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Women of action

April 28, 2017 By Carol Carpenter

Women of action – make your mark!

So many times we discuss women helping women, yet it is just about that, mere talk with no action. What many of us forget is that as an individual you can change the course of things, including what inspires and motivates you, whose life you can change and how you make an impact on the world. You may not be able to do it alone, but as a group you can make a difference. Using this very philosophy after being an instructor for many track day companies over the years and being the go between for customers and the organization, it was time to fix what I felt was broken. You get to see the good, bad and ugly of the rolling circus and after listening to customers and how they felt, I could understand their frustration and decided to venture off on my own. Believing I could make a difference even though it honestly scared the living heck out of me, being fortunate enough to be in the position of my sponsorship and relationships built over those years, it was time to tackle this endeavor full force. It has been a very quick education of how track days are run and how the passion for the sport I love is not a great business plan for financial gain. However, I love this sport, I love every aspect, nook and cranny of it…the fact that it feeds my soul and makes me feel alive and I believe you must do what you are passionate about.

When I decided to start doing track days I was fortunate enough to speak with Doreen Walmsley, owner of Ducati Richmond, who has been an avid supporter and sponsor from the beginning. She’s gone so far as to close her shop one of the days to come join our events. She not only sponsors our events, but she brings her employees to join in the fun as well as customers and yes we are talking about them driving from Canada to participate. It has been a great honor to have her on our team and attend our days. This is a prime example of a woman owned business owner helping another and allowing growth and exposure together. She has been paramount in our success and we are proud to have her on our team year after year.

When we asked Jason Pridmore to do event days with us (yes I’m aware he’s not a woman), the truth is I never imagined he’d agree to do anything with us. He surprised me, not just that he believed in our mission, but he was so open minded and believed together we could make these events truly special. When I say we are unlike any track day company, it is completely true. CC TrackEvents/MotoVixens a woman owned track day company and the only one that I am aware of in the PNW and maybe even on the west coast. We are also the only track company that does special events currently in the PNW (not just days called events, but events sponsors donate items for raffling off, is catered, is done on a special schedule, includes vendors, etc. to make it truly special) and hires a guest coach who is so sought after he doesn’t have the time to do many of these events. Jason Pridmore (only coaches our track events in the PNW) is currently the only coach on the west coast that has won multiple championships worldwide, coaches MotoAmerica racers and is the commentator for beIn Sports. JP has been an instructor since his teens and the thousands of people he’s instructed will tell you that he is the best coach/instructor around. To top it all off his ability to teach any level of rider is astonishing, probably why his Star Motorcycle School sells out all the time. His list of credentials only requires a google search and you will find an extensive resume of his accomplishments (he would kill me if he knew I was writing this). We are also the only track day company where our focus is on education and comfort level of the student above all and our low numbers offer the ability for our elite instructors to give you the most efficient use of track time and help you achieve your goals for the day. Caroline Olsen (here’s our amazing woman) and Benny Solis , current MotoAmerica racers and JP43 training proteges, come up and help and we couldn’t have asked for two more charismatic and kind individuals to be a part of our events. If you haven’t signed up spaces are going quickly and I know because Doreen booked quite a few for her crew already.

MotoVixens recently teamed up to sponsor Caroline Olsen (AKA Carro43 and Caroline Racing). It is rare to meet a woman in this industry that is so composed, confident, personable, intelligent, kind, determined, driven, focused and professional and yet so young. When she heard about JP doing events with us, she jumped on the phone to me to say she’s excited and wanted to come and help. I’ve been fortunate to have these two women that I respect greatly and consider my friends, supporters for me as I am for them. Needless to say when I heard of Caroline’s need for funding, when it became possible for me to help, I did it without hesitation. To say racing is expensive is an understatement, the crew of people it takes for that machine to run smoothly is unbelievable and imagine being a racer having to try to fund this on your own, it’d be impossible. We are one of many sponsors that help keep Caroline racing and allowing her to focus on riding. We are incredibly proud to sponsor this young athlete and look forward to seeing her grow and succeed (bear in mind she is not in a special class, she is racing with the boys and always placing in or near the top 10), we know that Caroline will be an amazing up and coming racer. If you ever wanted the opportunity to get on the track with her or Benny come out to our events and ride with these two amazing young riders and yes our lovable JP too! Let’s support each other in our endeavors whatever they may be, together we can do great things and opportunities will naturally open up for all of us. Let’s be women of action…not just words.

Let’s ride! The season is upon us and after this lousy winter and spring, we deserve a bit of two wheeling fun in the sun.

September 10, 2016 CC Track Day

September 20, 2016 By Carol Carpenter

I’ve heard from many people that they think CC Track Events hosted by MotoVixens is only for women, let’s clarify, it’s for EVERYONE! Gals and guys. I think the confusion comes with the MotoVixens part, but I’m here to tell you it’s for anyone who wants to attend a boutique track event/day. I say this in part because we aren’t like any other track events/days, we are unique, the environment we provide is relaxed and friendly, we are focused on rider training, mainly street riders who are either new to riding or are looking to improve their skills, riders per session are limited to 30 riders, the main focus is for you to learn, ask questions, get help from our talented instructors. We are not the cookie cutter track day where each session is jammed well over capacity and track real estate is hard to find, we limit riders to allow more open track for you to practice. We may be more expensive than the average track day but we have to charge more if we cap the riders per session. From someone who has instructed for other companies, I know too well how dangerous and ridiculous it is to try to teach no less learn when the track is overfilled with riders. So next year for those who say this is a chick day, um no it’s for guys who dig chicks (on motorcycles of course).

