| Author | Message | ||
     Vaneo1 |
For Christmas, a friend decided to pay my tuition for Keith Code Superbike school in April. However, my wife said not only "no" but "hell no". I am not objecting until I have some mind blowing reasons that can completely annihilate hers. Im a safe rider, and so far the only thing I thought about is that it is MORE dangerous me riding everyday than it is at the track. Track has cleaner/ smoother road, no cages, hopefully a medical staff on hand, and I would be wearing far more protection than when riding on the freeway. (ie. full leathers) Guys and girls, anything come to mind on how I can win this battle?  And before the question arisies... no... I am not gonna give it away  | ||
| Diablobrian |
To be honest a day at the track is safer than a commute to work. Explain to her the safety requirements, lack of slow moving and oncoming traffic, rules for passing, and the feedback from professional riders not only to make you a faster rider, but also (even more importantly) a safer rider. At the end of the day you will walk away with better skills and a better knowledge of what you and your bike are capable if the situation warrants it. That is not a bad thing. If she brings it up you can go into detail about the on-site ambulance and EMTs. You don't want her thinking about worst case scenarios if you can avoid it. | ||
| Daves |
Go Don't crash Proof! | ||
| Jaimec |
You aren't going to a track day... you're going to a SCHOOL. I've done the first three levels of California Superbike School and I can tell you that Keith runs a first class SAFE operation. You sit in a 20 minute lecture. You have a twenty minute break to let this all soak in, then you have a 20 minute session on the track to practice what was discussed in the lecture and ONLY what is discussed in the lecture. If you are caught doing anything else, you are flagged and corrected. Before they even let you on to the track you have to explain to the track marshal what you are supposed to be doing, and what the appropriate hand and flag signals are for that exercise. This ensures everyone is on the same page. These 20 minute cycles occur all day with a break in the afternoon for lunch. You are far safer on the track with Code's school than you are on the street or in almost any other riding environment I can think of. PM me if you'd like my phone number so the wife can talk to me, or my friends that've observed me during my sessions. | ||
| Court |
>>>>To be honest a day at the track is safer than a commute to work. That's a VERY accurate statement. Let me help you with a method I call the "Theory of Relativity". YOU: "Honey, I am really torn. I got a certificate to attend a heavily supervised track day where everyone travels the same direction, at roughly the same speed, always has someone carefully watching not only their safety but, technique and if you crash or act irresponsibly you're out, they keep the $$$, for the day. But, now Court writes and invites me to spend a day riding in New York City commuter traffic. I can only do one of them and am torn. . . can you help me decide?" No charge - that one's on me. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Nice spin Court! with "english" like that I have to wonder; you ever play 9 ball? | ||
| Djkaplan |
Tell her that statistically, it's safer than street riding. Maybe you better not use that one. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Simple, there are no cars on the track. Just nice smooth pavement with no street signs, pot holes, speed bumps or other aberrations in the environment that might cause you harm in the event you get off the bike while it's still moving. There is no glass, nails, litter, lumber, ladders, lawn chairs, refrigerators, couches, televisions, bricks, tractor tires, spike strips, land mines, or anything else that we routinely dodge on the highway. | ||
| Tank_bueller |
Agree with everything above, plus... It may be better to recognize the LACK of things at the track, which will almost always be found on a normal commute. Examples: (just to name a few) oncoming traffic people on cell phones/adjusting radio /eating/putting on makeup/shaving/reading/sleeping/etc. school buses pedestrians road construction etc... The school I attended was a real eye opener. It was obvious that EVERYONE on-track was waaay more focused and aware than most "commuters" will ever experience. Very confidence inspiring, at least for me. Oh, and it helped to know that the paramedics were only a few turns away. Tank | ||
| Djkaplan |
Well, if she knew all that, she wouldn't let him ride on the streets! | ||
| Aldaytona |
Tell her that you won't be sharing the pavement with anyone yakking on a cell phone, eating a burger, yelling at the kids, or putting on their make up which BTW usually doesn't help much. She'll understand that. | ||
| Danny_h__jesternut |
Sometimes it is much better to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Bingo Danny! I like that one too! | ||
| Regkittrelle |
It's a mistake to contrast the street with the track; it raises issues and the comparisons are not all that valid. My rationale has always been that I want to be the best rider I can be. Being so will keep me safer, and increase my enjoyment. This is a logical arguement in that riding is a skill--a risk exercise-- that requires instruction and practice. Neither of these are available in everyday riding. That is, the instruction comes from ourselves (and how dumb is that?)and the practice really amounts to repeating bad habits until they hurt you. The thought has crossed my mind that your wife probably would prefer that you didn't ride at all. That's much more difficult arguement to counter, and is usually the root of any resistance to a track day. I've taken everything that Code offers, and then some. It is a professional organization that sees no merit in scaring or hurting its students. That cannot be said of all track schools. | ||
| Ceejay |
first off-buy your friend a beer and a steak. second-enjoy the track time/school. third-take your wife to a fine dinner afterward with no mention of scooters. repeat as often as possible... | ||
| Slaughter |
It is NOT a racetrack, it's a controlled learning situation. You're not racing. You're not in uncontrolled traffic. You have cornerworkers to mark the track when there are obstructions, accidents or debris. No double yellow, no oncoming traffic. Have her email Sunny (through my PM on the profile) - Sunny did her first track day when she had less than 2000 miles EVER on a bike (Pridmores school) Better than learning on the street. Sunny even bought me a track day for Christmas - even though I'm racing 4 times a month already (hopefully) - besides all that, I'm an old(ish) fart. Much more, running out of time and the timer went off on the oven... domestic hazards... | ||
