Keith Code CSS October (10/27-10/28, RACE) - 2009 TBD

[Evil_Ductator]

I too did CSS this weekend.  I was in the Level I group on Sunday.  Too bad, was hoping to meet some DMF'ers.

So here's my impressions on the class.

This was my first "track day" if you can call it that.  I have wanted to do one for a while now and wanted to get some good instruction.  I know a few orgs have some instruction but I wanted more than that so CSS was perfect.  First of all, it's really cool that Keith Code still is actually teaching the class, even to the Level I students.  After so many years most guys would just have people teaching his curriculum, but not Keith.  He is very charismatic and is able to present instruction such that its very easy to understand.  If you've read his books you know what I mean.  Dylan Code also gave some instruction, and he was great as well. 

They alternate between classroom seminars and track drills.  They start with throttle control and then accumulate skills in each drill.  The other drills consist of entry point, quick turn-ins, relaxing on the bars and giving good inputs, and two-step turn-ins, consisting of looking where you want to go, then popping the bike over firmly but smoothly.  All fundamentals, but exactly that - fundamental!  Additionally, there is a lot more info in the seminars than just the skills you practice on track. Things such as picking a good line, what makes a line "good", the physics of cornering, and a lot more were all presented by Keith and Dylan in a manner that was very easy to understand, but not at all "dumbed down".

During the on-track drills, they have a coach who works with three students.  He will be behind you watching you practice the skills for that drill, without you knowing.  Then he will fly around you and have you follow him, trying to help you in areas that he sees need for improvement.  I found this incredibly helpful.  Following him, I always rode better.  It helped me take some of the "busy" aspect out of setting up my speed and picking the turn-in entry point.  Then after the drill is over they do one-on-one coaching from what they saw and ask you which corners you though you did well in and which ones you though were not so good.  Usually we jived on those, so I think I had a good idea of how I was doing.

Each time we went out I improved.  I think it was the third session where I really felt it gel.  Everything just sort of came together.  It was a great buzz.  I really nailed some of the turns and even the really tight turns at the end (12-14, I think).  I was one of the faster riders in the Level I group, although there were some others who were very skilled riders that were out to hone their fundamentals.  The guys in the upper levels were incredibly fast (to me).

By the end of the day, I was getting tired, physically and mentally but I stuck with it and after the last drill, I was spent.  I think the 5 sessions out were the perfect amount.  I also found out how poor of physical shape I'm in.  I'm rather sore today!

As for the school itself, it was very well run.  Professional, yet laid back.  Everyone there was serious about learning, yet there to have fun.  The Code family has good karma, it's obvious.  Judy Code was so nice too, they were just all very accommodating and approachable.  As were all of the instructors and other staff.  They really have a great group of people at CSS all around.

I only saw I think two crashes in the upper levels, and one in Level I, luckily on the second to last lap of the day, and it was only a lowside with no injuries.  He was riding one of their bikes and the damage took up most of his $750 deposit.  An insurance company would have called it thousands of dollars damage, so I think they were very fair about it.

Which reminds me, I also rode one of CSS's Kawi ZX-6R's and it was a fun bike.  They're set up well, so they are very stable and confidence-inspiring in the corners.   My M1000 has dual low pipes and not-so-great tires, so that was another motivator for taking CSS instead of doing a track day.  I believe there is a dedicated track bike in my near future.

Oh, and an interesting side note.  There were some guys there filming one of the students for a Greek TV show about a dude who goes around doing "extreme" stuff (diving with sharks, fighting an MMA champ, getting lit on fire, etc).  So I guess I'll be on Greek TV.  They are "in talks" with U.S. networks, but I'm not holding my breath 

So in summary, superb school, great experience, and I can't wait to do Level II. 

[gm2]

 

[sqweak]

There was an 11 year old running around on a 125 in the higher levels that was amazing to watch. Keep an eye out for Peter Lenz in the future.

I was not so pleased to have him running with my Level 1 group this spring.  I guess when CSS sponsors you it doesn't matter if you cut off and stuff paying students. 

[gm2]

....happens a lot.  but they all pass so efficiently it barely matters.

[darylbowden]

Peter Lenz is FAST.  You can do a youtube search and check out him doing some laps at willow.  The kid can flat-out ride and his Dad is like a one-man publicity machine. 

[gm2]

Peter Lenz is FAST.  You can do a youtube search and check out him doing some laps at willow.  The kid can flat-out ride and his Dad is like a one-man publicity machine. 

watched them packing up their van after CSS on 10/12.. just a funny, albeit expected, anecdote: in addition to bikes and partial bikes, that thing had at least 50 tires stacked up in it.  they be serious.

[aprilmaybe]

Funniest thing was watching him drive the RV around to the RV spaces. I have no idea how he reached the pedals.

I am glad he wasn't in my group, being passed like that is unnerving.

[sqweak]

....happens a lot.  but they all pass so efficiently it barely matters.

Level 1 is no inside passing.  The first time didn't really put me out besides surprising me, so I didn't say anything.  The second time he didn't just stuff me but cut across my nose with minimal clearance to do so.  Not a cool thing to do to paying customers who've never been on the track before. 

[Ivan]

Level 1 is no inside passing. 

Don't know about your class, but they definitely allow inside and outside passing during the current Level 1 program.   The only restriction is that there must be at least 6 ft of clearance.

My group was on break while P Lenz was on the track.  It was very entertaining to watch how he picked his way through traffic, that kid can fly.  I'm also glad he was not riding during my session....

[sqweak]

Don't know about your class, but they definitely allow inside and outside passing during the current Level 1 program.   The only restriction is that there must be at least 6 ft of clearance.

Then I'm misremembering the rule.   Point is, whatever the rules were...he was breaking em.

[madmatt]

personally I'd rather be passed fast and clean, then slowly by someone sketchy. Passing, and being passed is a fact of riding on the track. I'd be willing to bet that, other than being spooky and humbling to noobs, he is much less dangerous than the other 19 guys on the track.  

[gm2]

fwiw, as cornerworkers we call on those kids (Oct 11-12 there were 4 or 5 of them out there) all the time; so much so that we usually give up halfway through the day.  there is a bit of a double standard going on when they're @ the school, for sure.  i just meant that normally so much of their passing is a blur, that... big deal.  but yeah i can see how it would be distracting, esp early on.

[MetalDuc]

I think both sides of this are valid. Yes he is good and yes he passes effciently. I also know that I was out there with him or another little kid durring Level 1 and he was not respecting the 6 foot passing rule. While I was aware that was part of being on the track I also thought it took away from what you are trying to accomplish durring school.

I was always shocked when I saw him passing people very close right in front of me and was sure that the instructors would say something. They may have but I don't know for sure. I was pretty sure though, that had anybody else in the class been passing like that they would have been talked to and in fact some were.

Just because they are fast kids doesn't mean they should be able to break established class rules. If they are that good then passing with space shouldn't be a problem. Instructors and madmatt passed me frequently and with a good margin unlike the kid. I think sqweak is just noting this isn't an open track session and they make it clear that it is not a race. I think the kids can respect that they just need to be reminded every so often by the adults.

[gm2]

... and they are rarely reminded.

[topangster]

I too did CSS this weekend.  I was in the Level I group on Sunday. ...
So in summary, superb school, great experience, and I can't wait to do Level II. 

Evil Ductator:

Do you think doing a one-day (Level One) for your first visit was a better choice than doing the two-day (L 1 & 2)?  I'm inclined to do the same thing you did, and then go back later for a 2-day, maybe for levels 2 & 3.  My thought was doing two days the first time out might be a bit much.  Any opinion on that?

Topangster