WHATCHATHINKIN'

For the past many, many years we have made the trip to Virginia International Raceway at the bottom of Virginia to meet up with the very good folks from CLASS. For those not familiar with the name, CLASS (California Leadership Skills for Success), started by Reg Pridmore in 1986, is not a racing school but rather a means of applying racing techniques to street riding. All manner of motorcycles attend – from sport to tourers to cruisers – and if the riders seriously apply themselves and listen to the information given on and off the track, they will all go home better riders.

After 50 years of providing the friendliest and safest place to learn and imparting their riding wisdom and techniques to over 30,000 students, Reg and Gigi, or as most know her as ‘The Boss’, have pitted and are enjoying their much-deserved retirement. We will miss the fun times spent with the whole crew, the beauty of Virginia International Raceway, and the camaraderie with all those with whom we shared the track.

So, what to do about continuing our learning and improvement of riding skills? Enter Ken Condon and Riding in the Zone. Ken has been involved with two-wheeled machinery for over 50 years – personal riding, off and on-road racing, ice riding, drag racing and track day instructor. In the same year Pridmore started CLASS, Condon began his roadracing career. He is a 25-year MSF RiderCoach, bringing his knowledge and expertise as former lead instructor to Tony’s Track Days for 24 years. His books Riding in the Zone and Motorcycling the Right Way have inspired reader and riders to improve their riding and make themselves safer on the street.

In 2013 Ken began his Riding in the Zone Motorcyclist Training, including On-Street, Dual Sport/ADV, Advanced Parking Log and Non-Sportbike courses. You can find out more about all his courses on his website ridinginthezone.com.

At the end of May, we joined Ken and his fine instructors on his Non-Sportbike Training Day at Palmer Motorsports in Palmer, MA. This track is located kind of south-center of the state, north of the quiet corner of Connecticut. It is 2.3 miles with some great elevation changes and 14 cambered corners. The surrounding landscape is nicely wooded and the facilities include classroom, bathrooms and covered parking, with paddock garage rentals available. During our day of training, we did see folks with motorhomes and many who trailered their motorcycles. There is lodging within a 15 mile radius, and we made our base at the Publick House in Sturbridge, MA, with its history and fine restaurant offering two nights of restfulness.

Non-Sportbike Training Days, as with Pridmore’s CLASS, are not all-out track days at all. Our day saw sport-tourers, ADV bikes, a KLX, full-dressers (Harley-Davidson and Indian) and pretty much everything in between. There were those who had just learned to ride, some who had never been on a track before and a few with lots of experience of riding and track time. The common denominator was that everyone was there to learn and to help themselves become better street riders.

We were split into three groups – Blue (fast group), Yellow (fast but not Marquez) and Red (new to the track). After designation, it appeared that the Red group was fairly small and Ken asked if anyone would want to join them. I figured, even though I’ve been on the track quite a bit, I wasn’t looking to blister my tires so made the switch. I’m glad I did, as there were many times during the day that I was by myself on the track.

The day involved 20 minutes of track time, then 20 minutes in the classroom and the in between time used for hydrating and such. Food was available, both breakfast and lunch, from a local food truck.

Circulating amongst the participants, it was interesting to find who was who, where they were from, the experience all had, or didn’t have and why they were there. For instance, Diamond, sporting a very snazzy Hyabusa, was from Virginia and she and her husband/mechanic motorhomed up as she is trying to get her racing license and acquiring different track experiences. Another young woman on her first track experience, was riding her mother’s Triumph Scrambler, as her Royal Enfield Himalayan had been in the shop for the last many months for repair.

At the end of the day and on the ride home, I found myself analyzing my riding, and paying more attention to my entry and exiting of turns. The information on track was being taken to the street, and I encourage all who ride to do the same.