By Nicky Zarras
(Originally printed in the Winter Issue of the STAReview, the official publication of the MSTA.)
It’s early morning on October 30,
2020, and I would like to sleep in, but
I can hear the BMW S 1000 RRs being
woke up from their trailers and put on
the lot some 24 miles away. I get into
my car loaded with camera gear and
drive out to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway track to support Jim Soltis, who
is attending the California Superbike
School (CSS). This Friday, the weather is
sunny, calm, and forecast to be 75-degrees, with Saturday a sunny 81-degree
day. I see the CSS crew has the red and
red/white/blue BMW S 1000 RRs lined
up (the instructors ride the red RRs). The
S 1000 RR was chosen for its advanced
electronics and powertrain and generated the safest track record. During
this two-day session, there were zero
mishaps. Overhead I hear the sound of
jet fighters from Nellis AFB, NV, and it
feels like a great day to be alive!
Jim Soltis is attending a two-day Level I/II session of Keith Code’s CSS. Level
I/II, and Level III and IV run simultaneously. The two-day sessions are open to
all riders. Level I/II focuses on first-time
students to CSS. Level III, IV focuses on
returning riders wanting to advance
their riding skills even further. Riders
new to the CSS curriculum transition to
Level II on day two. Keith Code gave me
permission to take photos of the course
and attend the classes. I attended Keith
Code’s school in 2012, and it was a great
experience. Each day they had a continental breakfast laid out, lunch, and
plenty of healthy snacks and hydration
drinks for the group.
Everyone signed in and sat down
for the orientation/safety briefing presented by Cobe Fair, the Chief Riding
Coach. The course was at full enrollment, so they broke up the Level I/II
students into a white and yellow group.
That allowed them to stagger the classroom and track time efficiently. Loran
Dolan and her two assistants were
the sheepherders, announcing which
group was to go to class, and which
rode. Her team used an announcement
bell, a bullhorn and hand held paddles
with written commands, to help guide
the groups. It ran like clockwork.
Each classroom session taught a specific skill. On the track, students were
told which gears to use and what speed
to attain, so each taught skill could be
practiced in a manner to maximize the
student’s learning curve.
For example, on ride 1, CSS teaches
throttle control and a sense of speed
before a rider reaches a turn’s entry
point. They taught emotional response
vs. logic,……….
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