CA SBK: Streets of Willow

[JohnC]

I found myself out here in Cali with a free weekend and total disregard for my own safety. And frankly, after not riding a motorcycle for almost a year now, what better place to get re-aquainted with two wheels than a California Superbike School event. My brief review follows:

Streets of Willow is a short, relatively narrow, technical track that rewards precision and balls. There are a couple of relatively high-speed blind corners, like turn 2 leading to 3, and the turn right after the banked "Bowl". The end of the lap is a very tight chicane and hairpin turn leading onto the short front straight.

I feel like I really figured things out better at this event than at the last school I went to (in 2006 at VIR). The combination of slower, more technical turns and no long straights (to make up speed) meant that I really had to work on my corner entry and body position. No knees on the ground yet, but I was hanging off a *lot* more than I ever have before, and consequently had the bike hustling through the corners at a pretty decent clip.

Here's a picture with my trusty steed:



Also, referencing Gerald's thread, maybe this was national "Track your Desmo RR" weekend:

[G.Irish]

Sweet, what was the curriculum like in Superbike School Level 2?

[JohnC]

Sweet, what was the curriculum like in Superbike School Level 2?

To be honest, it was a little spacey. The Level 1 stuff was pretty practical, as in "here's how to turn the bike quickly". The Level 2 stuff got a little more abstract, like "push your awareness outward".

I've felt like I always had a pretty good sense of looking through turns and keeping my eyes up, so for me this level was really just a good excuse to get on a new track and go faster. We did get to do the "Lean Bike" which was very useful. The instructors were able to really work with me on my body position in an iterative way, which helped out a ton.

I really want to do a different school next, just to get a new perspective on things versus drinking more of the CA SBK Kool Aid.

[Apoc]

Do you think that being on a track you hadn't learned the "car line" or bad habits on was beneficial or detrimental to your progress?

[.RJ]

The line (car vs. bike) at VIR/Summit isnt really any different - I cant think of any place that requires a huge adjustment. I dont know about other tracks though.

[Apoc]

The line (car vs. bike) at VIR/Summit isnt really any different - I cant think of any place that requires a huge adjustment.

It may not be but I'm sure braking is and if you've learned any bad habits (I have a lot at Summit) they're likely to carry over. I almost feel like starting completely green would be a benefit because there's no notion of "oh I know this".

[JohnC]

Had you drive VIR in a car? If so, do you think that being on a track you hadn't learned the "car line" or bad habits on was beneficial or detrimental to your progress?

Yeah, I've driven VIR several times in a car (and truck - Lightning!). I think learning the "bike line" at Streets of Willow without having to unlearn the "car line" was definitely beneficial.

I really think that the "busy-ness" of the track was a good thing too. Lots of corners in quick succession, and not a lot of places to relax. The front straight at Streets of Willow seemed about as long as the under-bridge straight just before the uphill to the Stevie Wonders at VIR.

[CaptainHenreh]

... the Stevie Wonders at VIR.

First I
:?
Then I
:lol:

[BLINGMW]

"push your awareness outward"

:dunno: Sounds like a great time though, way to go man :thumbup:

[G.Irish]

I really want to do a different school next, just to get a new perspective on things versus drinking more of the CA SBK Kool Aid.

Yeah I really wanna try the Freddie Spencer school, but the price is a lil steep. With SBK school the thing I really wanted to get to was the 'slide' bike but I don't think that is until Level 3.

Overall do you feel like you made a worthwhile step forward with your riding?

[JohnC]

Overall do you feel like you made a worthwhile step forward with your riding?

Definitely.