best race school to *learn*??

best race school to *learn*??

Author
Discussion

SpydieNut

Original Poster:

5,797 posts

223 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Hi all

I was planning on doing a Ron Haslam day in Sept. I've been riding about 20 yrs, but wanted to do a race school to learn to be a 'better' rider (and hopefully to also become a faster one) ie body position etc.

On reading the reviews on here - it sounds like fun (and it's nice to use their bikes and gear), but just following an instructor, how much do you learn. You may go faster by the end of the day, but if your body position is still crap, that's no good.

Would the Jamie Witham day be better? I know I'd need to use my own stuff, but that's OK, if it's going to teach me to be a better (+ faster) rider.

Or the CSS - although it's expensive at £409 for the day (if you use your own bike. bike hire is an extra £250).

many thanks for your thoughts.

scorcher

3,986 posts

234 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
A day with "Spike" Edwards?.
http://www.mike-edwards.net/

bennyboysvuk

3,491 posts

248 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
I did the Ron Haslam day years ago since apparently I had to to get my race licence (not that anything was actually ever checked) and was instructed by a nice club rider on a very wet day.

He gave decent advice and pointed out how I could go quicker, which was mainly at corner entry. We worked on that and I followed him faster and faster into Gerrards. It was great and really boosted my confidence and we were going quick enough to enjoy getting it a bit squirrely exiting the esses too.

Timbo_S2

531 posts

263 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Scorcher is right - a day with Spike would be the best way of going faster. But its expensive.

I've done CSS 1&2, and thought it was good value for money. Some people don't get on with their teachings though.

Ive a couple of mates who instruct at Ron Hasloms school. I'd like to give this a whirl, as they are both bloody quick, but the half day thing puts me off a little. I'd rather do CSS if im gonna have to take a full day off anyway!

Have you tried booking tuition at a local track day?

MrKipling43

5,788 posts

216 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Whitham day was absolutely brilliant at Anglesey, and great value.

Can't recommend it strongly enough: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

LoonR1

26,988 posts

177 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Timbo_S2 said:
Scorcher is right - a day with Spike would be the best way of going faster. But its expensive.

I've done CSS 1&2, and thought it was good value for money. Some people don't get on with their teachings though.

Ive a couple of mates who instruct at Ron Hasloms school. I'd like to give this a whirl, as they are both bloody quick, but the half day thing puts me off a little. I'd rather do CSS if im gonna have to take a full day off anyway!

Have you tried booking tuition at a local track day?
If they're mates why don't you just book a trackday with them?

philz

107 posts

243 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
I've done the Ron Haslam school and CSS1 and CSS2.

Ron Haslam was fantastic fun but there wasn't really any training as such, it was more a case of thrashing around Donnington as fast as you dared.

CSS1 was revolutionary, really good classroom instruction followed by practicing on track. Came away a much faster but also safer rider.
CSS2 was a bit dull. Classroom stuff was good again but my instructor was a killjoy so I felt like I didn't really get much from day 2.

My recommendation would be to do CSS1 followed by a track day to put it into practice.

Timbo_S2

531 posts

263 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
LoonR1 said:
If they're mates why don't you just book a trackday with them?
Have done, my bikes never gone faster than when we swapped SRAD's!

However, getting advice on a public trackday is different to the school environment...

LoonR1

26,988 posts

177 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Timbo_S2 said:
Have done, my bikes never gone faster than when we swapped SRAD's!

However, getting advice on a public trackday is different to the school environment...
Not really. I learned off a few mates who were instructors on trackdays amd a few who were just keen TDers themselves. I learned a load more that way than the RH day, although that was my first everyone on track.

Lincsblokey

3,175 posts

155 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
scorcher said:
A day with "Spike" Edwards?.
http://www.mike-edwards.net/
This!!!

x2million!

SpydieNut

Original Poster:

5,797 posts

223 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
thanks for your thoughts guys thumbup

will have to have a think about that - I'm sure I'll end up doing more than one of them in time, but it's just a question of which one to do first. Unfortunately Whitham's day in Sept is already booked up.