Report SBC Track Day at Thunderhill West Raceway on 8/5/2017

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Another track day by Superbike-Coach has been done last Saturday.

I personally have mixed feelings- while my crew reports clearly positive experiences from our participants. Six minor crashes and one more serious, is not what makes me happy, but things like this happen and we are still way beyond average vs other organizer statistics. There were some incidences on the track violating our rules, but it has been sorted out. There is always someone who tries to make things look bad and swims against the river. All we can do is to help to solve problems.

First off… the serious crash after lunch break on turn one was David Cardinal, and besides a broken leg he is totally fine. I’m talking to him since then and he impressed me with his unbroken spirit: “When is your next track day Coach?!”

David’s right handle bar came loose while he was braking into turn 2. Scary, isn’t it?! Naturally a rider grabs even more when the lever goes away… uncontrolled and in panic. That caused the bike to flip him front over. Here is what his video camera could caught: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ttdkaf4iysuclqf/Thunderhill.mp4?dl=0. We’ve seen the bike later and could confirm the loose center bolt which suppose to hold the bar in the clamp. You’re some tough kid David!

It always surprises me that some riders are still thinking that doing a track day fixes their riding problems, which is why I’ve made this article back in February “Does a Track Day make you to a better rider?!” Again- it does not. It actually add’s problems, especially when you are the first time on a race track ever. A track day is for the love of the fun. To expect wonders just for riding some laps with an instructor is more or less naive. Go to a solid cornering school. Do I know one?… yea, my Cornering School which I also run on a track… no parking lot non-sense. Next class is on coming Saturday. You think you are ‘to good for this”?!… then you might check on you ego first.

Thanks to my team! I can’t be more proud of all of you guys. Next SBC BBQ is coming up! Love you guys.

Superbike-Coach photographer Dean Lonskey could pick some featured pictures before he has thousands of rock solid pics uploaded to our server. As promised… all for nada… free…

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1st Cornering School Day 4 Graduates

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30 students graduated in our 1st ever Cornering School Day 4 class last Sunday, 7/23/2017. I can’t put in words how much all of these guys improved in many ways, which is why I try to let pictures speak for them selves:

Ryan G. became one of the faster students from almost nothing all the way up. His leaning angle says it all

 

Mark S. begun riding a couple of months ago!!!!

 

Ruben M. was breaking into turns with a slight lifted rear end, and not even got nervous

I’ve just finished Cornering School Day 4 – having done CSD 1 to 3 over the last 6 months, and I have to say it was the best investment in riding I could possibly make. Before CSD 1, I was looking to upgrade my bike and I know now just how much more I achieved by upgrading the rider – so not only is the class good value, but I have become a better, more confident and safer rider. We were the first group through the new CSD 4 class and without doubt, I can totally recommend it to any recent CSD3 graduates – even if you never intend to race. CSD1 to 3 gave us a toolkit of new skills, but CSD4 gave us a full day on track with coach’s guidance to put in all into practice, and then some. If nothing else, watching MotoGP takes on a completely new dimension when you’ve practiced some of those same core skills. Great atmosphere in class, great course content, perfect organization and most of all, top quality coaching. Highly recommended.

All featured pics are here ready for download. We at Superbike-Coach are going to miss everyone!

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach

Thunderhill Track Day 5/6/2017 Report

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I can’t say enough how proud I am for the Superbike-Coach team for another amazing track day we’ve pulled off on 5/6/2017. Reading my report might gives you an idea how passionate we are, to make riders feel in the right place. I think that Superbike-Coach is different is given and known already, but that we run a track day which is fully booked out- with 120 riders whom can’t be more diverse- on a challenging track like this- and end it with only three minor crashes… that proves it pretty well, doesn’t it?! But there is more…

Marion and Gary opened registration on time and had lots of laughs with the participants already. Our Tech-Inspection is done in an blink of an eye- not like the typical 30 minutes wait, and everyone was very cooperative to our requirements in this regard.

The mandatory riders meeting at 8:15am is more or less my reality-check on them, and i truly enjoyed their attention, which is good for a general safety awareness and respect. I could dismiss our B+ riders early so that they can prepare without stress for their first stint, while our C-group riders stayed to receive a track orientation.