Marie our awesome registration gal and Oliver J our talented rider who is overly obsessed with his perfect hair

Now with that taken care of let’s get to business, the weather for the day was stellar (which a week before had me worried) and we had Ducati Richmond and Pacific Motosports close down their shop on Saturday so they could bring employees and customers our to our day (because they are just that awesome). We had free classroom sessions through most of the day on the top of the hour for those who wanted to come, listen and ask questions. Later in the afternoon, Troy and I finally got some time to go out and ride around and we had fun just putting along and checking out who was riding and seeing if they were having fun. This track day was our way of giving back to riders as a community, we priced this day as low as we could to break even. My goal isn’t about making a ton of money running track days, it’s knowing that I helped someone, how happy they are at their new found confidence and being able to share my passion with others. I remember before I started CC Track Events, someone told me that once I make my passion into a business I’ll spend less time doing what I actually love. I didn’t believe it then, but I now see how your attention gets diverted to the business side and a lot less to the riding. That being said, I was unable to ride during our two day event in June, both my bikes were borrowed for the day so I was determined to at least get out 2 – 3 sessions this time. All I know is that when I ride, everything melts into the background whatever was on my mind a minute ago is no longer there. It centers me, reminds me why I love this sport, how much fun and challenging it is and how good it feels when everything clicks (even if its just fleeting). Mostly, the environment of our days is like hanging out with our friends and family everyone looking out for everyone else. The honest truth is every person on my staff is a friend, I appreciate and respect each and every one of them and I am so grateful to them for helping me to bring these days to you. If you haven’t joined us, please, do we are looking to expand next year depending on the availability of days we can reserve with the Ridge.

When you ride so hard you blow off the end of your exhaust

Next year we will do a two day event with JP again and if you didn’t get an opportunity, make time. What it would cost you to trailer down to Chuckwalla (or flight and rentals), accommodations and school fee would far exceed the price of our track day by a long shot, plus you can ride your own bike. We are literally a fraction of that cost (tiny) and we are doing it because we want to bring this special opportunity to you so you can learn from the best. I was fortunate enough to have the ability to travel to track schools, but I know not everyone can and that is why it was important for me to bring this to our local tracks. So as soon as we get the dates ironed out will post them on the website and Facebook, tell all your friends who ride to come out, it’s not just for gals! I am looking forward to seeing you again next season. Thank you to all my volunteers, instructors, control riders, tech and track control without you our days wouldn’t be the success they are.

Family, friends and fun!

Now get out and ride every chance you get, the weather is changing and the chances are getting slimmer. Hope to see some of you out there!

Who is RedSpade?

May 11, 2016 By Carol Carpenter

With the upcoming event on June 27-28 I thought it would be fun to interview a few people who are special guests so you could get to know them more personally. For our first installment, RedSpade, aka Anna Rigby, will be our subject. Jason Pridmore, our guest speaker and coach for the upcoming event, made the introduction and it only took a few minutes of speaking to Anna before I realized that JP associates himself with people very much like him. Anna is very sweet, centered and humble, which I find so refreshing in this sea of narcissism and social media. Let’s get to know Anna who will be RedSpade for the purposes of this blog. I want to thank Jason and Peter Bacon, Marketing Manager for Dainese, North America for supporting us and our mission to educate riders by providing events where riders can learn from the best coaches out there today. Anna and her husband, Steve will be at the Ridge on both dates, please don’t hesitate to come and say “hi”!

CC: I first took notice of you when JP mentioned you and asked me to check out your Instagram under RedSpade. What inspired that name?

RS: I wanted to come up with something unique, memorable and symbolic. The name “spade” comes from the Italian word “spade” or “sword” which often represents logical and rational thought cutting through uncertainty and falsehood. The spade is also usually the most powerful suite in a deck of cards and a sign of luck. I assigned the color red to it to make it one of a kind and unique. At the time I had fiery red hair so the color was symbolically a representation of a part of me. Later on for our logo the spade took on a shape of red and white rumble strips which specifically correlates to our company [RedSpade Racing].

CC: I love it when company names carries a deep personal meaning, it reminds you why you do what you do and it shows in every decision you make, person you touch and keeps you driven.

CC: I love the pictures you post how’d you get started in documenting your journey?

RS: I fell in love with the machines and the atmosphere of track life—which is really where I was officially exposed to motorcycles. After shooting a few local WERA races I realized that I was in love with the way guys piloted these machines and I really wanted to ride one myself (at the time I was only a passenger with my husband). Since my feed already consisted of motorcycle photography it was a natural progression that I started documenting my journey from my first MFS class onward.

CC: You are the ambassador for Dainese/AGV, can you tell us how you got involved?

RS: Funny story actually—I’ve always been a fan of Dainese and their products. They always seemed to be the best quality and had the best designs. But when my husband crashed twice on the street and walked away safe and sound in his Dainese leathers I was sold. In general I posted a LOT about safety and proper motorcycle gear. 4 years ago when I started riding there weren’t as many gear choices for women as there are now. I remember reaching out to Dainese begging them to create something more for women and that many sizes weren’t readily available in the US. It wasn’t until 2 years ago that Dainese reached out to me and asked me to come on board as one of their brand ambassadors. They had told me they were watching me on social media for some time and simply liked how I represented the motorcycle community and the sport. I was floored, to be honest I still can’t believe I get to work with a company I believe in so much.

