motorcycle safety

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!

Track Days

August 25, 2016 By Carol Carpenter

I went to support my friend Cory Osburn on his last day to receive his endorsement card for successfully completing and passing his 3 day course with WMST. He had three great instructors, Chris, John and Ed, who welcomed me to stay and watch, cheer and proudly watch him pass this course. Upon completion of the testing, Chris stated something to the graduated class that seems like common sense, but many people don’t do it. Not only get seat time, but get coached properly, seek out more classes and instruction, build upon what you just learned. I can’t stress enough the importance of doing that, you just learned something, now go out and practice, practice a lot, if you don’t it will be forgotten. Practice with a plan and set a goal for yourself every time, it can be small like going up and down your street to get comfortable with your bike, then head out of your neighborhood, then tackle the freeway. Some people read to gain knowledge others do better by doing and attending classes, it’s up to you, but make sure you check in time to time with someone who can actually help you assess if you are improving or creating bad habits. Bad habits are hard to break and when they become second nature your tendency is to revert to them since the new concepts are harder to implement as they require more focus and concentration.

Riding is an amazing sport and for those of us who love it, we understand it is a never-ending process. You will never be able to fully appreciate what your bike is actually capable of, it is an incredible piece of machinery that you will get to know and love like your best friend (only it won’t drive you nuts). Some days you’ll feel like one with it and other days it’ll seem like a complete stranger to you, that’s completely normal but remember that the bike is the constant, it’s you that is inconsistent so if you are having an off day just be aware and adjust your riding accordingly. I still feel a great deal of anticipation and adrenaline every time I climb on to one of my bikes (each one rides so differently) yet somehow once I’m there, everything quiets down and fades away. Riding for me feeds my soul, quiets my mind, centers me and reminds me why I do what I do. Find a group or a friend(s) and get out there. Skills are tools that need to remain sharp so the more you practice technique the more comfortable you’ll start to feel in no time. Don’t let those tools and skills get dull and never be complacent about your riding. Things happen and they happen quick.

Track days are great for practicing, it is a controlled environment, controlled conditions and depending on which track organization you choose to signup with, can either be a great experience or one you may never attend again. For those new to track days look for providers who limit riders per session it will be a more relaxed environment for you to practice and learn instead of a stressful experience as you get buzzed or end up in a pile up in the corners. If you are more experienced you make those decisions of signing up knowing there is a chance of a lot of traffic. Make informed decisions based on your skill level. I’ve instructed at several organizations and I’ve seen tears, frustration and outright anger because of traffic on the track, just do your homework and make sure you get the most out of your day. With less riders there is more time to work on your technique and you spend less time figuring out how to negotiate your way out of traffic. Makes sense right? Nothing is worse than being super excited to ride and then encounter a misfortune in your first or even second session, it ruins your entire day. It can be due to individuals who can’t hold a line, someone clearly in the wrong level, a mechanical issue, lack of focus, too many people on track, etc. As an instructor through the years for track organizations, I’ve seen some pretty interesting things and knew that there had to be a better, safer way to put a track day on. If you haven’t had a chance to attend, sign up, we provide the perfect environment to learn, have fun, not feel self conscious or intimidated and our biggest joy is seeing you happy at the end of the day and smiling ear to ear. Our last day is on September 10 at The Ridge Motorsports Park and it is limited to 30 riders in each session. There are control riders and instructors there at your disposal and the classroom is free to everyone who wants to attend. Don’t forget to bring anything you might want to sell, barter or trade with other riders…you never know what someone might have that you absolutely can’t do without! (OK That’s the fashionista in me) Signup at www.motovixens.com/ccevents

Looking forward to seeing you out there!

Who is Caroline Olsen?

June 16, 2016 By Carol Carpenter

In our continuing and now final installment of “Getting to know” is Caroline Olsen. Let me start off with Caroline is so down to earth and bubbly you wouldn’t know she is this fierce and badass competitor in a sport dominated by testosterone. One thing that strikes me about the truly talented and dedicated individuals in this sport is that those that have accomplished so much are the most humble and kind individuals I’ve met, which in my opinion is surprising. It reminds me of what I’ve always told my sons, if you work hard, practice and give your 100% you needn’t speak of your accomplishments, they speak for you. Caroline is indeed one of these individuals and with her coach and friend, Jason Pridmore by her side we will be seeing a lot of this incredible woman racer in the future. Hailing from Sande, Norway Caroline rides for Team Hammer contending in the 2016 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Supersport 600 Championship competing under the M4 LOXY Suzuki Banner.

