Day 1 – Leaving on a Jet
Plane – Saturday 22nd August
2009
It’s that time of the year again and I’m off to ‘Kevin
Schwantz School’. The third year in a row. This year being slightly different
though as I am going to the “Indy GP Experience School”. 2 days riding with
Kevin and the team at the track in Birmingham Alabama, then we all move on to
Indianapolis for the Indy MotoGP round.
I am flying from Heathrow
in to Washington Dulles to meet up with Kieron for our mega road trip. A nice
flight time means that I don’t have to get up too early. Jo & I head for the
airport at around 7.30am. We arrive at Heathrow in good time, get all checked
in, have a coffee and the first of my massive cakes, I don’t diet when on
holiday! I say my goodbyes to Jo and head for departures.
There’s the usual Heathrow
madness, but once I get to the gate I get bumped to Upper Class for the flight
to Washington. Virgin Atlantic VS021 here I come. Aboard I have a few glasses
of Champagne, some amazing freshly cooked food before going horizontal for a few
hours kips before arrival, it really is the only way to travel and a fantastic
start to the trip.
I arrive at Dulles late.
Hurricane Bill was off the east coast creating some serious head winds slowing
us down. I experience the usual fun and games I usually have with arrivals. It
just seems to take forever and arriving with five or six other international
flights never helps.
Eventually I am through and
I meet up with my road trip buddy and two time KSS riding partner Kieron and
head off for his home in Gaithersburg to prep for the trip. It’s raining but
still real warm. First night tradition means a feast somewhere. Kieron doesn’t
let us down, we dine at Fingers & Claws. Seafood like I have never seen.
Back at Kieron’s I stick
visor stickers on all Kieron’s crash helmet collection, which along with a few
beers finishes me off, it’s been a long day, time for bed.
Click on pictures to enlarge
Day 2 – Prep Day - Sunday
23rd August 2009
I awake totally refreshed
after a good nights sleep. The weather today is blue skies and sunshine. It’s
the day before we leave, time to get everything ready for the road trip. New
stickers a plenty for the BlarneyQuick GSXR750, once all cleaned and prepped we
load Kieron’s new trailer with the BQ750 and his road going Yamaha. Once the
bikes are on board we load all the kit and supplies and we are locked and ready
to go in record time. The new purpose built trailer making it far easier than
the U-Haul from the previous year.
With the gear all sorted we
take a walk down to the lake front for some lunch. A mega sandwich at
Potbelly’s sandwich shop (you spotting the pattern) gets the energy levels back
up. An afternoon of chores and final prep, camera’s, documents, trip to Best
Buy etc follow before we head out for dinner at Houston’s for some baby back
ribs. We drop by the classic car shop on the way home to check out some old
school cars. An early night is in order as we leave at 4am tomorrow, night
night all.
Day 3 – It’s a long way to
Alabama - Monday 24th August 2009
4am alarm goes off, quick
shower, load the suitcases and we are off. First leg Gaithersburg Maryland to
Birmingham Alabama, 741 miles – 11 hours 34 mins. We hit the freeway and it’s
still quite busy but we need to be out of DC before the rush hour kicks in. We
soon make the outskirts with Kieron at the wheel for the first stint. It’s
dark, I know that sounds weird, but it really is pitch black. No freeway
lights, road works and thin lanes make it an interesting first few hours.
We’re making good time as
the sun comes up and plough through the miles before our first of many fuel
stops. Kieron’s Jeep being a diesel makes stopping not as easy as in the UK
where every garage has diesel, here in the US it’s not as common. We find a
stop that has a McDonalds for breakfast, that’s pretty much the pattern for the
day, swapping the driving each time. We leave Maryland (state #1) and enter
Virginia (state #2) before hitting Tennessee (state #3). A few hours later and
a time zone change and we’re in Georgia (state #4) before hitting Alabama (state
#5). The time zone change, which we didn’t know about, meant we got to the
hotel in plenty of time for check-in before we had to head out to the evening
reception at Kevin Schwantz School (KSS).
KSS has moved since my last
visit. The new school now resides out of Barber Motorsports Park facility in
Birmingham Alabama. As we drive in to the entrance you can tell this place is
going to be a treat. The grass perfectly cut (by a remote control lawn mower in
places!) the signs, the whole facility is just picture perfect. Barber is the
home of arguably the best motorcycle museum in the world. We are to have our
reception here before we ride tomorrow. We have some fun and games with
security trying to get Kieron’s bikes down to the pit area, but eventually get
in. We unload the BQ750 and go meet Marnie and the guys. Kevin and the
instructors are bringing the bikes down from the shop. A quick ‘how you doing?’
and hand shakes, it was nice to see everyone again. A little help to Mom & Dad
Schwantz with banners and it’s time to leave for the reception in the museum.
