The Happiest Place on Earth

Krystyna Kubran’s write-up of her experience at the STAR Motorcycle School April 6th and 7th, 2009. Enjoy!

Krystyna's R1 at Bumpywillow; Courtesy of www.munchphotos.com.

I attended my first Jason Pridmore STAR School in November 2006. I was a little unsure of what to expect. By the end of the 2 days, not only had I learned a lot, but I also I felt like I had found somewhere I belong, amongst a phenomenal group of racing instructors and students who, all together, create the happiest place on earth!

Fast forward to 2009, and I’m attending my 4th STAR School at Buttonwillow Raceway in beautiful Buttonwillow, Calif. – My home track, and scene for the first WERA West race of May 2009 – a few short weeks away.

Two time AMA national champion Jason Pridmore teaches the classroom sessions for the first half of the day, then gets on track after lunch for a demo session, 2-up rides, and instruction with students. His manner of teaching in the classroom makes everyone feel welcomed, at ease, and like you can ask anything!

After the introductory session, we went on track for some follow the leader; this helped us all ease into the day and get familiar with the track.

Back in the class room again, Pridmore, also known as “JP,” talked about the track and some techniques, then had us go out and use only 2nd and 3rd gear. This, he said, will slow us down a bit, and give us less to think about – less shifting, slower speeds – so that we can focus on our technique. In my personal case, the technique I wanted to focus on was use of the brakes – how they feel and how I’m applying them.

My braking skills need some serious improvement. I arrived at STAR with my notebook and my goals of what I wanted to learn. Number one on the list was brakes, followed closely by general liter bike technique; I was hoping to minimize further incidents like what happened at the Vegas WERA race in January, when a big rear wheel spin gave me quite a surprise.

So I enjoyed the 2nd/3rd gear drill so much that I spent the rest of the day using only 2nd and 3rd! It really helped me focus on my goals of brake control and getting the bike up off the edge of the tire.

JP brought in a guest instructor, Australian Damian Cudlin – Damian races World Endurance and has been racing bikes since he was a kid in the dirt. It was only after the fact that I realized Damian races an R1, just like me, and has for a very long time!

I asked him to follow me around for a session, so we went out in the 3rd or 4th session of the first day. I thought it was pretty funny how he was giving me the “talk” of how not to show off, and how going super fast and crashing will not impress him…blah, blah, blah. I guess he’s used to working with guys, because chicks never really care about showing off to the point of riding over our heads.

I was to follow him for the first two laps, and then he would wave me by. I told him before we went out that I’d only be using 2nd and 3rd gear. When we pulled in at the end of the session to chat I heard the best thing I could’ve ever hoped to hear for those 2 days. “You go really, really good in the fast section,” Damian said, almost with disbelief. Talk about an ego boost! I was so happy! I just wanted to say, “please repeat that!”

The best part about his compliment was the part that can’t easily be expressed in writing, and it was the sound of his voice and his genuine reaction that were so much more meaningful than what he could ever possibly tell me. He didn’t think I would go nearly half as well as I went, and his surprise at this was what made me so unbelievably proud.

So down to business! I swear Damian has an eagle eye and photographic memory, because he recounted things I was doing with my hands and body that I barely even knew I was doing! It was like he was sitting on my tank watching everything that was going on. His explanations and advice gave me the missing pieces and the road map to get to where I want to go with my braking; it took just that little bit to help me fill in the missing piece.

The rest of the day I worked on that and my braking really improved!

We started out the next day with a track walk, before anyone went out to ride. Jason discussed specific corners that either students are struggling with or that emphasize a theory or three that he teaches in the class room. He had his instructors ride out on the school bikes, and then park them in strategic locations to illustrate his talks. The morning track walk on the second day is so beneficial, no matter how many times you ride that track!

For example, we spent some time at the infamous turn 2 – the uphill right hander that becomes off-camber as you crest the hill, then abruptly drops back to flat. Many crashes happen here, including two of my own!

During the track walk, I was better able to see the line that Damian had shown me the previous day, but I also noticed that there is a black square, on the track, that marks the spot where the track becomes flat, and when you can finally hammer the throttle.

Damian’s line through T2 allowed him to pick up the throttle significantly sooner than my line allowed me to do, which was a very good illustration of how much my line sucked!

To illustrate how “90% of racing is between the ears,” listen to this:

As I mentioned, the Happiest Place on Earth is the race track, but my personal happy place is STAR School; I love the easy going, relaxed atmosphere, and for some reason, I ride better at STAR School than I do at any other time!

I told Jason and Damian that I wanted to burn off a hot session near race pace to prepare for the WERA West round at Vegas this weekend. I wanted to get their feedback on my braking, but also any other comments they might have had.

Since I’d been working a lot with Damian, I was thrilled that he was available to come play with me. The session prior I felt so good! Smooth, relaxed, and just on the ball. A WSMC racer on a Ducati played with me a bit, and put me in a competitive, spirited place. So I thought, “alright, it’s time, I’m ready to do some hot laps.”

I followed Damian for 2 laps, he waved me by, and we get started. Now that I had consciously decided it was time to go fast, I felt like I could do nothing of the sort. I made so many mistakes; I felt stiff, jerky on the brakes, just the complete opposite of everything I’d felt at STAR School up to this point.

Damian and I sat down for quite a while after this session, we went over sections of the track where I could make small improvements – drive in deeper, commit to the throttle – that will net me huge seconds. I also discussed with him at length what had just happened mentally to me, how I broke apart when I decided it was time to “go fast.”

STAR School instructors are the best – racers, coaches…and therapists!

The rest of the day, I worked on the few items Damian gave me to work on. After lunch the wind picked up something fierce! The coastal storm front was wreaking havoc on the area and closed down Interstate 5 due to a rumored 4 big rigs and 12 car crash!

There was nothing more bizarre than preparing to turn left into the last corner at Buttonwillow, while leaning to the right.
At first I was freaked out by the wind! I wanted to pack up and go home, but I opted to use the techniques I learned at school these two days, and to apply them to overcoming adverse conditions – riding relaxed, and appropriately for the conditions.

I went out with Damian again, for a last session. In the end I succeeded – I improved in the areas he and I discussed, but more importantly, I was able to overcome my own mind by staying relaxed and riding smooth despite the conditions.

Sometimes adverse conditions come in the form of wind or rain, and other times they come in the form of self-doubt or lack of confidence, causing us to stiffen up and not change to deal with the conditions. I feel so fortunate that I was able to discover this mental side. There is rarely ever any training that you can get to work on the mental side of riding; sometimes the opportunity to address it simply presents itself.

I feel so grateful to have been able to attend these two days with JP and company at STAR School. They provide the friendliest, most relaxed atmosphere you’ll find anywhere.

STAR School is my happy place, and when I line up on that grid this weekend, mentally I will be back at STAR, cruising around the Happiest Place on Earth!