CC: For many new to riding, they might not know who you are can you give us some background and a summary of your accomplishments?

CO: I’m the typical Norwegian chick. I was into handball and horse riding when I was younger. During the winter I would go skiing or snowboarding with my friends and when we were lucky enough to have a couple of good & warm summer days you would find me surrounded by family at my grandfathers cabin by the ocean. Nothing in my life indicated that I could potentially be a future roadracer, but I have always loved speed and adrenaline.

CC: When did you get into riding and why?

CO: When I turned 16 I was old enough to get my 125cc motorcycle drivers license. I didn’t have any previous experience with motorcycles before then and I guess you could say that I kind of fell into this sport by accident. I got my license mainly to get back and forth to the stable quicker, but I was reckless and stupid. I got in trouble for speeding and I ended up crashing a lot. The last time I crashed was with my little brother on the back on our way to school, not cool! We were ok, but my mum was furious. She said that I could not ride any more motorcycles before I learned how, and that’s when she thought she sent me to a traffic course, but it was actually a license course for roadracing. That was in 2008 and I’ve been in love with the sport ever since!

CC: What do you feel is your greatest moment or accomplishment while you were racing and why?

CO: I started racing in Norway back in 2008. In 2009 I won the Rookie 600 cup and in 2011 I won the Norwegian Superstock 600 Championship. I placed 2^nd in the Swedish championship in 2012 and got a 3^rd place in the Nordic championship that same year. I got the chance to come and race in the US in 2013, so I packed my things & sold most of my stuff to follow my dream of becoming a professional roadracer. I’ve lived a great life with so many good memories already, but my greatest accomplishment has to be when I won the finale race of the Norwegian championship back in 2011 and secured the gold medal with only a couple of points margin to the runner up. What a great day!

CC: What challenges do you face as a woman racer?

CO: I’ve had my fair share of challenges. It’s hard to find people & teams that believe in me like they would believe in any other male racer. I’ve experienced sabotage on my bike causing me to crash and I’ve seen male racers take stupid risks trying to pass me just because they have too much of a ego to have a girl beat them. With that said, there is a “woman improvement” movement out there and girls like Danica Patrick’s in Nascar, Marit Strømøy in F1 boat and Elena Myers in MotoAmerica have most defiantly made it easier for girls to come up through male dominated sports to make a name for themselves.

CC: Do you have any pre-riding routines and/or superstitions? For example, Aaron Yates used to wear the same socks until he crashed, do you have a list of things you do on and off your bike?

CO: No I don’t, but maybe I should find something? Whatever I can do to go faster, I’ll do it!

CC: Who do you admire, consider a hero or a mentor?

CO: I’m so lucky to have a lot of great people around me, but I owe everything to Jason Pridmore. He helped me get a ride here in the US back in 2013 even though he didn’t know me. He opened up his home and has been a great coach and mentor ever since. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for him.

CC: What is something about you that people might not know?

CO: I crashed 28 times my first year of racing.

CC: What is your favorite bike of all time you’ve ever ridden? (Who is your current sponsor?)

CO: I fell in love with the Suzuki gsx-r 600 I was riding back in Norway last season. The bike was amazing!

CC: Why do you feel rider education is so important?

CO: It’s all about safety. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if you’re a street rider or a professional roadracer. When you’re on a motorcycle you’re exposed, and it’s all about minimizing the risks. My whole life with motorcycles started because I was reckless. I wasn’t only a danger to myself but to people around me. That’s why it’s important for me to share my experience, tell my story and make motorcycle racers aware of the dangers out there so they don’t make the same mistakes I did and only hope of being one of the lucky ones.

CC: What are your hobbies away from riding?

CO: I love horses, being outdoors and spending time with my family. Norway is an amazing country and If/when I get more time I want to see more of what this country has to offer.

CC: What keeps you grounded and focused?

CO: My family. Racing is my life and passion, but It’s important to know that there is more to life as well. I’m not sure I could be over here in America chasing my dreams if It wasn’t for the support from my family. I’ve worked so hard for my accomplishments and to get where I am today, I don’t ever want to take this life for granted.

CC: What do you want to do after racing?