CC: I still believe the choices are slim. However Dainese was the first street gear I bought, loved and continued to add to because of how flattering it is for women. In fact, my very first race suit was Dainese and it’s been crashed over and over and it’s scuffed up but it’s still in one piece! It’s not as beautiful as it was, but I use that suit now as a rain day suit or loaner suit for gals who want to two up at track days. I still think we need more choices with color and designs, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. Wearing a small boot size, Dainese is the only boot manufacturer I can wear. I wear a Dainese 6 (36), they fit amazing and while you can’t get the top of the line race protection, you can get pretty damn close with their boots. I am sure there will be changes with the increase of women riders and their demand for better looking and fitting gear, ladies will make that known for sure!

CC: When did you get introduced to riding? What enticed you to ride?

RS: I guess that goes back to your previous question about me shooting photography. Racing was sparked my interest to ride really. I was super impressed with guys dragging their knee and getting low to the ground—that was like absolute black magic to me. At the time I was absolutely terrified and never thought I would get to experience it myself, but I dreamed of it. It wasn’t until I met a female racer that encouraged me to go take the MFS course and see if it was for me. Until then I hadn’t seen any females ride like that and I honestly didn’t even know it was possible. She single handedly convinced me to take the riding course and jump-started my journey.

CC: That’s why I want women to see other women ride, not everyone started at a young age, many of us started much later. We are all different, from our goals to our knowledge and understanding of riding, I want them to understand that persistence, practice and perseverance go a long way in helping them get confident and building their skill set. We need to help encourage other gals and give them the tools they need to succeed at their goals.

CC: Who sparked your interest to ride and why?

RS: My husband Steve definitely was the key person to spark my interest. All the men in his family ride or rode at one point or another. Steve also rode dirt bikes and trails when I met him so there was always a history of two wheels with him. As a matter of fact, our first date was a story in itself—we ended up crashing and my right leg got all rashed up pretty bad. But that was over 16 years ago and who would have thought that 12 years later I would finally build up the courage to learn to ride myself.

CC: It’s exciting to see an increase in women riders, what words of encouragement would you give them?

RS: This is still very much a male driven sport whether you’re just a casual street rider or aspiring track addict. Don’t get discouraged if you aren’t as fast, as skilled or as talented as others. Riding is a very personal skill that you develop on your own and within your physical and mental abilities. I learned this the hard way 2 years into my riding. I was so blinded by trying to be a better rider that I was beating myself up and struggling, I had lost the joy of riding because I was getting ahead of myself. All my riding friends and family had been riding for years and were quite skilled, I was and still am the slowest—I took this very personally. I had to re-evaluate what I wanted out of riding at that point and find my center again. Everything will come in due time as long as you keep working towards your goals, but don’t let your goals overwhelm and control you.

CC: Couldn’t have said it better. We are all competitive by nature, but this is very individual, treat it as such, once you start comparing yourself with others you lose sight of your goal. We tell everyone to ride within your abilities and comfort zone, but that can be hard to do when you want so badly to be up front with the fast guys. It’s not about only being fast, it’s about being fast safely and within your own mental and physical abilities. We are all very different, stop comparing.

CC: What do you currently ride? What is your dream bike?

RS: right now I have 2 bikes—both 2008 cbr600rr. one is pretty much stock for street and the other is a race bike I bought from a track coach—It’s loaded with goodies that makes my street bike jealous 😛

I’m not sure I have a dream bike really. I’m very practical which is why I own Hondas (they take a mean beating and still keep on going!) I would have to saw that for a practical bike I would love to own a new 636 Kawi—I really enjoyed it when I rode at the Start School and the electronics made it so easy to handle compared to my Honda. If I could have a money pit of a bike I’d definitely go for a looker like the Panigale!

CC: OK, I have to confess I bought my dream bike, I love it and it’s only been on the track a few times (figured my luck would eventually run out there). It’s the 848 EVO, I bought it the last year it was made knowing it was now or never. It’s my go to street bike, twins are so much fun to ride on the street and when it looks equally beautiful, what could be better? Italians know how to make things sexy and that bike is just that!

CC: Do you ride on the track and on the street, which do enjoy more?

RS: I still ride both street and track, but I most definitely love the track to death. I feel safer and excited when I ride the track, at the same time it’s my meditation and truly the only time I feel alive. As for the street I tend to stick to country roads and mountains. I still struggle with tight curvy roads so I get a bit stressed out—I definitely don’t like riding around cars. I didn’t have this feeling when I started riding, the more track I do the more street unnerves me. There’s just too much that can go wrong and it’s all out of my hands.

CC: What challenges as women do you feel we face as motorcyclists?

RS: To be honest I’ve always felt that riding a motorcycle was one of those things that either sex could do pretty damn well. I gotta admit though that I get a mixed bag of responses from men when I pull my helmet off and I can’t always tell if they’re genuinely bewildered, intimidated or being condescending lol. Apparently even though I know so many ladies that ride, we’re still rather rare. I think we are still seen as feeble and weak which is a bit frustrating, although I understand that physically I will never be as strong as my husband or have the stamina. However I get to encounter some commentary on social media that is always making me question if certain people are still living in the 50s lol! I suppose this is true for any sport or profession these days though.

CC: What do you feel about gear and safety?