Now if you like bikes
Barber Motorsports Park Museum is out of this world. 100’s of bikes, a few cars
and other bits n bobs too. The owner buys, restores and displays every kind of
bike you can imagine. They have some rare, some classics and some new, but the
place is awesome. This is the venue for the reception for the following day’s
school. We meet up with Kevin & the team and some other familiar faces from
last year. It was good to see Dave again, the official photographer who is
responsible for many photos in this and the previous books.
Once name badges are stuck
on, introductions and hello’s out of the way, we all jump in a trailer for a lap
of track with Kevin explaining the way around. I had only previously seen the
track on the internet, to ride round it albeit in a trailer you got to see what
a great couple of days riding we were in for.
Once back at the museum
students and instructors were given a tour of the museum. We see all the bikes
and repair areas. We also get to see some places not usually open to the
public. It was great to listen to how the museum amasses such a great
collection. A fantastic start to the school.
One by one students begin
to leave, I am sure I took 100+ photos in the museum and probably missed 100’s
more bikes. It’s now dark outside and we say our goodbyes until tomorrow and
head back to the hotel. A meal in the local Mexican restaurant is in order
where the waiter makes some weird bird noises every time he passes the female
staff, maybe this is a courting ritual in Alabama? Food done, off to sleep as
the fun starts tomorrow.
Day 4 – First Day of School
- Tuesday 25th August 2009
So today is Day 1 of Kevin
Schwantz Motorcycle Riding School. Due for an 8am start, but we roll out of the
hotel at 7am. Get there early, get registered, get in your leathers etc. Check
out the awesome surroundings. The air conditioned class room is on the third
floor on the pit complex. Two rows of desks, with all your class information
and goodie bags. Loads of refreshments, Red Bull, fruit and snacks to get you
through the day at the back. It is a great environment to take class in. Down
stairs (or in the lift) are numerous immaculately prepared Suzuki GSXR600s and
Honda CBR600s all line up. Schwantz School is now partnered by Suzuki & Honda
so you can chose which bike you wish to ride on or indeed both. The instructor
bikes and the camera bikes are also on show. The instructors all riding
GSXR750s and CBR1000s along with the camera bikes too. There are two camera
bikes, one ridden by John Jacobi (nose camera) and the second by Reuben
Frankenfield (over helmet camera). These guys were to follow us around for two
days so we can see how we ride back in the classroom on the massive screen.
There are also a few what I would call ‘play bikes’ hanging around for the
instructors and Kevin along with three student bikes, Kieron’s BQ750 being one
of them.
Back up in the classroom,
registration out of the way, official introductions commence. Due a recent
mishap with Taylor Knapp at VIR Lee Acree is to be classroom instructor for the
two days. All the instructors raced, most are currently still racing. Our
track guides for the two days were to be Tray Batey, Ted Cobb, Brad Coleman and
Harry Vanderlinden. John & Reuben on camera bikes, Marnie running the show and
then there is Mom & Dad Schwantz on hand along with the reason we were all there
Kevin Schwantz.
There were about 15
students and we split in to 2 groups, A and B. Group A being those that had
raced, been on track days etc Group B being those whom just did street. This is
not a race school in anyway and is just the initial easy way of splitting the
class in two. If you feel or are deemed to be in the wrong group you can skip
between until you find your comfort zone.
After the basic
instructions of be careful and keep smiling are put over group A hit the track.
It follows a basic 20 minute rotation cycle where group A are on track whilst
group B have classroom tuition. Someone has to go out first and it was lucky
us.
Now the weather was great,
sunny and warm with a dry track. 3 lanes are available on exit of the pit
garages, 1, 2 & 3. Lane 1 being the fastest, 3 the slowest. You are encouraged
to try and find a rider of similar standard in the first few sessions by
choosing a lane and maybe switching until you find someone you can ride with.
Lucky for me I have ridden the last two schools with Kieron so I know we are
nearly identical in terms of speed and riding. We must have ridden a fair few
hundred miles together now so also have that trust and understanding. We pair
up in lane 1 on GSXR600s. Now lane 1 is advertised as the fastest, however each
lane only ever goes as fast as the instructor will let you go. The instructors
lead you out and gradually build up speed by watching your every move in their
mirrors. How they ride as fast as they do looking backwards most of the time is
unbelievable. We follow Ted out on that first session, he led us round at a
great pace just so we got used to which way the track went. No point going
fast, learn slowly and build your speed, you get to learn the track much better
at slower speed, once you know it increase the speed. Twenty minutes later and
not sure how many laps we head back for our first debrief. After every session
the instructor will talk you through what you did right and anything you could
improve on. Nothing much to report, we were riding well. It was all about
learning the track for now. The track was awesome, up and downs, left and
rights, fast corners along with my not so favourite slow ones. There was plenty
of grip out there too and the ever so helpful cones on entry, exit and apex.