CO: I could see myself staying in this sport when my career is over. I’ve learned so much from working with my sponsors, marketing, logistics & media, and I believe that my experience one day might be helpful to others. I’m not sure where I would be if I had never discovered racing though, I can’t picture myself with a better life then the one I’m living right now.

http://www.motoamerica.com/women-motoamerica-caroline-olsen-team-loxy-m4-suzuki

Getting to know Jason Pridmore

May 31, 2016 By Carol Carpenter

In our continuing “get to know” series, I wanted to do a blog on JP. I have never met JP face to face, but have spent many hours on the phone speaking to this amazing and kind man, which strikes me as surprising and refreshing since I’m around type-A men who are usually ego driven (excluding Troy of course). JP is not like that, he’s genuine, self-deprecating, humorous and kind. Not at all what I expected from such an accomplished individual as himself. He doesn’t want to talk about motorcycles, he wants to talk about life, how you are, how he can help, …he is a very giving individual. I wanted to ask him some serious questions and some fun ones too and there was a question I had asked him at the end of our Q & A that he answered with such humor, which I can’t print, that reminds you of what you already know…he’s awesome!

CC: For many new to riding, they might not know of you, can you give us some background and a summary of your accomplishments? (JP is very humble, he doesn’t like to list his accomplishments or talk about them)

JP: I’ve been riding since I was 2yrs old. I was lucky enough to be born into a racing world, my father Reg is a 3 time AMA Superbike Champion. Been very fortunate to win a number of AMA races along with countless podiums and 2 AMA National Championships. Also, I have won 2 FIM World Endurance Championships including winning at the Le Mans 24hr in 2014. Up until last year I was the only American to ever stand on an FIM World Supersport podium and was also very fortunate to race in World Superbike. I’ve raced all over the world, I have been a very lucky guy.

CC: What do you feel is your greatest moment or accomplishment while you were racing and now post racing?

JP: Wow, honestly there have been so many great memories. Winning my first AMA National at Brainerd, Minnesota was amazing. Most don’t know that I won the Imola 200 in Italy. Winning Championships are always pretty defining and I was fortunate to scoop up some of those all over the world.

Post racing is easy. Helping people realize their riding goals, working with military and mentoring kids. All those make me keep going everyday.

CC: What do you consider as your defining moment and why?

JP: Not sure I can think of one. I do know this, nothing beats pulling into the winners circle and seeing your team, family and friends overwhelmed with your success. I had some moments racing that I only wish I could relive one more time.

CC: Do you have any pre-riding routines and/or superstitions? For example, Aaron Yates used to wear the same socks until he crashed, do you have a list of things you do on and off your bike?

JP: This is a funny one. I never went to sleep the nights of race weekends on my back with my arms folded across my chest. Always creeped me out, I am sure you can figure out why.

CC: What is your favorite post victory riding memory?

JP: Having my mom (Who doesn’t love this guy?) at the races anytime I won was so rad. Taking Richard Stanboli for a victory lap after winning the Formula Extreme Championship, that guy was amazing to work with.

CC: Who do you admire, consider a hero or a mentor?

JP: My dad for sure, couldn’t have ever got where I did without him. Ken Greene is someone not many know but I look up to and admire to this day, incredible rider and mentor to me.

CC: What is something about you that people don’t know?

JP: As much as I travel, I am a homebody. I would do almost anything to just chill in my house and enjoy my time at home. Also, I was the first guy to win an AMA National on the GSXR 1000 which was at Sears Point in 2001 in the bikes very first race. Good trivia question for people. I qualified for the US Amateur Golf Championship and 2 US Mid Amateur Golf Championships. Guess that’s 3 things, haha.

CC: Other than your current sponsor, what is your favorite bike of all time you’ve ever ridden? (JP is currently sponsored by Kawasaki)

JP: Ridden so many bikes but the bike I won my Championship with Richard Stanboli on in 2002 was incredible. Can’t say it was the funnest at times because it was straight violent but it made me a better rider. 2002 GSXR 1000. Also, my very last race was the Le Mans 24hr for factory BMW, bike was amazing and made me wish I was 20yrs younger so I could keep racing.

CC: You run Star Motorcycle School, why do you feel rider education is so important?

JP: Bikes these days are incredible. I see too many people that have plateaued with their riding and have stopped their advancement. Being able to break down the fundamentals again will make people think about what they are doing again and make them better and safer riders. I know what almost every rider out there wants, to get faster!!! Let’s take the time to learn every technical aspect of riding so we aren’t riding off into a dark room. Too much seat of the pants riding out there, I wanna fix that.

