[Ducati] NDC Which track school? (I thought I had it figured out)

[Peter Bonner]

Hi Kevin,

I don't think there is such a thing as a bad track school unless they have
an unsafe environment. That would be something where the track is not
controlled to keep stray animals, people etc off, the surface is not clean
and free from dirt and debris, no or poorly trained corner workers, bad mix
of fast and slow riders, lack of control of riders that might be reckless,
and all that sort of thing. Provided that is not the case, then the track
school is providing a proper environment.

Code vs Pridmore vs any of them?  If it is convenient and close to you and
you can afford it, then it is worth while. Try all of them that you can.
Some will emphasize one thing more than another. Not everything that one
type of instruction has to say will be useful to you, so the more methods
you are exposed to, the more likely to find something you like. Different
tracks also present different things. Thunderhill has good elevation
changes, something you encounter in your regular riding, so that is a plus,
no matter the school type.

Sometimes the best thing is just a track day or weekend, find some guys that
you think are doing well and just talk to them. The main thing is to keep an
open mind and be willing to try things and see if they work for you.

I don't know anything about Infineon race track,  but unless it has
elevation changes like Thunderhill, I would go to Thunderhill just because
the track mirrors the type of riding you will be doing on the hills of CA
more than a flat level track would do.

Of course, if you really want to go fast and not find me waiting with the
bike on the kickstand, you need to trade that 900 in for a high mileage bone
stock Multistrada........JUST KIDDING!

Peter Bonner


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kevin Kachadourian" <kkachadourian at cv.k12.ca.us>

> After I got myself registered for a Ducati Owners Day at Thunderhill with
Keith Code SBK track school, a well-meaning friend had to launch into a big
diatribe on how bad Code is, how rigid he is; and tried to talk me into
switching to Reg Pridmore's CLASS school at Infineon for the same day.
> What's the difference? What would you recommend? I've got quite a few
years of experience, and can go fairly fast (ask Peter Bonner), but have
never been on a racetrack. Not interested in racing, but am interested in
track focused technique that gets me up to speed.
> Any thoughts to help with this dilemma?
>
> Kevin Kachadourian
> '96 900SS SP (this'll be the one on the track)
> '85 650 Alazzurra (maybe next time)