FrenchieR6

This past Monday and Tuesday, I went to Gingerman and did Jason Pridmore’s Star School and had an absolute blast (when don’t I have a blast right LOL)

We started the first day with Jason doing an introduction which the guy is pretty lay back and great sense of humor, and cute LOL

We then got split in two group, street rider and advance/racers. Each group was on the track for 20 minutes at the time. While one group was on the track, the other group would go in the classroom so we could talk about the school lessons which, like most school, we talked about concentration, relaxation, breathing, visual skills, cornering lines, steering, shifting, braking, body position, etc…

During my first morning sessions, I was a little lost. I mean, I over pressured myself to try on changing everything all at once… WRONG IDEA! We all know that trying doing everything all at once you will end up working on nothing. I went to see Jason and told him I felt like crap on the track and needed to know what I was doing so wrong LOL

We started to work on my cornering…People that ride/race with me will tell you that one of the reason I am like 4 to 6 seconds slower (example from Beaverun) is because I take the outside line and get pass on the inside ALL THE TIME. I worked my butt off on that with Star School and all I can say is I may get that extra 4 seconds if I keep getting in to my head that I can do it better then you LOL (not arrogant, just was told by Jason during the class that if you put in your mind that you CAN do it, then you will so here I am staying positive)

Then came another issue of mine… my body position was way outside of the bike which not needed and took more for me to move my body from one side of the bike to the other causing me to get tired early in a race or even track day, and giving me less lean angle. So, again, after I got the cornering under control (so I wouldn’t so much have to think about it), I started to work on my body position which I feel so much better now. I feel less pressure on my knees and I allow my bike to do what she can do. TRUSTING :

Then came the third thing that I am totally digging…using downshifting to my advantage. This is going to be hard for me to explain. Basically, instead of blipping while downshifting and instead to put your clutch all the way in, you basically bring it in half way in (if you sit on your bike right now and put her in first gear and slowly let go of the clutch, you will notice that it will allow the bike to roll out when the clutch is at least a ¼ out so why wasting your time going all the way in?), and release the clutch slowly. Almost like trail breaking with your clutch… I love it. I practice that all day on the second day of the school and I am hook. I did a 2UP with Jason (you know me and 2UP) and the man is SMOOTH with the clutch.

There is so much more I like to say but I suck at writing and I am more one that rather talk about things face to face so I can totally get excited LOL


Will I do Star School again…? Heck yeah and it’s already on my 2009 list.

Here’s couple picture of me. Like most of us, I am better on my left turn then my right (something to do with your arm and the throttle)

V~

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HondaGalToo

Nice write-up! I've been wanting to do STAR school. I was signed up at VIR several years ago, but VIR canceled them. The only place he has school around here is NHIS, which I'm not all that fond of. I'm hoping he can get some dates next year at NJMP.

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FrenchieR6

Thanks.

I am not a fan of Gingerman...I hate that seal in the middle but thought me to take that out of my head and concentrate on the things that were important. Now, I can't wait to go back in 2 weeks to show Brent and Eric at A2A

__________________
Fear and Distraction are the enemies of presence, and concentration is the cure.

http://befit4riding.com/

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http://www.americanpowersport.com/

Baketech

Good post Frenchie...

I agree, STAR is a great school, highly recommended for anyone seeking instruction for either road or track....

Also agree about the 2-up thing, it's a don't miss opportunity, especially for new riders...

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DrHall

Nice write up, V!

Sounds like you learned a lot and got more comfortable on the track, very cool!!!

Can't wait to hear more of your progress!

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bwhip

Glad to hear you had a good time, learned a lot, and boosted your confidence!

I also highly recommend STAR school, and yes, the two-up ride with JP is a must!

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BobcatSig

It's been said, but STAR absolutely transformed my riding. The instructors are world class and Jason is one hell of a nice guy. And to reiterate, the 2up ride should required for that school. The things I learned while just on those two laps are something you just can't teach in class room setting.

If anyone that reads this and is deciding on whether or not to go, I HIGHLY recommend it.

