last week? She was racing with the AMA boys in Supersport and doing a marvelous job of it!!! We missed seeing you at Road America this weekend, Misti, but I suppose you were having a good time at Barber with your OTHER cool job... [jealous]

[StretchMark]

Here are a few pics from our weekend. Working the corners gets you pretty close to the action, so I got some decent shots. I was fun to watch David at work. Christine (HoonTang)took Level 3. Ken Insley's (kinsley) Brynda took level 1. I'll let him post her pictures.

 

Here's one of a fellow corner worker/racer, DJ, chasing David through turn 3:

 

And there they go up the hill to turn 4:

 

And then waving a student by on the back stretch:

 

And a good perception of the elevation changes before the back straight:

 

Christine seemed to really enjoy Level 3. I thought she had a great day!

 

Here she is just before the front straight:

 

And just before the back straight:

...in Turn 3:

 

...and coming out of Turn 3:

 

...and finally passing 4 guys on the inside before taking the checkered

[russell_bynum]

...and finally passing 4 guys on the inside before taking the checkered

 

<podium>

Yes, for sure it was difficult day. In the begining I have some problem with de bike and we have to cover it with purple tape. But, my team work veddy veddy hard and this morning I knew I would be able to be fast. At the start, I have great battle with David, but he make a leetle mistake and run wide and I pass. Then I push veddy hard and is possible ween.

</podium>

 

[StretchMark]

 

I had the purple tape on my bike too...boy was that a mistake. My fellow corner workers were ruthless

[PhillyFlash]

...and finally passing 4 guys on the inside before taking the checkered

 

<podium>

Yes, for sure it was difficult day. In the begining I have some problem with de bike and we have to cover it with purple tape. But, my team work veddy veddy hard and this morning I knew I would be able to be fast. At the start, I have great battle with David, but he make a leetle mistake and run wide and I pass. Then I push veddy hard and is possible ween.

</podium>

 

 

 

[russell_bynum]

 

I had the purple tape on my bike too...boy was that a mistake. My fellow corner workers were ruthless

 

 

There's so much wrong with that:

 

1. GS on the track

2. You look like a praying mantis trying to ride a mosquito

3. Girly purple tape on the bike

 

[StretchMark]

..and on top of all that, the purple is the Low Tack Faux Tape, so needless to say, I kept spotting stips of purple tape all over the track

[russell_bynum]

..and on top of all that, the purple is the Low Tack Faux Tape, so needless to say, I kept spotting stips of purple tape all over the track

 

Oh the humanity.

[TN_R_Girl]

<podium>

Yes, for sure it was difficult day. In the begining I have some problem with de bike and we have to cover it with purple tape. But, my team work veddy veddy hard and this morning I knew I would be able to be fast. At the start, I have great battle with David, but he make a leetle mistake and run wide and I pass. Then I push veddy hard and is possible ween.

</podium>

 

[FlyingFinn]

I believe I saw you mark, grey stitch'? ...some big tall dude in a grey stich on a GS with motolights bookin' it around the track and lookin' pretty decent doing it I might add...

 

Must have been someone else.

 

--

Mikko

[David]

Christine looks darn good in those pictures! Misti told me that she did really well, too.

[russell_bynum]

I believe I saw you mark, grey stitch'? ...some big tall dude in a grey stich on a GS with motolights bookin' it around the track and lookin' pretty decent doing it I might add...

 

Must have been someone else.

 

--

Mikko

 

I don't care who you are, that's funny.

[lawnchairboy]

christine looks like she is really looking through the corners well, something I couldn't do consistently it seemed...

 

 

2. You look like a praying mantis trying to ride a mosquito

[StretchMark]

Quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I believe I saw you mark, grey stitch'? ...some big tall dude in a grey stich on a GS with motolights bookin' it around the track and lookin' pretty decent doing it I might add...

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

Must have been someone else.

 

--

 

Actually Mikko, you may be right I was only there Saturday and Sunday. Chris, were you there Saturday?

[Kenny Haynes]

Man that looks like fun. Great pics Mark. Way to go Christine.

[lawnchairboy]

I was... at the museum, looking at the bikes and watching turn seven and the back side of the circuit. I did thurs/friday level one/two and then delta back to the ranch saturday late afternoon. I didn't figure there was much chance of seeing anyone as I didn't get up til around 8 or so; I was totally whipped... figured you guys would already be in the corner flag spots... significantly more folks on the track sat/sun...

 

chris

[StretchMark]

I was... at the museum, looking at the bikes and watching turn seven and the back side of the circuit. I did thurs/friday level one/two and then went back to the ranch saturday late afternoon.

 

Well that settles it, it was definitely me and I was lookin' good

[lawnchairboy]

[HoonTang]

Russell, you will be interpreting all my post race commentary from now on LMAO!

 

I really got a lot out of Level 3 although the traffic jam I seem to be causing doesn't show it !! Misti is a phenomenal "riding coach" and I would go out of my way to get her again! The day flew by and the track was as usual, BEAUTIFUL! Still thrilled with my bike but will probably remove the mirrors and give up the non-stick purple tape to cut down on all that wind drag .

 

The only disappointment-no video of me for the video review portion of the class . Ken [Kinsley], Brynda was taped so you may want to contact the Code School to see if they still have it! [she was 3rd on the tape].

[Kinsley]

We were at the track at 7:00 and Brynda got through her morning jitters from being at a "race track" around all those guys in leathers on sportbikes by around 1:00 in the afternoon

I was a little dissapointed that she only had 14 miles on her odometer at 12:30 and 4 of those miles were "follow the leader" as she went onto the track for the first time. She was doing Level 1 and there is a Sunday mandatory "quiet time" from 11:00 til 12:00, but it felt like a very slow start. I think having anxiety for all those morning hours took alot out of her but she was much happier after her 2nd run as she learned the track. The last run of the day was not so smooth as many of the guys were trying to squeeze the last bit of adrenalin out of their systems and got a little too close for her comfort so she just cruised through. She ended up with 80 miles for the day and told me she would be interested in Level 2, so we'll be looking into future dates.

 

Having David, Mark and Christine there was comforting to her as well and we were fortunate that Mark had a shutter speed that was fast enough to capture her as she blew by.

 

 

 

[TN_R_Girl]

Christine looks darn good in those pictures! Misti told me that she did really well, too.

 

Woo Hoo! That's my riding partner for Unrally!!

 

Way to go Christine!!

[90%angel]

Good job, Christine!!

 

Misti is a phenomenal "riding coach" and I would go out of my way to get her again!

 

She is great. I had her as a level 4 liason once and she was very perceptive...picked up on what my ACTUAL problems were, from what I was SAYING my problems were. Improved big time!!

 

You look great out there! No fair that you and Shannon live so far away...I want to ride with you too!

[TN_R_Girl]

No fair that you and Shannon live so far away...I want to ride with you too!

 

Well come on then!! I'm guessing we could round up a ride for you if you could make the trip!

[Misti]

Hey,

 

I just found this post! Cool pictures in here and some nice comments to boot. Thanks for the kind words guys and it was awesome having you all come to the school. The reward of the job is seeing the students do well and smiling. Glad you had a good time! Barber is always a fun track to teach at, it's my favorite all around for the layout, pavement, scenery and facilities. Can't wait to go back. It was neat to see the photos too (from a students perspective).

 

Cherio!

Misti