RS: I definitely have a strong stance of motorcycle safety in general. I try to keep my opinions to myself these days but since you ask 😉 Nothing about riding a motorcycle is safe. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it, but it means that you should value your life, the life of your friends and family, and do everything in your power to ensure your safety. Basically I would like people to be mindful and responsible for themselves. I cringe when I see girls in leggings and sneakers on their bikes. I hear it all the time “I know what I’m doing, I know I can get hurt and I’ll deal with it when it happens.” Wrong. You won’t be the only one dealing with it—your family and friends will be the ones taking care of you. I look at it this way, if I can minimize my time in the hospital when I eventually crash, then why not? Accidents happen and it’s inevitable. Maybe I’m so adamant about this because of all the terrible accidents I’ve seen in the last 4 years of my riding—I ride mainly in the mountains and accidents there are extremely unforgiving. Many if them would have been much worse or fatal if there was no gear involved. And some of them were exceptionally tragic because the people involved weren’t geared up. Gear isn’t a save all, but in the end I just don’t want to have any “what ifs” or regrets.

CC: I agree completely. Ignorance is not bliss in this case. My stance is if you choose to not gear up, you clearly haven’t crashed bad enough to think you are lucky to just walk away with minor bruises and scrapes. Anybody that has crashed knows and won’t risk it. You don’t necessarily need to be the one to make the mistake, but you are the one that will live with the repercussions. It blows my mind people don’t ride with gloves, our instinct is to put our hands down to break a fall, why would you make that choice?

CC: What’s your favorite motorcycle quote?

RS: Well that would have to be Marco Simoncelli’s “You live more for 5 minutes going fast on a bike than other people do in all of their life.” This speaks to me on a very personal level bc if it wasn’t for riding a motorcycle I wouldn’t be here in life and having so many wonderful experiences and meeting so many great people. I used to be extremely introverted and shy; riding helped me overcome many of my fears and taught me to believe in myself. Where I would normally say I can’t now I believe I can and am no longer afraid of failing and trying again 🙂

CC: Great Quote! Motorcycling is a wonderful community to be a part of, I have met the most interesting people and it has enriched my life greatly as well. Thank you so much for taking the time and letting us get to know you better. I look forward to meeting you in person at the June 27- 28 event!

Investing in yourself

April 20, 2016 By Carol Carpenter

I wish someone had introduced me to motorcycles at this age, taken away all the mystery and fear associated with it and given me the ability to concentrate on strategy. What a wonderful gift that would’ve been, but since this is real life and my parents were deathly afraid of my brother riding motorcycles, that meant an absolute no for me. There is an inherent fear of motorcycles and the danger associated with them, when you get into a discussion with non-riders you find yourself almost defending why you ride, I had people go so far as to say I’m a terrible mother for wanting to put myself at risk. It’s interesting that people have such strong opinions about riding. For me and I believe for many of us that ride, it is our place of zen, somewhere where you can reconnect with yourself, have fun, feel the outside world whizzing by your face and through your body, it is completely visceral and centering.

Sure riding is inherently dangerous, however just like any other sport, the more you practice and are coached, the more knowledgeable and more confident you become. It is an investment in yourself. As riders we invest in gear, exhausts, aftermarket stuff, but we don’t invest in us and the knowledge we need to possess to continue riding for a lifetime. All that bling doesn’t mean a thing if you can’t ride it or are deathly afraid of it. Better to save your money, learn to ride skillfully and then bling out your dream bike. Let’s be honest, you will lay your bike down, you may lay it down a lot to start. It will hurt like hell if you have put on all the bells and whistles and it gets totaled. It may even keep you from continuing this amazing sport, so save your money for pimping out your bike in a savings account as a reward and invest in improving your skills. If you don’t think you have anything to learn, try a class and find out, I believe you will be surprised.

I’ve had the opportunity to travel and attend track schools, but I know for many this isn’t in their budget. I always wished they would come up to our area and put these schools on, but to this day only one currently does and with a hefty price tag. I started doing events to bring top level coaches and riders to our local track and give people the opportunity to experience the level of instruction that makes the difference. I believe that to be the best you need to learn from the best in the business. You may never reach their level, but you can always strive to be better every time, implement skills everyday and improve your riding every time you throw a leg over. It is a fraction of the cost of traveling to a track school and for many this will be their first time on the track so we try to make this as accommodating and comfortable as we can so you can have an amazing day of learning. Last year we had Ken Hill instructing and this year we have Jason Pridmore of Star Motorcycle School (currently commentating for beIn sports and MotoGP) for our two day event. On June 27th there will be three sessions: Group 1 and 2 are co-ed and open to everyone in limited numbers and Group 3 is the special session with JP in the classroom and then on track (please see the event schedule for more details). Group 3 for the 27th is a women’s session (which JP will love me for) so that we can provide an environment for gals who want to learn at their pace, no matter what level you are. On June 28th, Group 1 and 2 are co-ed and limited numbers and the special session is for men. Last year after putting on the event, I was approached by men asking if I would do one especially for them as well…you asked, I delivered. Click on the CC Track Events on the home page for more information and to signup. Spaces are limited so sign up and reserve your spot today. If you have groups of people 5-10, please contact me directly at caroltcarpenter@motovixens.com.