CC: You’re a golf addict, can you tell us what got you started? Who you admire most as a golfer?

JP: I miss racing a lot. But there comes a time when you have to realize you have to move on as an athlete. I never accomplished everything I wanted to as a racer but it wasn’t because of lack of effort. Golf now is something that allows me to keep my competitive juices going. It’s such a hard sport and I get so much satisfaction playing well.

I recently played 54 holes of golf with Rickie Fowler and was a fan before we teed it up. Now I have huge admiration for him. Besides being top 5 in the world, the guy is just pure class.

CC: Do you feel golfing helps your riding? Why?

JP: No doubt golf has helped my riding and riding has helped my golf. Both sports you can really only control what you do, can’t control anyone else. Golf has taught me patience even though I don’t exude that trait very well sometimes.

My thanks to Jason taking his time out of his busy schedule to participate in this Q & A. He travels nonstop coaching and announcing, most of the time I had conversations with him while he was driving to yet another airport. He’s a trooper though and the consummate professional, he actually felt guilty that he was late in getting his answers back to me, yep that is the type of guy he is.

Jason Pridmore will be at the Ridge MotorSports Park June 27-28 for a special two day event. There are 3 groups that rotate throughout the day. Group 1 and 2 are track only groups, Group 3 is the special session with Jason Pridmore in the Classroom and on track. Group 1 and 2 are open to all makes and models of bikes and both men and women. Group 3 on the 27^th is dedicated to women and the 28^th to men. We have confirmed Caroline Olsen will be joining us as well as Corey Alexander. This is an event you won’t want to miss, there has never been this much talent on the track at one time in the PNW. Save yourself time by signing up online and reserving your spot for this special event. Look forward to seeing you out there for this amazing event and opportunity to meet and learn from some of the most talented riders this track has ever seen in one place at one time!

Technology and Profiling

May 3, 2015 By Carol Carpenter

With new technology being introduced into automobiles, the increased use of smartphones and just the sheer inattentiveness of drivers or being distracted, it is more crucial than ever to be more aware when riding. The AAA conducted a study of motor-vehicle safety systems and found that motorcycles were detected 26% more slowly than a typical car. The fact that dealers use this as a positive selling point can lull drivers into a false sense of security that they will be able to detect any vehicle and choose not to take a quick glance to make sure. While technology is truly a wonderful thing and it continues to advance at lightning speed, for riders this can be more cause for concern than give us confidence that we will indeed be detected. Just because you see their caution light come on in their mirrors as you enter their blind spots doesn’t necessarily mean they see you, there may actually be a car they are picking up entering that spot behind you, so pass them with caution and always ride as if you are invisible. Remember there is the blind spot and then the death spot as I previously mentioned in the last blog, that would make you directly in that death spot.

I’ve adapted profiling cars as I ride, it is exactly what it sounds like…watching them ahead and behind me to see if their driving is erratic, distracted, have their heads down, are rocking out, having an argument, etc. Those are just a few things to look out for when you are riding to help you make the best decisions and basically steer clear of them. I’ve noticed the best drivers have stickers of manufacturers that are motorcycle driven, they often are very understanding and will move over to let you pass and at times move back to keep others from riding up your backside. In contrast, those driving high performance sport cars are very happy to try to engage you in a race, don’t bite! They are often going to draw undue attention of law enforcement and who needs to be caught up with that? In the Pacific Northwest, I also find pickup trucks to be awesome, they are usually sport enthusiasts of the two wheeled kind and are very conscious of motorcyclists. As you ride, start profiling a bit and soon you’ll see that there definitely people in certain cars that are more attentive drivers, others that are completely oblivious and some that will surprise you and I don’t know about you, but I hate surprises, especially when they come in the form of a 3-4 lane change last minute (oh shit) I need to make the exit kind of variety. Look into the cars ahead of you when you are behind them, have they looked up to see you there (could you see their eyes glance up in the rear view mirror)? Good, then they are acknowledging they see you, if not, get away from them as soon as possible. Also, if the people are looking to change lanes they typically will turn their heads to see if the lane is clear, give them a bit of space to do so and look at tires, they don’t lie, if they are pointed in your direction, slow it down a bit just to make sure they see you.