All in all it was great to get out there and get the nervousness and cobwebs out
of the way.
We
all pile back in the lift up to the classroom and swap with group B for their
track session. Everyone is buzzing now, already swapping stories about what the
track was like, what they liked, what they didn’t. Lee calls us to order and
the classroom instruction begins. The class is all about improving your riding
skills. Now everyone has different levels of experience, but get the basics
right and you will end up a safer and better rider. The basics apply to all
whether you ride fast or slow. We were to learn numerous things
including visual awareness and concentration, body position and steering
technique, cornering lines and reference points, gear selection and shifting
technique, braking technique and staying smooth and controlling panic. In
addition to on-bike video instruction and classroom review to enhance our
learning experience. I can’t think of anything that is not covered. Lee
started the sessions with the help of the presentation material and Kevin was
also on hand to answer any questions we may have had. Before you knew it
grinning group B were back and it was time for the track again.
Out we went again on
GSXR600s. Lane 2 this time but faster than the previous session as the track
was coming to us, we now knew if the next corner was a left or right. Brad led
us out. Brad had ridden with us previously at Road Atlanta so knew us fairly
well from the off. We had increased our speed a lot since that first session,
the smiles were getting bigger. Debrief done, back to class. Chance to get
your fluids and energy back up with the provided drinks and snacks whilst Lee
covers move class material.
Time for our third session
out on track, the last before lunch. Keiron and I both decide to give the Honda
a go and we split up too. I go out with a fellow brit Nick and Jay whilst
Kieron goes out with Sean C whom we have ridden with at the previous two
schools. Nothing major to report, I didn’t get on with the Honda, hit a few
false neutrals’ and the throttle was too touchy for me too, back to the Suzuki
for the next session. A few other students made the switch back also, Kieron
being one of them. It’s just what you are used to I guess. Nice to have
experienced the Honda though.
Along with Dave out of
track taking numerous photographs of us at various corners there was a film crew
in tow. They were over from Suzuki Japan making a video for the 25th
Anniversary of the GSXR next year so we would be filmed entering and leaving the
pits as well as out on track. They even threw a microphone under you nose every
now and then – I am so camera shy, err, no, yes, errr.
Time for lunch, great local
cooked food whilst swapping stories before we get wind of something very
special. Kevin is to perform some demo laps on his 1993 Championship
Winning RGV500 at Indy MotoGP next weekend.
Old Suzuki spanner man Hamish
all the way from
The Gambia via Scotland (as there was no connection to the US from Gambia!)
has been
over getting it ready and Kevin is just about to ride it around Barber to check
all is okay. Everyone and I mean everyone is out on the balcony watching
the Lucky Strike Suzuki fly around the track with Jacobi in tow on the camera
bike. It
was just like the good old days, 2 stroke noise and smell, can’t beat it.
I think the only person not to enjoy it was the flag man waiting with the
chequered flag, but Kevin took an emergency exit slip road back to the garage
rather than take the flag. Waving the chequered to Kevin on his RGV, that
would have been a story.
Lunch done, classroom and
track sessions recommence. Kevin makes it back from his test laps to a 100
questions. We go back out on track; I am back on the GSXR600s and Kieron now
riding his BQ750. Two track and classroom sessions follow in the afternoon. We
ride with Ted and Tray that afternoon. Improving our riding gradually over the
afternoon with advice from them both. The last session with Tray had us going
the fastest we had been all day. The track now fully learnt meant we could
concentrate on hitting our marks, being smooth and always in control. We were
waved in front by Ted to lead the group in the afternoon, which only happens
once the instructor is confident you are in control and safe. What a thrill
riding a great track like Barber with no one out front. Free to ride but
knowing they were behind you and would shoot back in front if you started
getting out of control. It had been day two at Atlanta before I was put out
front, so was a great early surprise.
To end the day we have a
track walk with Kevin. Unlike the tour we had on arrival we now had experience
of the track. We all jump in the back of the trailer and get driven to various
corners where Kevin explains the best way to get through it, where to break,
reference points, apex etc. At each corner we get out of the truck and get a
real close up look, this will help tomorrow for sure. Then after a quick call
on the radio three instructors come through the corner at different speeds so we
can see the lines etc. Ted first (rapid), Brad second (fast) and Harry third
(steady). All three often using different lines gives the students a great idea
on how best they should take the bend. We cover just about all the major
corners in the next few hours. It’s incredible to see the instructors come
through the corners so close at speed. It is also amazing how undulating the
track is with some serious hills and cambered corners. The track walk is a
fantastic learning aid.