We will have giveaways and this year we have Dunlop Tires (a set to give away each day), KFG has donated a few setups, Cycle gear is donating gift certificates and the list is growing each day. There will also be demos available from dealerships (to be announced soon), JP will be doing two ups (get in line boys and girls, I get the first dance :D) as well as other world class riders he’s bringing to help you get the most out of your experience. JP will have a q & a during lunchtime open to everyone and then he and his boys will be riding as we spectate in the corners. The catering will be done by Viet NomNom food truck and lunch will be provided for participants. Snacks and water will be available, please bring anything you may need if you have dietary restrictions. Also, don’t forget to bring fuel for your bike, sunscreen and warmer clothing for the morning and cooler gear for later.

Sena Prism review at the track

August 21, 2015 By Carol Carpenter

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wetiXfijJSU[/youtube]Optimum Performance Rider Training had it’s last track day of the year on August 16, 2015 at The Ridge Motorsports Park, it was expected to be full and it did not disappoint. The pits were full of eager individuals to get their last taste of riding before the season was officially over for OPRT. Unfortunately that also meant a lot of people hoping to run their fastest lap times of the year and it led to many get offs on the track. Sunday was not unlike any other day at the track, but the feeling was thick with a level of anxious tension and we all know what to expect when that happens so we try to keep our students safe and everyone having fun as the day progresses. The classes were full in both the beginner and intermediate classes and we had every instructor out to help make the day run smoothly. One of our riders crashed out in the first session and he was absolutely adamant on getting his bike from home to finish off his day. After asking him did he know why he crashed he said he tucked the front through the turn and completely totaled his bike. When asked the question about his tire pressures…he said he was running Pirellis and they should stick. HUH! Well when asked what kind of tires and pressures we concluded that 32 lbs. of pressure in the front and rear of Pirelli track tires was ridiculously high and they are supposed to be 29 cold in the front and 20 cold in the rear. There could’ve been a completely different outcome but not making a simple inquiry about his tire pressures and having a pressure gauge caused him to total his bike. Quite literally a question and a $20 gauge would’ve completely changed his day. While this is only one example of things we see during the day we can’t help but shake our heads at individuals who get passed, get that red mist and next thing you know we see them off the edge of the track hopefully upright, but majority of the time, not. This set the tone for the day and it got worse as the day went on with the bike toll.

I was asked to ride with Jonathan the next session, when I met him he seemed nice, but he is asian and not to be stereotypical (I’m asian too) I didn’t want to ride with him if he was going to be some arrogant rich asian kid who was willing to take unnecessary chances and not listen. It turns out I was wrong and was so happy about it, it turns out this kid can ride, but he has a few things that need to be worked out, so I asked if he minded if we did some film? I used the Sena Prism anchored to the rear cowling of my GSXR and asked Troy to take him around since we were going to be going out again in the next session with another student to record his riding. Jonathan is great getting on the gas, however he man handles his bike with his upper body and his body positioning changes drastically after a few laps letting me know he doesn’t use his lower body properly and engage his core. Anyone that says this sport isn’t physical is wrong, I haven’t met a single rider who doesn’t take their helmet off who isn’t sweating like crazy. He gets so tired he starts yanking his bike instead of allowing his lower body to stay anchored and control the bike with the change in which peg he weights. He’s great going left, more tentative going right. His lines are ok, but they can be better, he needs to use the track more and not be following the turn so long at a lean to get a quicker and better drive. He needs to look further. I know you have all heard this and what this means is seeing as far down the track as possible, but still seeing and using rapid eye movements to focus in and out to the reference points. For example, when entering the turn you should see the apex, but be looking for that exit and all the while focusing in and out from apex (without concentrating on it) to the exit ready to get on the gas. It takes practice and sometimes when you are tired your eyes just get lazy and you find yourself looking only to the next reference point. Jonathan was a great student, he listened, he asked questions, he understood and when he got on the track he went to work. It is students like this that make being an instructor fun, being able to touch people and change their lives in some small way and to give them direction to work on things that may be holding them back. Unlocking their potential and giving them the confidence to get out there and do it better each time. Thank you Jonathan for letting me use your video and just talk briefly about the footage as a learning tool and letting me discuss your riding. My Sena Prism has been an invaluable tool in my teaching at the track and I look forward to recording, posting and critiquing many more students in the upcoming year. I want to thank Robert Knoll for sponsoring me, my company and what we are doing for women riders, it is individuals like this who believe in our causes that help us to succeed.

Vixens Ride!

August 13, 2015 Event Report

August 19, 2015 By Carol Carpenter

"2-Fast Track Day on August 13, 2015 at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton WA. Photo taken by Ian Tanaka"

MotoVixens track day at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton WA. Photo taken by Ian Tanaka”

What an amazing turnout of ladies and men for the Women’s Event and Track Day! Ladies your enthusiasm and determination on this day was inspirational and men, I loved the ones that showed up in their tutus to support their gals, be their pit bitches and brali boys, very cute! I can’t say how excited I was, except that the lack of sleep for many days prior probably didn’t reflect how overly surprised I was at the turnout of riders both male and female. This women’s event was designed around having a perfect learning environment, low numbers, vip treatment, catering and Ken Hill, the best riding coach out there, as well as the added bonus of the best woman rider currently out there, Elena Myers. We wanted those who signed up to know they were being attended to by the best instructors in the track community with the most knowledge and that their questions would be accurately answered by either Ken, Elena or one of our staff. It was important that our ladies understood we were there to help them with whatever they needed and it showed when we had one of our ladies go down in the first session. She was fine, a little shaken, but she was more concerned about her bike and that she rode in. She rented a Ninja 250 for the next session and when lunch came we got her bike and everyone in the pits banded together to get her the parts necessary to get her bike back together so she could finish off her day. This is the motorcycle family, we take care of each other, we don’t ever leave anyone behind, it makes me terribly proud of everyone that was on my staff and vendors for making her day.