| Tdiddy |
Be a man. Tell her it's what your GOING to do. Don't ask. If you ask, she can say no. All kidding aside, I'm trying to get my boss-wife to see my side also. All she knows about race tracks are my scars and chipped teeth. It's a very good point, as stated above to point out this is a school. NOT raceday. | ||
| Tdiddy |
Ask her if you could go to wheelie school as an alternative. | ||
| Doerman |
It is school. Who can argue with somebody going to school to better themselves?? Word like track, race, performance.. should not be part of the discussion. Just simply school and education. Good luck And have fun Asbjorn | ||
| Mortarmanmike120 |
Take her with you in advance and let her see the enviornment before hand. Instead of TELLING her how safe it is, let her SEE how safe it is. Include her in the experience... if that doesn't work, go anyway. | ||
| Jlnance |
Got take out a million dollar life insurance policy. Perhaps she will see an upside.  | ||
| Slaughter |
MM120 beat me to it - if you have the chance before you go, take her out to watch one of the CSS events. Give her a chance to see how they're run. If you come to Willow Springs on race day, I'll introduce you to a couple of the instructors... maybe if she talked to a couple of them? Keep in mind that IF you come to a race day, there WILL be people crashing and don't know if that might defeat the purpose. Stu Smith usually pits really close to us, super cool guy - smooth talker too. Awesome talent and one of their instructors. Hang out in the pits with us, eat some of our Sunday chow (free food, paid for by our recycling and fund raising) | ||
| Nsbuell |
I don't know if taking her to SEE guys going around a track is a good idea...the first time I went to a motorcycle race and stood at the end of the front straight I was blown away and thought "holy @#*! these guys are nuts! How can they go that fast and not die!" Then I got on the track myself and realized riding that fast on a track is a lot more controlled than it appears. I'm reluctant to have my wife come out to the track and watch me this spring in my first race season...I know the speed of it all is going to scare the hell out of her...oh well, she'll get used to it hopefully. | ||
| T9r |
As with most things in life, fear is a healthy thing. Fear of your father and mother, fear of the cops etc. etc. but most of all a healthy fear of God. I guess a fear of your wife... but that is another story. Fear is the beginning of wisdom. Having said that her fears are not unreasonable. Relieve her fears with fun facts. Track days are a blast and you don't have to go all out on speed. Though since we are Buell folks here we like to get down the straight aways as fast as we can to the next corner. It sounds to me like the real question you want an answer to is "can my wife rationally understand why I must attend this track day?". Buy her a day at the spa in trade for your time at the track!.... good luck | ||
| Jumpinjewels |
I'm a 50's yr young female xb12scg rider and have been riding for the past 8 yrs consistently. my goal for this year is to go to the track a few times, hopefully. to me this will be a great way to learn better how to ride on the street. i think it will be a great learning experience. have already bought the leather pants for the track and my hubby is buying me the leather jacket to go with the pants. Tell your wife it will make you a much safer and experienced street rider. joined Femmoto as well so I can get discounted track days. am planning on going to Las Vegas in October for one of their scheduled track time. good luck (Message edited by jumpinjewels on January 04, 2007) | ||
| Vaneo1 |
hmmm, I like that, if I can find a way to keep her busy all day while I sneak off to school then I can ask for forgiveness later, but Ill have such a big stupid grin on my face (similar to my profile pic) that I wouldnt mind getting yelled at for this one. Great, so it appears that I have completed the checklist put fourth by you guys. 1)Call it a school not a trackday 2)Present Courts argument by stating someone offered to let me tour NY w/ them in city traffic (she might take this one since she has always wanted to go to NY) 3)Explain that the track is car, pothole, refrigerator, tire, spike strip, land mine, and television free 4)No females (and males due to current times) will be in there cars putting on makeup, talking on the cell phone, walking around in there car to pick something up from the back seat, eating a burger, etc. unless they can do it on a motorcycle...that would be amusing to watch. 5) Code will keep your money and release you early from school if you are doing anything outside of instruction 6)Buy friend a steak, and beer (although he is going to AA meetings so this might not bee a good idea) HEll I havent been to Iron Skillet in a loooooong time, that would be worth a little commute 7)Be a man and ask if its ok for me to put my foot down just this once 8) took out a 1/2 million dollar life insurance policy on both of us (heehee) compliments of the US Coast Guard 9)Take her to the school and explain how safe and controlled it is. If I left anything out, please update my list, I know there has to be a number 10 somewhere. But what can it possibly be? Taking her to see a race with Slaughter? Thats a 50/50, soon allowing her to form a 51/50 opinion about me! | ||
| Diablobrian |
Here is another novel idea: Have her call the people at CCSS and discuss her fears with them. They should be able to put her mind at ease about the safety and focus of the school. | ||
| Jerseyguy |
I told my dear wife of 35 years that I was attending a closed course rider improvement school at Pocono Raceway & that it would help me be a better rider on the street. No fibs there. | ||
| Vaneo1 |
good idea Brian, and if she still isnt satisfied then I know she has doubts about my riding. I have only crashed once and she wasnt around because she was on some tequila bus to Vegas w/ some family. Guess its kinda like a booze cruise. anyway, if she is doubting my riding then I will doubt her ever getting a bike from me since she really wants one. Thanks, great reasons here. | ||
| Court |
>>>>she was on some tequila bus to Vegas And she's worried about you on a track? Hmmmmmmm . . . |