As motorcyclists, the burden of our safety is placed on ourselves so put yourself in the best position to be seen, ride with the flow of traffic (don’t be so far behind that cars speed up to get around you) and ride with complete awareness. Ride with a plan and then have a backup just in case, our machines are very quick to respond to our inputs so use that to your advantage when you are surrounded by automobiles…try to ride to those gaps in traffic where you can take a a breather until you hit the next cluster of cars. Riding is such an integral part of our lives and I know we would all like to continue to do it for a lifetime so let’s make it a priority to be better educated and get the skills necessary to make that happen. The riding season is upon us so let get out there and Vixens Ride!

Ready to Ride?

February 18, 2015 By Carol Carpenter

With the weather warming up and sunny days peeping in more frequently, I’ve seen an increase in riders on the road so I thought I would just mention a few things to remember. We take our bikes for granted and sure hopping on the bike at the first peep of sun seems like a great idea, but have you had a chance to tune it up and get it road ready and safe for your spur of the moment ride? If your bike has been sitting for a while, take a little time checking the fluids (water, oil, brake fluid), do a quick walk around the bike, pump your brakes to check for air in lines or accumulation of moisture, make sure the electronics are all working properly, fire up the bike and let it run (if it is dead might need a new battery or if it sounds rough the fuel may have condensation in it and you may need to pump out the fuel and add fresh fuel), check condition of tires (cracks or even the need for new ones) and always check tire pressures. KFG will do a free multipoint inspection and repairs down in Auburn and if you are up north call and/or drop in to 2 Wheel DynoWorks for any repairs, check our special offers page for participating dealers to get your bike ready to ride. In addition, quick look at your gear and if it needs a bit of dusting off now’s the time or maybe it’s even time to do a little shopping! Oh I just love getting new gear! Just a few minutes of precaution can save you a ton of heartache in the end. Remember we are entrusting our lives to these machines and they will serve you as well as you remember to service them.

The best thing to do of course is to plan ahead, if you know it’s going to be great weather soon and you are planning to get out there, do your maintenance and check a week before your ride that way you can fix the things you need to and venture out confident your ride will be enjoyable. The weather is still brisk and just a reminder that your tires are not going to get warm enough to get premium traction so take it easy, not to mention the moss, leaves, gravel, oil, etc on the roads out there…it’s gonna be slicker. We are also a bit out of practice not riding as often as we’d normally ride when it’s spring/summer, not a good time to go balls to the wall first thing, ease into it and get your bearings. Be safe and let your head, eyes and reflexes get up to speed again. Drivers also need to get used to seeing more motorcycles on the road again so they might not be as aware of you, be extra vigilant and focused when you ride to avoid meeting unexpectedly…we all know they aren’t aware anyway, but let’s try to give them the benefit of the doubt here due to the winter months. Springs-a-coming and track days are around the corner…save those crazy speeds for the track…there are heightened patrols out there and I know none of us want to get a ticket to ruin our day.

Be Safe and Vixens Ride! See you out there on the roads!

Life Flight

August 5, 2014 By Carol Carpenter

On a recent track day there were several crashes and a few that required Emergency transport, this led to a discussion from the EMT about the importance of having Life Flight. The individual I spoke with stressed for a small fee (in comparison to the bill the air transport would charge in an emergency) you could have the peace of mind of knowing that the service would be there if needed and this doesn’t just apply at the track. In the event you were a part of an accident in your car, out hiking, biking, etc. should you ever require air transport, it is covered when y life-flight-in-flight ou become a member.

http://www.lifeflight.org
For $60 a year per family you can be covered in the event you or anyone in your immediate family needs this service. For those of you who ride the track regularly, consider purchasing this little bit of insurance since you just never know what can happen and being prepared can give you and your loved ones peace of mind. We do not have any affiliation with this organization and we do not benefit from people signing up with them, we just make every effort to inform you of services we find beneficial to riders like us. Look forward to seeing you out there enjoying the sunshine and hopefully soon at one of the track days, in the meantime, rubber side down!

Vixens Ride!

New focus on street riders

July 2, 2014 By Carol Carpenter

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!

Visibility

November 26, 2013 By Carol Carpenter

Even for the skilled rider visibility is always a concern, as riders we are constantly faced with being seen by drivers. It is however, our responsibility to make our presence known by doing a few things to ensure our own safety. As many a street riders knows, riding on the street can be dangerous if you go in with the mentality that drivers are aware of you, big surprise, they don’t. You must be able to make yourself visible, predict scenarios and keep yourself away from potential danger and deal with hazards if and when they occur. Riding on the street was once described to me as being in a real life video game and I do have to admit, it truly is. This is even more important as the weather changes and the daylight hours decrease, having the knowledge in making your presence known is paramount to your safety.