“MotoVixens Track Day on August 13, 2015 at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton WA. Photo taken by Ian Tanaka”

The classroom sessions started with the ladies getting booklets to record their progress, write down key points, morsels of information that they felt would be important to their development. As the day progressed the room became more and more crowded, instructors sat in on the classroom session as well as marshals who wanted to hear what valuable knowledge Ken would impart on the class. It was impressive to see the classroom so full each and every hour then watch the sea of women depart the class to get on their bikes to ride on track with their instructors. What an amazing sight to see 25 women on track with their instructors, learning, improving and excited to take the lesson in the class and execute it on track. No one knew how 30 minutes was going to start affecting people, but around the 4th or 5th session ladies were getting beat and their focus was starting to wane. So next year we will do the 20 minute format with 3 sessions still limiting the maximum riders per session. The overall consensus is that Ken had an amazing way of simplifying things, methods, techniques and concepts so that it was easily digestible for the ladies. He has an aura and confidence from his years of experience that helps even the most nervous to feel more at ease and his willingness to be part coach and part psychologist to help you get over what is holding you back is what makes him the best at his job. Then Elena riding on track with the ladies, speaking to them in the classroom, open to photos throughout the day and just the fact that she carries herself so well at 21 years of age makes you believe that the right type of parenting makes all the difference. She is a credit to our sport, her parents and herself. I had the pleasure of spending time with this young lady and not only does she have a wicked sense of humor, she’s a very well spoken intelligent young woman. I look forward to following her career for many years to come.

“MotoVixens Track Day on August 13, 2015 at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton WA. Photo taken by Ian Tanaka”

The Track only session was a group of men who really enjoyed the open track for 30 minutes each hour and when I got the opportunity to speak to some of those guys, they looked at me tired, sweaty and happy at having spent the day playing on a track with minimal traffic. I was told over and over, put another one of these on and I will sign up in a heartbeat! While most of the love went to the ladies session the men didn’t get neglected, they got to have marshals and instructors who are fantastic riders, help them in their session. However, many did find me to ask if I would bring Ken up to do a men’s day and the answer is YES, we are working out details so stay tuned. I do believe this school will be a sell out in days so if you want to be in the know, make sure you tell your peeps to signup on the website as they will be the first to know as soon as we have dates confirmed. While I won’t open up registration till the beginning of the year, it will allow you to save the date and start thinking about the wealth of knowledge Ken will impart on you to help you get one step closer to the rider you want to become.

“MotoVixens Track Day on August 13, 2015 at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton WA. Photo taken by Ian Tanaka”

Thank you again to all my sponsors: Ducati Richmond, Pacific Powersports, I-90 Motorsports, Triumph of Seattle, South Sound Honda, South Bound Honda, Paulson’s, South Sound Motorcycles, WMST and Family First Allstate. Special thanks to Alan and OPRT for their help in staffing the event. Thank you to my supporters: Sena #RideConnected, Forma Performance Boots, The Beauty Lab, Cycle Gear, Raci Babi, Massage Envy, Ambrosia Medspa and Cycle Wipes. To the vendors who came out and provided services, thank you Premium Rush Rentals and Tires, Jason Tanaka and KFG Racing for helping our day run smoothly. I can’t thank all of you enough for making this event the success it was!

“MotoVixens Track Day on August 13, 2015 at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton WA. Photo taken by Ian Tanaka”

Adam will be bringing Rickdiculous and Ken up the the Ridge next year and I will be working with them in booking dates before or after their days for my events. Whether you are new to riding or been riding for years, continue learning, exploring, pushing your limits, that’s what makes you a better rider. I have an enormous respect and passion for this sport and want to share it with others, I hope you will be a part of one or many of my events in the years to come as well as visit me at OPRT where I instruct. For those who want private instruction, please contact me directly, throughout the year. I look forward to seeing you all out there again next year and stay tuned for updates about the events for next year. It is about imparting knowledge to make lifelong riders of all of us.

Vixens Ride!

Women’s Event and Track Day

July 4, 2015 By Carol Carpenter

For those who are savvy to track days, just skim to the section that applies to you, for those who are virgins to track days…let’s get you comfortable with the concept. Track days typically are structured with three 20 minute sessions per hour distinguished by groups, a level 1 (novice), level 2 (intermediate) and level 3 (expert) or something of that nature to clarify which group you will ride in. Most track days will limit their sessions to 40 people per session not including their marshals and instructors. Marshals are individuals who ride the track to police traffic and help those riders who require assistance or go to a corner to help deal with a crash. Instructors are assigned to students and are specifically there to help those individuals. Instructors and Marshals wear different color vests (depending on the track day company) and are there for the customer’s safety. If you see a person wearing an instructor vest, be aware that the student (who is also wearing a vest) will be either in front of or directly behind the instructor…do not try to pass in sketchy areas, try to complete a safe pass by both of them. For this Event, we are doing two half hour sessions…that’s a whole 30 minutes on the track to warmup, get your groove on and then push your limits a little to really test your skills. For those attending the track only session which is open to all riders, male or female on any bike, Mike Sullivan will be offering up private lessons so sign up at registration. For both sessions, there will also be signups for 2 up rides, if you’ve never gone 2-up on the track, I highly recommend it. It will open up your eyes to how late and hard you can brake and how quickly you can get on the gas. This is open for male and females so please sign up in the hospitality tent as soon as possible.

