CLASS::Feedback - What our students have to say about...

by Chris Ward

Having just returned from an excellent 3000+ mile adventure in Colorado (from ILL) where second and third gear rule the twisty bits. Preparing for my first CLASS with Reg Pridmore on June 19th at Grattan Raceway in MI. What should happen the week before: I loose second gear. First indication was a power surge taching up in second. Then two power surges in second. Now I'm thinking fuel because I just installed my fuel cell. Then, however, bike refused to go into second at all and is grinding like only a tranny can.

Disassembly, reveals that second gear had started to wobble on it's bushing and was rubbing the shift fork. This was probably going on for some time, but the stress finally caused the shift fork bushing (in the shift drum) to break (about a 1/4 chuck came out) With this situation the fork could no longer move passed a turn in the drum to get into second. The bike is a 91 K75S with 126K on the clock. The tranny had always been a tad noisy since I got it around 100K. Oh well, we can rebuild it better than before and I'll get a new clutch disc and anything else in needs along the way (i.e. main seal). So I can't complain.

Still, this left the CLASS dilemma...what to do? I was too late to cancel without loosing $200 dollars. A couple of people offered me their K100's, but I was reluctant to accept because I'd feel obligated to fix anything I broke (and I already had the expense of my own tranny to think about). The girl friend offered her 00 Ninja 250,

however. This I could live with. I figured if I went down, I'd just buy her a new one (with a credit card) and keep hers to play on. Plus I was comfortable on this bike. I'd done all the maintenance and ridden it whenever I was working on my bike, so I wouldn't spend the day getting used to it. There was one problem: tires. I tried to get new one's, but I was too late my suppliers couldn't get them to me by the weekend. I e-mail Reg and Gigi and said I could come on this bike, but would have 2000mi on the tires which still looked new. They said come ahead..."That bike's not a tire eater," Reg said.

So I leave Sunday the 18th my first longish trip aboard the mini Ninja. I left right after Father's day lunch and had about 300mi to get there. The mini Ninja is amazing, running an indicated 80 mph it turns out nearly 60 mpg! I only had one medium sized dry bag strapped behind me, but that was all I needed for an over nighter. The ride up was uneventful, but a tad tiring. I got to the hotel about 9:30 after a time change. I check in unload and became desperate for food. I hadn't eaten since lunch because I didn't want to get drowsy. The hotel tells me where to hunt food and I'm off. I find an Outback Steak house and my heart sinks as they close at 9:30. It's now past that. Still they let me in and feed me a good NY strip...I tipped extra good for that one.

Back at the hotel I take a moment to walk around and check out the bikes. Everything you could think of was there. The BMW contingent: R11S's, K12RS's, R11RT's, a K75S, a nice R100S, a R80GS and a R100GS. Japanese sport bikes abound: a Hyabusa (SP?), VFR's, CBR's, ZX600's, YZF's, a 1200 Bandit and on and on. Italian exotica was in force too: Ducati's a plenty, and Aprilia's including a 250cc two-stroke race replica!

I was stunned and out classed. I ran into the Bandit owner, who informed me the track was over 30 minutes away. I expressed worry about the 250...he reassured me that Grattan was a tight technical course (which is why I picked it and not Road America the week before)..He said I might have the best bike for the track.

I couldn't sleep much that night. I had to get up around 5:30 a.m. to be at the track by 7:30 and I didn't want to blow it on oversleeping. I got up, without the alarm or wake up call, and was on the road. It's a good thing I left early because I made a wrong turn (or didn't turn) and went 15 minutes out of my way. Since, however, I left so early I was still among the first to the track. I even beat the Pridmore trailer. The tension was mounting as even more bikes began to show. After failing tech inspection for the first time due to not enough duct tape on my brake light I pass through and received the "You Can't Touch This-CLASS" sticker on the windshield. Having the tires pass inspection was a load off.

After tech inspection Reg spoke to all of us about his expectations/rules for the day. Then we divided into A and B groups. I went with B since I'd never been on a track (and of course the 250). Reg took B group around to some of the more tricky corners so we could see group A come through in tow by his instructors. This gave us the basic lines they wanted us on. Then we switched and B group got to follow the instructors around in small groups. This was great because it got all the butterflies out and got you used to the
track all at once.

Then B group was back in the class room for our first real instruction. I won't go into the details, but Reg is an excellent teacher. He's really enthusiastic and passionate about what he does, it's contagious and you can't help but go out on the track to try the good stuff Reg is giving you.

The first laps had me worried, because people were bunching up and it was near impossible to pass the train. This only happened the first couple of times out then people started to get up to speed. Once this happened people got strung out pretty good and if you could get a pass no one held you up.

I was worried that I wouldn't feel like I got enough track or instruction time for the money. I was wrong on both counts. A was on the track, with B in the class room....then switch and on and on, about 20 minute shifts. Lunch wasn't till 1:00 p.m. and before then I felt like I'd already gotten my moneys worth.

As to the Ninja 250. Except for the straight-a-way the 250 ruled! It was a blast to be on a super light and nimble bike. I could hold outside lines in the twisties to pass most anyone. Turn 3 was my favorite because I'd catch those who blew by me on the straight. Turn 3 was a hard left way off camber that happened right after a slight rise, so you couldn't see it coming. I could dive deep on this one and get passes before turn four. This was too much fun. Even the straight was great fun. If I got a good drive on the last two corners into it (and this was often hard due to traffic) I could hit 105 mph (indicated). It was a rush extracting the max from the mini.

Late in the day I passed a yellow VFR going into turn one, me still going 100 (on the outside) as I just started to shut it down for the corner, then I blasted the twisties. As I came up toward the straight they were waving us in (turned out to be the last lap of the day). I pull into the pits and a moment later the kid on the VFR pulls up. "Jeeezzze, what is that? A 500?", he said. "Nope, it's a 250!", I reply. "Wow" he looks at me dumbfounded, "Your riding that thing pretty good!" "Thanks!" I say. That along with a thumb's up from an on course instructor made my day.

The real point, however, is that I came away with skills to work on in the months and years to come. Sure the course was fun and track time was a blast (that could become addictive), but the real point is I learned a lot. I'd taken the basic MSF course and the ERC. They were both great and I highly recommend them, but I'd have to rate Reg's CLASS way above both. The way I see it is Reg is there to sharpen skills already acquired, give you entirely new skills to work on and eliminate the bad habits we all pick up. Reg's excellent instruction and the controlled environment of the track (rather than a parking lot) is simply an unbeatable combination.

To cap CLASS off I took the ride with Reg. This was the best $20 dollar donation I've ever made. Reg embodies the smoothness and control he teaches: shifting, braking and cornering at dizzying lean angles all at once. Total control. So smooth the only way you know he's shifting is the exhaust note keeps changing. He was giving two laps since Grattan was only 2 miles. On the second lap he wanted you to either tap him on the back to slow down or thumbs up to go faster. I'd already told him to go fast as he wanted (he said he'd only go 5 or 6 tenths with a passenger). I gave him an enthusiastic thumbs up and he took it up a notch more. It was amazing. On the "hump jump" (which was like a slight rise on the Ninja) he had the bike completely unloaded, he downshifted as he crested and waited till she was loaded again to brake slightly for turn 5: Unreal, this is all instantaneous. If you go to CLASS take the ride with Reg!

It was such a great day. I know I'll return to Grattan or another track for CLASS I can't recommend it enough. The day concluded around 4:30 p.m. with Reg giving us certificates and final farewells. The feeling at CLASS is one of camaraderie rather than competition. A bunch of motorcyclist getting together to learn from a true professional and his excellent staff! What could be better?

Chris Ward