I took an ART Class !

I took an Advanced Rider Training class last Monday. The track portion was presented on a closed go cart track that looks like this:
 

Here's a pic of me riding the oldest bike on the track:
 
Bill

That's quite the track. I don't see any high speed corners to speak of. Most are tight and a couple of switchbacks.

So, what was your takeaway? What did you learn that made it all worthwhile?


This is a favorite track I like to play on Canadian Tire sponsored Mosport Track 30 miles from Peterborough Ontario Canada.



No grid starts going into corner #1
Approach to Corner #2 is a downhill run into an off camber Left Hand Corner.
Approach to corner #3 Slight uphill with a quick entry.
Approach to corner #4 is a downhill run and under a pedestrian bridge. Great place to bark the exhaust (crowd pleaser)
Approach to corner #5 is a quick rise into a hairpin that can't be taken over 40 MPH.
Coming out of #5 is a steady rise all the way to corner #7. Lots of engine blowups in this area due to too lean and a long hard spool up.
Corner #8 is a death trap. Novice's enter too fast and loose traction because of running out of tires. Many deaths.
Corners #9 and #10 are unremarkable but set up for a very interesting finish because if you are exceptional at cornering, you can catch up to the leader and possibly pass in the shart straight heading to the finish line.

Great track for spectating.  Lots of hills, one left hand turn with an off camber, a long straight away to challenge the speed followed with a high speed turn.

Hi Kawboy,
Yes your track is a real race track. Have you ever done track days on it?

 
This track was designed for go carts with speeds of 50 MPH, at least that's what the rental carts will do.

The purpose of this class was to work on advanced skills rather than just riding faster. I enjoyed the design and layout of the track because the short straights keep the top speeds below about 60 MPH which takes nothing away from the curves and hairpins which provide the real opportunities for improving skills.

The instructors emphasized getting the transitions over before the turn ins, braking, line selection, etc. That being the safest way to maintain some reserve traction in the curves. That’s at least how I started but as I became familiar with the track I couldn’t resist trail braking into the apexes. (I’ve fitted Avon Cobras and I really like the way they grip.)

I had decided that I’d run the whole course in second which meant the motor was lugging ever so slightly as I powered away from the hairpins. Perhaps I should have tried running in first with occasional shifts to second on the longer straights. The last thing I want to do in a hairpin turn is mess with shifting.

Another style the instructors wanted to emphasize  was rather than sweeping across the track as you exit a turn in order set up the next turn they told us to leave a turn and head as straight as possible to the next turn entry point. This I found more natural although perhaps not as much fun.

The last topic was body positioning. Here we learned what I can only describe as ‘Hanging Off Lite’. This technique involves keeping your legs against the tank while leaning into the turn with your shoulders and chest. Your inside arm folds as the outside arm extends. I found this posture encouraging with more practice required.

Thanks
Bill

I did a couple of track days in my 928 Porsche but not on a bike.

As for your "Advanced Training Instruction" - not what I would have expected for advanced. Never heard of being instructed to head straight for the entry point of the next corner.You need to see the line through the corner and get set up for entry. Braking to the point of the apex and then gradual release of the brakes and back on the throttle coming out of the corner maintaining a balance of forces on the tires.

Hanging off the bike in a corner - Maybe learn the technique if you plan on racing but never ride that style on the road. You loose the ability to get out of trouble in a hurry. I much prefer reverse steering to flip the bike from side to side. To each his own I guess.