Testimony > Taylor takes it to the track

Edmonton Sun AUTONET Friday June 13, 2008

After logging over 6,000km on straight roads, where the extent of an average day's excitement was dodging cars, potholes and speed traps, I was ready to expand my riding resume with a first forway onto the race track.

Track days are not just for exorcising speed demons. The generalization of sport bike riders as hooligans racing from light to light on city streets is about as accurate and offensive as saying that all cruiser riders are one-percenters.


Specialized skills
Taking a motorcycle around a race cource is less about wringing the throttle and more about learning a highly specialized set of skills. Locally, Albertan motorcyclists can attend track days at either Race City in Calgary or Ft. Saskatchewan's Stratotech Park.

To personalize my experience and hopefully maximize learning, I opted for a spot in the Edmonton-based On Track Performance Riding School's Level 1 Class.

Like most track noobs, I was nervous if not slightly intimidated for my race track debut. As I stood in the pits watching a group of riders launch race bikes into Stratotech's sweeing turn 1 with knees skimming the curb, I wondered if my little Suzuki GS500 wasn't about to become the most sophisticated piece of technology I'd pee on since my last Clear Blue Pregnancy test.

Once the formalities of registration and signing waivers were out of the way, On Track's founder and head instructor Justin Knapik got down to business. Our class of four was told right out of the gate that we were only expected to ride to about 60% of our abilities -- good advice in a culture where skill has become synonymous with engine displacement.

As the Edmonton Motorcycle Racing Association's (EMRA) 2007 super Twins Champion, Knapik is clearly at home at Stratotech which he endearingly refers to as, "the nicest street you could ride in Edmonton."

Knapik's easy-going demeanor while running through the day's agenda quickly whittled my track day jitters right down to a sliver.

"Going fast is a by-product," he said, going on to explain that manoevering a motorcycle through the tight corners is best learned with deliberation and purpose. If we learned to be smooth, the speed would come.

Instead of hopping right on the bikes, we first entered the pristine 1,765m asphalt track on foot to get up close and personal with each of the nine corners' ideal entry, apex and exit points.

I already knew that, for me, retaining 27 pieces of non-shoe related information would be a lost cause, but I actually made it through Turn 3 before my attention mysteriously gave out as predictably as a bike during a Sturgis scorcher.

Instruction alternated between Knapik introducing the basic skills of performance riding followed immediately by 10-minute track sessions where we put theory into practice.

Learning correct lines (ideal "paths" around the track to reduce distances and lap times), proper body position in corners, downshifting and engine braking all in one day made for somewhat steep learning curve, but not throughout the day did I feel overwhelmed.


Video feedback
On board his own bike equipped with a discreetly mounted video camera, Knapik made his way through the group each session monitoring his students progress. Knapik's competance as a teacher shone through as he worked with us one-on-one, easily honing in on individual issues, demonstrating correct execution himself and then re-evaluating us.

Between the demonstrations and video used to critique and learn, my earlier inattention during the track walk didn't prevent me from catching on. Knapik's personalized debriefings after each session were especially helpful for making improvements where needed.

By day's end, my fellow students and I were visibly more confident. I was frighteningly close to achieving my goal of getting my inside knee down as I railed through the corners -- experiencing the effects of centrifugal force while being in control made for a heady combination.

My only issue with the experience was that it just wasn't enough -- which isn't so much a complaint as it is a compliment. On Track Performance Riding School will leave you wanting more.

The track is the place to really explore motorcycling's performance potential.

Any chump can go fast in a straight line -- if you are genuinely interested in becoming a more skilled and confident motorcyclist, visit the On Track website at www.ontrackperformance.ca for class schedules, rates and bike prep and gear information.

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Suggestions for future Freeride columns may be e-mailed to dreataylor@msn.com