| Comments from our Students from the Aug 8-9 Streets of Willow Camp.
From Matt Quigley: Hey Rich and Karin, I just wanted to shoot an email over with some good news following the school at 'The Streets'. This weekend at the WSMC event I put to use several of the things we learned the previous weekend. I really like the corner entry technique using varying bar pressure and was really looking forward to using it at the big track. I practiced it on Saturday and my entries improved throughout the day. In my races on Sunday I've never, ever been that good on the brakes. I consistently used turns 1 and 3 to my advantage for a change. I've never 'looked forward' to my next braking opportunity like that! I also used some of the smaller things like the peg adjusting hints you gave and also fine tuned my lever position and was surprised at the difference. I thought I had the bike 'comfortable' before... I was wrong. Robert gave me a few things to think about regarding set up and concentration and making sure to hit my marks EVERY time and that helped a lot too. My lap times were better than ever this weekend with me doing a bunch of laps in the 1:23's with a best of 1:23.3. I seriously thought I was going to get into the 22's but it didn't happen this month. I never, ever thought I'd be knocking on the door of 22's!! All this was done while certainly riding HARD but within myself too. I can't wait till next month! Anyway, I just thought I'd drop in and say thanks for all the help, I truly believe what I've learned at your schools has played a significant role in my improvement over the last couple years. Your methods have taught me how to go the track, think for myself and push myself slowly, and safely and hopefully intelligently to the next level. I never, ever dreamed I'd be racing this well and I'm really enjoying myself and looking forward to continued improvement. Thanks so much for all your help!! Sincerely, --Matt Quigley. |
| Dear Mr. Rich Oliver
I wanted to thank you again for the fantastic time I had at your very first Mystery School Road Race Camp this past weekend at Streets of Willow in California. Being my first ever 2-day school at a track, it was without question, the best experience in all previous track rides I have ever had. Starting out nearly apprehensive to becoming somewhat competitive overall just confirms an old dog can learn new tricks! I felt honored to be the first ever 'Most Improved Rider' at your road race camp series. Again, If it were not for you and your team's expert instruction and insight, leading to best possible setup / best potential performance, the opportunities to succeed would not have been possible. I personally wanted to thank you, Mr. Robert Ward, and all of the additional instructors and members of the staff. All are top notch in every aspect and worthy of equal praise. All the best in the future to your superior, motorcycle road race camp series class act! Sincerely, Karl A. Meier |
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| Student comments! |
| Hi Rich;
I had a great three day session at Thunderhill in mid September. I rode with you on the first two days and then rode the third Keigwin day as a regular track day. You will remember that while I had improved quite a bit from Sunday to Monday I was still the slowest in your group. I don’t think that will change anytime soon, but I did have a very good open day on Tuesday. My lap timer was not working properly but I was riding consistently with two others who felt that the pace was in the 2:16 /2:18 range which is as fast as I have ever gone at Thunderhill. I was enjoying the wide lines but I do have to add that my favorite passing area was straight up the hill to 9 and then into that corner on the inside. This was nice and safe as I would be so far inside that the other rider could see me very easily. Heavy on the brakes and a quick turn in and it worked every time. This pass combined the new more assertive style which I had learned from you the days before with a theme of Jason Pridmore’s; that there are many lines around most corners and if the one you may want is taken use another one. In thinking about your lessons and methods I came to the realization that all the other teachers and coaches I had listened in past years would take what was known to their students and add to it to bring them toward more effective racing techniques and methods. You turn this on its head by starting with what top racers do and then suggesting that we (the students) apply those methods by coming back from them to the extent we need to be comfortable. There is a difference between getting to a point by adding to what is already known or getting there by believing in something far beyond what is known and mentally backing up from there as much as needed. I think many other teachers will say that is what they are trying to do, but you seem to get the point across better than most. A big part of it is your acknowledgment of the fact that it is not pretty and elegant when you are in the middle of it. I found it very liberating to learn that it is ok to just get on the brakes and lock my arms. It is good that I understood when to relax my arms, and knew how to do that, but the ability or permission to force the bike at certain points made a real change in my riding and fun. On Tuesday I wore my most improved prize Rich Oliver T shirt and many people asked me about the course. I told them that I had a great time, with excellent lessons from yourself and great support from your crew. I also told people that the price was very reasonable and that Robert on his own would have been worth the price of admission. The response I got from everyone I talked to was very positive and they were intrigued by my suggestion that others teach you how to move up from where you are, while Rich teaches you how the best racers do it and then moves you back from there to a safe point. The idea of being allowed to be aggressive and almost rough with the bike was fascinating to most people. Thanks again for a great session and please pass on my thanks to Robert and the others with a particular hello to Carl. I hope to be able to spend time with all of you again in the coming year. Regards Peter Sziklai, Vancouver BC |