For my Women’s event on August 13 at the Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, WA, we wanted to make this extra special, do what no one has done here before and provide an incredible experience for everyone involved. We wanted to get the best riding coach out there to run the classroom and teach riders concepts and techniques the top riders use and apply that to their level of riding. Having that solid foundation to build from and reference, as your skills and confidence increase, is invaluable. We asked Ken Hill, currently coaching at Rickdiculous and Yamaha School of Champions, and he was thrilled to jump on board and bring his knowledge and teaching methods to us for this event. His willingness to better the sport through education speaks volumes, his enthusiasm, charisma, understanding and wit make learning fun and easy. The list of Ken’s clients include many top level riders today and I consider it an honor he would agree to come do a school for us gals up here, so you really need to jump on this unique opportunity. Now to add icing to this already amazing cake, we asked Elena Myers to join us. She is in her own right a very accomplished rider, but what people do not realize is how down to earth and sweet this gal is. Not only is she inspirational, she is kind, not what you’d expect from someone who has accomplished so much in her life and at such a young age. Ladies, you are in for a treat, she will be riding with you during your sessions on track while Ken will be at pit wall and signaling people in for drills to work on. Elena and Ken will be working hand in hand while you are on track to help you get the most out of your day. The classroom session will be 20-25 minutes and for those who would like to stay and ask questions, Ken will be available to do so while we are making the transition to the track at which time Ken will be in the hotpits eagle eyeing people to get them to work on a specific topic. The half hour after lunch we’ve discussed bussing people to corners to watch Ken, Elena and some other racers come through and discussing what it looks like when you come in too early, too late, with too much lean angle, etc. This allows a bird’s eye view of what you should be working on when entering and exiting those corners. To sum up we will have 20-25 minutes of classroom time followed by 30 minutes on the track throughout the day.

The cost of this event has been a topic of discussion, so let me clarify, renting a track and hiring coaching out is expensive which is why most track companies rent a track, provide their own teachers, instructors and marshals (at no cost) and then fill them (or overfill them) to make money. A normal track day consists of 120+ signed participants riding in one of the 3 sessions, we are offering 2 sessions with 60 people, a total of 30 per session. This event and track day was designed to make your experience at the track, whether it is your first time or you are a track junkie, memorable. Everything we can think of is being provided from top level coaches and riders to help with this day to catering, hospitality tent with snack and drinks, provided by WMST (Chris Johnson) and Allstate, dealerships and demos, prizes and giveaways. Some of those prizes have a retail value of $200 (i.e. 2wheeldynoworks dyno, OPRT track day, Forma Boots, Spa treatments, etc) and there are loads of little giveaways sure to make you smile, including Cycle Wipes and a signed poster from Elena Myers for all sign ups. Let’s talk about the 30 minute sessions vs. 20 minute sessions…you are getting just over two extra sessions this day than you would get in a normal 20 minute session track day (which BTW ranges from $190-$220 for just the track day to $255-$320 with instruction included). Our pricing is competitive and designed to help us break even. This allows us to hire those top level coaches which make this event completely one of a kind. To top it off, both of these sessions are limited to 30 people per session…Maximum track time with minimal traffic. Imagine how much you can learn with all that extra space and time to do it in? For an additional $100 you will get top level coaching in the Women’s Event (as well as the following) and for the track only session additional track time, limited signups for more actual available track, VIP treatment, catering and memories to last a lifetime. Jason Tanaka will be on hand to take pictures on and off the track which will be available after the event just visit his website at www.JasonTanaka.com. In addition, Phil Melnyk of Premium Rush Pirelli will be in the pits if you need tires and KFG Racing will be there to setup your bikes. You can not miss this event! Sign up at www.MotoVixens.com/events, spaces are limited!

Thank you to all our sponsors for making this event possible! Ducati Richmond/Pacific Powersports, I-90 Motorsports, Optimum Performance Rider Training, Triumph of Seattle, Paulson’s, South Sound Honda/South Bound Honda, South Sound Motorcycles, WMST, Kevin Gibboney – Allstate, 2 Wheel Dynoworks, Sena, Forma Boots, The Beauty Lab, KFG Racing, Jason Tanaka Photography, Cycle Gear, Premium Rush Pirelli, Cycle Wipes and Raci-Babi.

Sena SMH10 vs. Sena 20S

August 11, 2014 By Carol Carpenter

Sena 20S

Sena SMH10

Let me just start by saying I love my Sena SMH10, it has been with me through rain and shine and has never failed. It is simple to use and more streamlined than the other options out there. They came out with the SMH10R which was more streamlined and flat but the battery pack had to be adhered to your helmet which kind of defeated the purpose of being slim and I felt wasn’t a great option for most riders. However, they totally got it right with the 20S, it is more low profile than the SMH10 and has way more features and functions, which comes with the price tag of around $270 vs. $165 for the SMH10. The SMH10 can be paired with up to three other headsets, has voice activated calling, an MP3 jack for listening to music, bluetooth music from your phone, GPS Nav pairing and can transfer when you have another incoming call. The 20S does all that and more including FM radio, pairing an additional phone, an external antenna to extend the intercom distance, sharing music with an intercom friend, can be paired with up to nine other headsets as long as it is the Sena SMH10 or SMH5 and an ambient noise button, should you choose to listen to the noise around you.

