DrHall

Penguin Racing School Basic Roadracing Course Review.


If you have been inspired to get involved in club level roadracing you may be wondering where to get the training and testing necessary to receive your race license. One avenue is to attend a specific school to fill these requirements, and give you the tools to start your racing experience.

Penguin Racing School is advertised as the oldest such school in the country being founded in 1973 by Jerry Wood and Joe Ziegler. They have been giving potential racers their first taste of race track procedure, safety and technique ever since. The school uses New Hampshire National Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire, Jennings GP racetrack in Jennings, FL, and Homestead Miami Speedway in Homestead, FL to host it's events.

Pre-registration can be done online or by phone, and seemed to go smoothly for most of the people in my class. After arriving at the track (I attended the school at Homestead), you sign in at a registration desk, get your armband, and proceed on to tech inspection. Tech for the school is similar to that of a trackday with most organizations. Tape off the lights and mirrors, no leaks, tires, brakes and chain in good condition. Safety wiring was not required. Oh, and don't forget the gear! You will need a Snell certified helmet, leather suit, boots and gloves. For additional fees Penguin has track bikes, and all gear available for rental.

After tech, the riders go off to their respective classes. Penguin also offers schooling for more experienced racers looking to improve their race results. The basic course classroom section is lead by Jerry Wood himself. With four decades of racing experience and a no-nonsense style, Jerry delivers essential info on race procedures, protocol, and etiquette. He is colorful and entertaining while relating rules and tips that will make you a better rider and racer, and just may save your life!

A workbook / manual is included with the class full of valuable information. Jerry doesn't go through all the details in it, but does talk about some basic bike set up and gear selection. He goes pretty indepth on the track layout, racing line and reference points. Each student receives a track map with the suggested line shown. Throttle control, braking technique, and looking at the right things are covered in detail. Jerry also spends quite a bit of time on how to handle the situation if you do crash. Complete with stories of some of the bonehead maneuvers he has witnessed in his career on the track. That was almost worth the price of admission in it's self!

Classroom time is concluded with a written test about what was covered, and then off to lunch. After lunch it's time to get into the gear and out onto the track! The first two sessions are strictly follow the leader, with the leader being a Penguin instructor or local expert racer. In the second session riders rotate from the first position to the back of the pack on each lap to give everyone a chance to follow the instructor. After these sessions we met up (with gear still on) in the class room again to go over what was experienced on the track and talk about any questions or concerns. And then right back to the track.

The next couple sessions started as a follow the leader till the tires were warm, then we were released to lap on our own under the watchful eyes of the on track instructors. If a rider was having issues, or wanted personal instruction, Jerry or one of the other instructors would work with them one on one. Very cool!

At the end of the day we meet in the classroom again to receive our test results, and race license certificates. Jerry went over key points of the day and answered questions till well after closing time. All that remained to receive the actual license was to sign up with the racing organization, pay the fee, and enter a race. The Penguin people helped facilitate that too, and were around the following day at practice to answer questions again.

The only negative I have is that we didn't have a rookie, or mock race. May not be able to at this venue, there was a big event going on. It wasn't something I would consider essential but it would have helped to prep for the races on Sunday.

All in all a lot of great information and track time was packed into a small amount of time for a very reasonable fee. I thought they did a great job, and will be attending an advanced school in the future!

Contact them for scheduling, prices, and availability. The Oldest Motorcycle Roadracing School in the Country! - Penguin Roadracing School

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the percentage you're paying is too high priced-you're living beyond all your means, and the man in the suit has just bought a new car with the profit he's made on your dreams....

CBR929RE

just about spot on to my experience last October. Only difference was I didn't get Jerry doing the beginner classroom stuff but it was the same stuff with probably just different stories. He did come flying around when we stopped up on the banking to watch lines. And up here there was a rookie race although I didn't do it because I had to work that weekend.

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if you can't fix it with duct tape, you haven't used enough.