California Race Schol 17th July

Booked myself on the Sunday at Level3. Anybody going? I'm more than a bit rusty not having done any track time since 2008 and feel I need a little coaching before the SDcrashfest 2011.

I can think of 425 reasons not to

It's not quite that many reasons and I'm not that good and it is. Haslam school is a very poor second.

I agree about the Haslam school, that is too expensive too but 425 quid for CSS is a joke. Like you I did level 1 and 2 and they were good days but too expensive then, 5 years ago, at 300 quid each.

If you do all 4 levels at CSS that is 1700 quid FFS!! The US version is half the price, you could, near enough, have a weeks holiday in California and do all 4 levels for the same money as 4 days spent at Silverstone.

What you would learn in 4 days at CSS could be learned and exceeded by a race coach in 1. That costs from 250 - 600 quid depending on who you get plus you will go faster there and then, pretty much from lap 1 session 1. CSS dont teach trial braking and all of their days are run at less than trackday pace. TBH the best thing about CSS, possibly the only thing worth the money, was Andy Ibbot and he wont be there this year.

Yes it's a pile of money but it did make a huge difference to the way I rode round a track. I am a bit worried that Andy won't be there. Apparently Keith Code is doing some of the sessions. I hope it's my Day.
I didn't realise you can hire a "coach" on an individual basis. That would be better than level 4 @ CCS.
Have you done that?
Your idea of a trip to the USA does put it into perspective but being self employed coaching on a Sunday is cheap for me.

I would hope that Keith Code was otherwise enganged on your day. He gets a bit too mystical guru for my liking.

I did 121 Ride with John Chambers but I could have asked for Brendan Roberts or Francis Williamson instead (250 quid for the day). Also Iain Macpherson was doing this, if you canna ken jockish, or Mike, Spike, Edwards. So, far better pedigree racers than you get on a CSS day. Also when you pay your 425 quid to do level 4 you will be sharing the track / classroom with a couple of dozen others who also paid 425 to do level 4. Whereas if two or three mates hired a race coach they would be in for 100 quid each (121 Ride) or about 200 each for Macpherson, Edwards. They will meet you at a mutual agreeable trackday so weekends are possible.

Really, I dont know why a few from here dont chip in to bring Spike Edwards to Cadwell. They got Sabre there and he wont even teach us where he hides his maltesers Someone will get one to one tuition in the afternoon too after all the others wiped themselves out early in the am

Another alternative is head off to Spain for one of Jeremy McWilliams / Steve Plater's track rider clinics. Again a lot cheaper than 4 levels of the UK CSS and nearer than doing the US one. I do take your point about Sunday being the best day for the self employed though.

So how about we start a pressure group for some tailored tuition for the crashfest?
I'll chip in and cancel my CCS booking.
If you think we can get someone worthwhile why not?

Evel Kenevel would be the most appropriate when this lot get together

Mike Spike Edwards is a legend.

As a SDcrashfest virgin I'm getting nervous!