Being visible is the most important part of your riding strategy, from the moment that helmet goes on, it should be your main mission. “See and be seen” is the common phrase most schools will use and is the most important part of any riding strategy. The most common comment by motorists about motorcycle accidents is that they didn’t see the motorcyclist until it was too late. Motorcyclists being smaller than cars can make it harder for drivers to judge their speed and truth be told we are small enough that the brain (when looking in the mirrors) may just see us as part of the background and not as a potential hazard. This coupled with technology and drivers being distracted by their smartphones can lead to disaster, so ride aggressively by letting your presence be known…(i.e. not riding in blind spots, with high beams on, signaling when changing lanes, lane positioning, using a horn should the driver drift in your lane, flashing your brake light before stops, etc.).

Always wear protective gear, whether it is bright, light, whatever…just wear proper gear. That gear will save you in the event of an accident, so don’t think that just because you are going around the corner for a quick ride nothing can happen, it can and probably will so just be prepared. Riding with your headlight on high beams during the daytime can help, but remember to turn it off in the evening hours so as not to blind drivers. Also, use your flasher at night if need be to let your presence be known, drivers may not see you and the brief flicker will get their attention pretty quickly. Communicate your intentions clearly, don’t be wishy washy, know what you are planning to do and execute it precisely so there is no confusion to the actions you are about to take. If you are changing lanes or turning always remember to signal and cancel them after (talking to those of you who leave those blinkers on). If you are stopping, a quick little squeeze of your brake before you fully brake will let drivers know you will be stopping. Use your horn if necessary, but honestly most drivers can’t hear our horns over their stereos so avoidance is a better strategy.

Scanning is our best line of defense when it comes to safety. Seeing the things that might affect you is key to your best defense and that requires scanning, not just the things ahead of you but surrounding you as well. Never let your attention be fixed on any one object for more than a split second and the general rule is to scan a 12-15 second path of travel, meaning that you need to see ahead to an area it will take you approximately that time to reach. If you are traveling at a higher rate of speed, you will cover a lot of ground and you must be able to maneuver your way around hazards that much more quickly. Gathering information about road conditions, traffic ahead, behind and beside you as well as vehicles that can cross your path of travel are especially critical, not to mention pedestrians and animals. Checking your rearview mirrors and physically turning to check blind spots are all essential when changing lanes, turning or stopping. Determining what is important during a scan involves practice and experience, but the basics are the same. Focus on your intended path while maintaining a nice cushion around you (we have the benefit of speed so use it), if you feel squeezed in then get around the obstacles and provide yourself a safe cushion around you so your attention can be used on road hazards vs. cars surrounding you. Check your rearview mirrors often and what is beside you, as they will not always be aware of you being there and make sure to stay out of drivers blind spots (moving within the lane, lane positioning, helps drivers know you are there). Keep your eyes up, don’t look down or your response time will be cut dramatically. Getting good visual information is very important for riders because everything that follows involves decisions is based on that information.

Riding a motorcycle is complex and involves perception which uses our senses (the reason we all love to ride). From the information we receive in our brain we have to quickly weed out and determine what is important and what isn’t in seconds. Bad decisions are made when we are impaired and unable to correctly process this information, which is why you shouldn’t ride when you are under the influence, emotionally impaired or are sleep deprived, as your reaction time is greatly reduced or you just end up making inappropriate responses that can lead to a harmful event. Always look where you want to go, yeah we’ve all heard this a million times, but it is true. Always look where you intend to go and your bike will magically follow where your eyes take you, ok it’s not magical but it does. That is why you don’t want to target fixate, where you focus on an object for longer than your should, your body tenses as it sees it as a potential danger and before you realize it, you are headed for the object you had ever intention to avoid. Look past it and be aware of it, but focus on where you want to be and you will end up on the path you are focused on. It takes practice and confidence in your abilities and if you are riding with the hair on the back of your neck standing on end, sweaty palms, racing heartbeat or even a death grip on your bars, you may be riding well above your means. Riding involves all of your senses, use them to your advantage, but stay relaxed and with smooth steady movements (your hands should be nice and slow). If your arms or hands are tired after every ride, you are too tense, learn to relax and give less input to your bike, it will thank you for it and you will enjoy the rides that much more. Seat time is the only way to feel more comfortable on your bike so get out there often and practice. Be safe and see you Vixens out there!