Gary opened the gate punctual at 9am for 20 minutes sessions with B+, then B, and then C group which I lead out for a two laps sightseeing tour with my control riders Brian, Julie and Ben. Introducing entering and exiting the track is our priority, because showing ‘the line’ doesn’t make any sense at that point- but we’re on it anyway. We got this clean and quickly done, so that the C rider had plenty of time left to go out on their own again.

I started the ‘Ideal Line West Seminar’ at 12:30pm, so that everyone would have all afternoon sessions to work on it. I kept it short n’ sweet, but I do believe that my audience get a picture of that there is much more I would have for them. It was fun, and I enjoyed seeing lots of students again, as well as lots new faces- which i hope to also get to see at my Cornering School programs.

From there, I was out on the track to help and to have some fun myself on almost every session. My control riders Ben, Brian and Julie the same, and we all put lots of effort to keep an eye on rules- and track etiquette. Every violation or report (and that ain’t many), was issued and solved. Even the typical Superbike-Coach penalty for temporary brain failure came into force… doing pushups. Other than that- it couldn’t have been smoother, and those three minor crashes are reflecting it. I’ve been witness of 40 crashes in total at one track day of a other organizer ones btw…

Superbike-Coach photographer Dean Lonskey took 4500 pictures that day, and guess what… this is also something we’re different with… they are all coming for free! Dean picked some featured pictures first until he releases all of them for free download. I would appreciate a little tip for him to his PayPal (dlonskey33@gmail.com). Here is one shot :-)

Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp

 

Knee Down & Wheelie Course Report

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Can Akkaya Report, Knee Down & Wheelie Course last weekend

Knee Down class, 4/29/2017

Our 20 students were far away from where they wanted to be, and that showed in the warm up session. All kinds of bikes and rider levels need to be sorted first, and with this the track gets cleaner and more rubber to the asphalt at the same time. After that, we got into the classroom where it is all about body positioning, and how to do this responsibly but efficient for our goal… to drag knee.

The second session shows who still needs hands on, and since I let only 2-3 riders in my track oval- the personal attention is big. From the 3rd session on the knee pucks got grounded, and more and more students are finally got it done. Assistant Coach Brian Hunnicutt had to replace Superbike-Coach photographer Dean Lonskey, who couldn’t make it. He did a great job as his featured pics are demonstrating. In the end of the day, about 65% of the students got their knee down, by gaining safety and speed! We also got some feedback and get the waiting time down by half with the next knee down class on 8/13/2017

Wheelie Course, 4/30/2017

I barley couldn’t wait to tell my 30 students what surprise I would have for them… my self designed wheelie-machine! Yes… Superbike-Coach drove up some fat equipment with a goal… to make riders more successful, safer, and to make it even funner. Assistant Coach Julie Stargardter had a tough job to do, but she got rewarded every time she saw a face lighten up.

I lost my voice coaching 1on1 on the radio to students when Marion Akkaya put them on the seat of my AMA spec Supermotard with a mounted wheelie-bar which I designed (picture right, patent ongoing). Assistant Coach Brian Hunnicutt instructed them accordingly when the students applied what they’ve learned on their own bikes or our wheelie rental bike, which also has one of my wheelie bars mounted and comes with much more riding time as well.

Superbike-Coach’s newest member Ben McCrae kept the groups together accordingly to their schedules and station. That’s not quite easy and always goes a little bumpy in the beginning, but he got it down pretty decent and made sure that everyone gets water and snacks we bring out.

The action on our Mini-Bike couldn’t be more fun, and the way how we want our students make their wheelie attempts helps them tremendously before they are going back to their own bike- even if they don’t even realize it in the first place. But the throttle control and timing- not to forget to break fears, is what this is all about. Our motto… if you don’t break it… you’re not trying hard enough- and we’re fine with it!

Straight up… a 60% success rate and NO crashes- that shows we deliver. Yea, unfortunately not everyone makes it, but that’s the nature of ALL things in life, isn’t it?

Superbike-Coach photographer Dean Lonskey was back to shoot the wheelie course, and I must say that this here is my absolute favorite shot for now (all featured pics). I guess we get to see much more like this once he has them all on the server, ready for FREE download for all students.