I’ve been riding with it for a few weeks now and just love the sound quality of the Sena, its crystal clear whether it’s a phone call or intercoming with a friend. The range is approximately 1.2 miles on the 20S and is 980 yards for the SMH10. For people who are riding two up and just want to be able to talk without yelling, the SMH10 is perfect. For those that love playing with gadgets and want all the bells and whistles, the 20S is amazing! There is still so much to figure out on the headset, but the fact I can pair two phones and have one give me turn by turn directions is truly amazing. Here’s an example of how the 20S operates in the following order of priority: Highest to the lowest…Ambient mode, Mobile phone, Voice command mode, Intercom, Stereo music by audio cable, Music sharing by Bluetooth, FM radio, Bluetooth stereo music. A lower priority function is always interrupted by the higher priority function. For example, stereo music is interrupted by an intercom call and intercom conversation is interrupted by an incoming phone call. Pretty cool huh? It does it all on its own and with literally only two buttons controlling the whole unit. Sena sends out updates to firmware occasionally so when you purchase your unit be sure to register it as it is the only way you can get the update. While I am partial to this brand and it’s products there are many out there to choose from, so do some research know what you want out of the unit you want to purchase and happy hunting! From our website check out Revzilla, they carry different brands and hopefully you find one that suits your needs!

Vixens Ride!

Premium Rush Rentals

May 23, 2014 By Carol Carpenter

Just on the track for a Ducati Bellevue track day on Monday, May 19th and met Phil Melnyk, President of Premium Rush Inc. They have a cool concept where they have bikes (Kawasaki Ninja 250’s) they bring to the track to rent for the day so you can just show up and ride. The cost is $299 for the day which includes fuel, tires, bike setup for the rider, a pit area for rider and friends and family to hang out and relax, water and snack as well as the option to receive instruction from either Jonathan Wood or Phil, both accomplished racers and riders. They make it easy to come to the track and just enjoy your day…we’ve gotten you a special deal and are offering you 20% off the rental price as a first time customer, just mention that you heard it thru MotoVixens.

For more information visit www.premiumrushrentals.com for more details. Women’s track day is only a month away ladies, start getting those bikes track ready and let’s show those boys what we got! Vixens Ride!

Are you ready to ride?

May 16, 2014 By Carol Carpenter

Hopping on your bike and taking off spontaneously is great, the freedom of just getting lost and being in the moment…there is nothing quite like it right? Sure if everything goes as planned and you return safe and sound, but how about we take a moment to do a pre bike check for whatever type of riding we plan on doing? If you are planning on a long trip, chances are you’ve put some thought into the trip, the schedule, etc. so why not put some time in checking over your bike to make sure everything is working properly and there are no loose nuts and bolts? Checking your lights, blinkers, brakes (making sure they aren’t too spongy), Oil level, fuel and tire pressures the night before you embark will allow you to rest peacefully before your ride. This also applies to just a quick jaunt around town, if the bike hasn’t been ridden or even looked at for a while, it may require a little attention to get it ready for the riding season. Maybe even a little maintenance at the shop…so before you get on and try to fire it up only to discover that it won’t turn over, get it ready before you plan on riding again so you won’t be frustrated. Now if you are planning on hitting the track, please be mindful that while you think you may pass tech, if you come with less than 50% wear on your tires, you will not be riding or you will be at the mercy of purchasing whatever tires they have at the track in order to continue your day. I know this can be irritating, but remember this is not about you, this about the safety of everyone out there. You are not riding that track alone which is why it is important to know what it will require to pass tech and if there is any question, have your bike serviced within a month or so of the track day and you should be good to go. When you have large groups of people going around the track together at a very spirited pace, it is important not to ride over your head and show off because if you should have to maneuver quickly to avoid someone/something, you may end up being “that guy” that sends out the red flags and stops the whole session. The reason there are requirements are because we all have families and jobs we would like to return to the following day/week so let’s each do our part in making sure we are being safe, not just for ourselves, but considerate to the others we are sharing the road/track with.

That being said, just knowing and being confident that you are good to go can allow your attention to be on the task at hand, riding, and enjoying it. I ride with tunes through my Sena SMH10 (which I personally love) and yes there are plenty of other brands out there, but I have to say for ease of use and clarity I really love it. I have also placed an order on their newest generation of the Sena 20s which you can read about through www.sena.com. It links your music, gps, phone and intercom, allowing multiple applications to be open at the same time. “Sena 20S Audio Multitasking™ technology allows you to have an intercom conversation while simultaneously listening to music, FM radio, or GPS. No longer do users have to deal with the frustrations of interruption-based audio functions of past Bluetooth communication devices. Now audio features won’t interrupt each other but simply overlay for a smooth listening experience.” The SMH10 can intercom between 4 users, now the Sena 20s can link up to 8 at a 1.2 mile range as well as be used with other generation Sena units and non-Sena bluetooth units. This versatility will be groundbreaking as it will allow groups to communicate with each other and keep track of everyone…no more herding kitty cats! I am really excited about their new design which is lower profile and sleeker than the SMH10…look for a review when I finally receive mine, they are due to be released beginning to mid-June. In the meantime, enjoy the beautiful weather!

Vixens Ride!