FrenchieR6

I SOOOOOOOOO agree with you

__________________
Fear and Distraction are the enemies of presence, and concentration is the cure.

http://befit4riding.com/

http://www.apex2apex.net/

http://www.americanpowersport.com/

BobcatSig

I'm glad you had a great experience. Sounds like you struggled with the same things that I did. The key now will be to take those skills learned and continue to build upon them. I did and it sent my riding through the roof!

Keep us posted with your racing progress!

RedRider

Glad you enjoyed it, V! Jason learned at the knee of the master...his dad, Reg. Reg's CLASS school is the same format only Jason's STAR school is more intermediate/advanced oriented. Both programs offer excellent instruction.

HondaGalToo

I sent them an email asking if they'd consider having STAR at the new NJMP facility in '09

__________________
“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.”
~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

luvtolean

Interestingly, they were estranged when I took classes from both.

I'd agree CLASS is a bit more formal and street oriented, STAR is a bit more for the go fast whack-pack (or wannabe) types.

Reg passed me in the dirt outside T3 at Laguna, with a student on back, once. I thought I'd get it in class after the session. I was on cold tires so working the edge of the track only, he laughed and said he was waiting for me to dive to the inside of the corner. I was staring at my shoes waiting for it and he then said "don't worry, plenty of room out there, the guy on back was a bit excited though".

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FrenchieR6

During my 2UP with Jason, he kept doing weelies every time we got on one of the straights. I was loving it. Before going on the back, I told him " I ain't scared so go at it". I also told him that my 2UP with Steve Rapp was awesome last year so that gave him something to think about LOL .... It worked cause my 2 up was top knotch

__________________
Fear and Distraction are the enemies of presence, and concentration is the cure.

http://befit4riding.com/

http://www.apex2apex.net/

http://www.americanpowersport.com/

Baketech

Funny...that's the same thing I said when I went 2-up with Morgan Fairchild...yeah, that's it...

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"Ten times more charming than that Arnold on Green Acres..."

FrenchieR6

hahaha That came to mind more then once during 2UP and off ...

__________________
Fear and Distraction are the enemies of presence, and concentration is the cure.

http://befit4riding.com/

http://www.apex2apex.net/

http://www.americanpowersport.com/

slickwill

Someday I hope to report on my two-up with Jason Pridmore. Maybe for a graduation present.

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Baketech

And they say all men are pigs...

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BobcatSig

As your attorney, I highly advise that course of action.

FrenchieR6

You have to remember that I've been hanging out at the track for 3 years now... I learn from the best

__________________
Fear and Distraction are the enemies of presence, and concentration is the cure.

http://befit4riding.com/

http://www.apex2apex.net/

http://www.americanpowersport.com/

gt702

Apparently, Reg had taken exception to Jason's "playing by the new rules" and backing it in where needed to protect his line. Reg is a purist, there is only one way ... his.

But Jason did learn at his hand for both his riding and his school. Jason is much more oriented to those who want to go fast on the track, not just learn good basic riding skills.

In both of my rides with Jason, first on a '94 VFR (which I was also riding at the time at CLASS) and second on a Kat 750, I learned a lot. Jason was definitely more agressive in his school with the pegs on the ground HARD in every corner. And much like Slick did going two-up with BWhip, learned that the bike I had has much more potential than I previously gave it credit for.

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bwhip

I rode with JP on the back of his GSXR1000 at Pahrump in Nevada. Now that was a ride! Wheelies on the straight, just strafing all the students and instructors. I thought for sure I was gonna drag a knee from the pillion position. Awesome, and very instructive.

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luvtolean

I refused to go on back with Pridmore.

To be fair, he'd crashed with a student on the back the day before my first school with them...I figured I could fall off on my own if I felt the need.

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The facility and excess of law-making seem to be the diseases to which are governments are most liable.- James Madison

FrenchieR6

PUSS

__________________
Fear and Distraction are the enemies of presence, and concentration is the cure.

http://befit4riding.com/

http://www.apex2apex.net/