News>Motorcycle track day helps riders get ahead of the curve
Photos
Elizabeth Werter, a rider coach volunteer, sets up the course June 26 for the upcoming "Motorcycle Track Day" at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. The voluntary training served as an opportunity for Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines stationed on the various military installations around Oahu to receive hands-on coaching of proper riding techniques from a team of instructor coaches. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)
Jack Hughes, Cape Fox traffic safety program regional coordinator, tests a motorcycle course set up by a team of coaches June 26 for the upcoming "Motorcycle Track Day" at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. The voluntary training served as an opportunity for Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines stationed on the various military installations around Oahu to receive hands-on coaching of proper riding techniques from a team of instructor coaches. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt.
Nathan Allen)
Instructors and coaches watch Jack Hughes, Cape Fox traffic safety program regional coordinator, perform an "error run," an exercise where he intentionally commits a mistake for the coaches and instructors to see in order to make errors easier to spot June 26 while watching students during the upcoming "Motorcycle Track Day" at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. The voluntary training served as an opportunity for Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines stationed on the various military installations around Oahu to receive hands-on coaching of proper riding techniques from a team of instructor coaches. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)
Randy Collier, Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor, coaches Elizabeth Werter, on motorcycle riding techniques June 26 to prepare her as a coach for the upcoming "Motorcycle Track Day" at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. The voluntary training served as an opportunity for Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines stationed on the various military installations around Oahu to receive hands-on coaching of proper riding techniques from a team of instructor coaches. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)
Michael Jeffery, apprentice coach, tests a motorcycle course set up by a team of coaches June 26 for the upcoming "Motorcycle Track Day" at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. The voluntary training served as an opportunity for Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines stationed on the various military installations around Oahu to receive hands-on coaching of proper riding techniques from a team of instructor coaches. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)
Mario di Prete, Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base traffic safety program manager, tests a motorcycle course June 26 for the upcoming "Motorcycle Track Day" at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. The voluntary training served as an opportunity for Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines stationed on the various military installations around Oahu to receive hands-on coaching of proper riding techniques from a team of instructor coaches.(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)
Instructors and coaches listen as Jack Hughes, Cape Fox traffic safety program regional coordinator, critiques riding techniques June 26 in preparation for the upcoming "Motorcycle Track Day" at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. The voluntary training served as an opportunity for Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines stationed on the various military installations around Oahu to receive hands-on coaching of proper riding techniques from a team of instructor coaches.(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)
by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen
15th Wing Public Affairs
7/2/2012 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Motorcyclists from every branch of the U.S. military gathered at Wheeler Army Airfield June 27 and 28 to participate in the "Advanced Rider Track Day," a training event designed to help servicemembers practice maneuvers in a controlled environment.
Mario di Prete, traffic safety program manager at Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base Hawaii, started the track day in April 2009 in response to a command directive to reduce motorcycle fatalities.
"The two wheeled private motor vehicle fatalities a few years back were through the roof," he said. "The Marine Corps through one of their safety initiatives said 'what can we do beyond what we have right now.'"
At that point, the Marine Corps approached the California Superbike School and asked them for help designing a course to help focus on common errors motorcyclists make when riding, with a special focus on three elements of motorcycle riding: entry speed, throttle versus lean, and throttle control.
"It's all based on cornering, pretty much anyone can travel relatively safely in a straight line. There's not much to it, just point and shoot," he said. "When you start factoring in turns and different degrees of turn, that's when things get a little bit tricky. (Turns) are where where most of your fatalities and crashes happen."
The course is not mandatory, but aspiring attendees must attend the basic rider's course and, depending on the type of motorcycle the rider uses, either the military sport-bike riders course or the experienced rider's course before attending the track day. Class frequency depends on when space becomes available to conduct it. Currently, the group facilitates 3 to 4 track days a year.
Riders should know that the track day is not for beginners. According to di Prete, aspiring riders should visit their local safety office and enroll in the basic rider's course.
"If you're just starting out, get trained, wear your gear, and never stop learning," he said. "I've been riding for many years, but I'm always trying to pick new things up. When you think you know it all, that's when bad things are going to happen."
Randy Collier, Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor, agrees that even the most experienced riders can benefit from attending the track day.
"I've been riding for 42 years. You think I've ridden correctly for 42 years? No. You think I ride perfectly now? No, I still have flaws, I know I have flaws, and I'll admit I have flaws. It's an ongoing process and you have to continue working on it."
