June was an incredibly busy month for track days and if you add the number of days I was at the track along with auditions, bookings and shoots it was exhausting. I am not sure I’ve ever relayed what I do on the side besides MotoVixens (and just appointed AXO dealer), I am a mom of two sons, one going to college and one just turned 16 (and driving!)…I am also an actor/model/voiceover talent/whatever they need me for and pays ;). What ends up being a week where I believe I can gain headway and write a blog, ends up being booked up with auditions to sometimes as far as Portland. This brings me to my first love motorcycle riding…it is the most rewarding thing I do. Honestly if it paid well I’d give everything up just to do it, but since it doesn’t, I have to resort to spreading myself around…
The one thing that I’ve noticed as an instructor is that track day companies are now very focused on street riders which excites me tremendously, one for the fact that they are reaching out to people who need to gain more knowledge and skills for surviving the craziness out there and two because seeing the person start the day nervous to ending it with a great big shit eatin grin makes me feel honored to be a part of that journey. The truth is there is a lot to be gained by riding on the track; knowledge, confidence, no cops, emergency vehicle (in case), adrenaline rush in a safe place and hopefully keeping that off the streets where there can be dire consequences and above all what you accomplished while there for the day. I try to attend every session of every school Mark puts on and while I know the curriculum, each class is unique in that with each group there are things that get stressed more due to the questions raised. Plus the truth is, I’ve sat through a couple recently where I got a refresher on things that I’ve forgotten to pay attention to, so I still continue to learn. It is an ongoing thing and honestly your brain can’t wrap it’s head around ever concept discussed in one shot, it requires repetition, practice and nailing one concept down is an accomplishment. I encourage students to go away with the knowledge they’ve obtained work on one or two things then hit a few track days and take another school course and build upon what they have as the foundation.
The focus is clear – teaching riders to make better decisions, knowing their machines capabilities in a way they never thought possible, trust themselves and the machine together, understand how to make it work for you and giving them the knowledge and confidence to survive even the most hairball situations out on the road. Panic is not our friend, it causes people to make kneejerk reactions which upset the bike and in turn the bike ejects you for pissing it off…we hope that in the knowledge you gain, you KNOW you can handle it and will stay relaxed when such an event happens and it does everytime you ride. So let’s save our fellow riders and tell them how beneficial track riding is and let’s all be around for a very long time!
Vixens Ride!
I’ve been riding for 2 years as a street rider and I love it! I’m all about improving skills.
Do you have recommendations for track schools in the Pacific NW that are geared specifically for street riders? I’m not interested in racing but want manage cornering better and be best prepared for potential “situations”. My rides put me on freeways/hwys and country roads.
Pardon me if you’ve already answered this.
Many thanks for your articles!
Hi Linda! Yes track companies have now started gearing their schools to street riders, mostly to better improve their skills and confidence to survive the urban highways. They are less geared at performance training although they do cover some technical subjects which actually helps a great deal riding on the streets. Ducati Bellevue offers schools through their track days with 2 Fast and 2Fast does on their own as well. Optimum performance training aka OPRT also has track days that have schools in beginner and intermediate levels all taught at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton. There are discount codes for the track schools located in special offers, look forward to seeing you on the track!
Ahhhh, I see the offers now! Thanks for the feedback.
OPRT is interesting (and not far from Portland). Any track experience that would better prepare me for adventuring is great. Besides, anywhere over 90 and my head feels like it’s going to blow off on my bike! 🙂