The day was over, way to
soon as ever. Tonight we were to eat in the shop where the bikes are housed
when school is out. We also had a very special guest, an RGV500 parked up in
the corner. Stories swapped and pictures taken whilst eating Rusty’s BBQ food,
spot on. Tired limbs and minds meant everyone soon left for a good nights sleep
to make the most of Day 2.
Day 5 – Second Day of
School - Wednesday 26th August 2009
Another 8am start after
breakfast at the hotel with Sean C, Nick, Kieron, Jay and Jason. Everyone still
buzzing from the day before. Group and individual pictures taken with Kevin and
the we do the clutchless up-shift and throttle blip exercise. With that out of
the way we are straight back in to track and class split. Group A straight out
on track. Slowly up to speed which was a nice way to start the day, remembering
everything we had learnt from the day before. We rode with Harry too today, so
I have now been out with all the instructors. Each instructor has their own
style and ideas, so it is good to hear them all and see what suits you best.
Kevin also ventured out on track on a GSXR1000 today. Burger’s for lunch
before the afternoon sessions.
Kevin takes the RGV out
again over lunch and this time flag man gets to wave the chequered flag, he was
a happy man today!
Camera bike got me a lot on
day two, so was cool to watch yourself back on the big screen throughout those
classroom sessions. Lee pointing out what we did right and what we could
improve on. Looked a bit slow, but hey I can always X2 on the DVD player when I
get my copy, you get a DVD on your lap along with a CD of all your pictures from
Dave a few weeks after school finishes.
Was out front in nearly all
of the sessions today for at least a few laps. The speed was increasing too.
I beat the flag at one
point to get a complete lap on my own, not that I knew that until I got back to
the pit to find Ted & Kieron already there. Then the last session Tray just let
Sean C and I go. Had a great final session enjoying everything that we had
learnt and put it all together. Awesome time, just awesome.
So a final review while
group B were out playing, final questions and answers and it was time for
graduation. Everyone that successfully completes the course graduates, anyone
that falls has there track time stopped immediately and doesn’t. 100% success,
group A & B all came home safe and sound. One by one, Kevin presents us all
with a certificate to acknowledge our success. Everyone applauds waiting for
their turn. Special prizes for Most Improved rider and Safest rider and then
some lucky dip prizes too, everyone goes home happy.
Well not exactly, happy
yes, home no, we are all to meet up again at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for
part two of this fantastic trip. As I mentioned earlier this KSS includes
hospitality with Kevin at the Indy MotoGP. We say our Au Revoir’s and head back
to the hotel. Sean C, Nick, Keiron, Jason and I go out for a celebrating meal
at a local restaurant. Now that was an experience too. 14 meals for less than
$15 in one place and a menu containing World Famous Meatloaf, which had herbs
and a warning “cell phones interfere with the preparation of meatloaf”, enough
said.
Day 6 – Indianapolis here
we come -Thursday 27th August 2009
Today is travel to Indy
day. A few of us had decided to drive in convoy up to Indianapolis. Chris &
Jay had left early as they were local(ish) and would see us there. Keiron, I &
the truck would go up with Nick & Sean C who were staying in Nashville over
night. We all left about 10am for the 500 mile, 8 hour drive. Jason overtook
us on the way to pick up Gary driving like a grandma albeit at warp speed. The
rest of us stayed together until we hit Nashville where we all took a break for
lunch. Tom Tom had guided us in to the main part of Nashville. We did the
tourist bit, photos with all the landmarks and Elvis’s before finding a local
joint to eat where we had the best pork sarnies. A few more tourist pictures
and we left Sean C & Nick to continue our drive to Indy passing back into
Tennessee before hitting Indiana (state #6).
We got to Indy around 8pm;
the traffic had been bad, a bit of rain and a few accidents. On the way up we
were planning what to put on our special Thank You banner for Kevin to be
unveiled at the GP. We eventually decided on the wording and Jason had found
somewhere downtown that stayed open late and could make it up. We checked in
and then headed downtown to meet Jason. Jason had picked up Gary who was unable
to make school but would be attending the GP with us. We all headed to the
banner shop and spent 2+ hours doing final designs on a 12’ x 3’ monster
banner. We got there in the end and were happy with how it was to turn out. We
found what turned out to be our local “Scotty’s Brewhouse” and had some late
night food and some beers before hitting home as tomorrow was first day on the
Indianapolis MotoGP round.
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Friday, 25 September 2009 11:46
