My Visit to Kevin Schwantz School #34

ESP · 05-28-2009, 07:59 AM

Hi All

I just completed Kevin Schwantz’s Program at Barber Motorsports and thought some of you may be interested in my experience.

Let me start with the only negative thing. For me getting to the facility was a little difficult with no direct flights from Milwaukee to Birmingham, and only a couple out of O’Hare which is further and not at great times. I took a connection in Memphis on the way down and out of Atlanta on the way back, I just personally prefer direct flights as it’s less chance for the airlines to lose my bags!

On to the fun stuff! I’m sure most people on the forum spend some time at race tracks either as a spectator or on the track yourself, Road America is my home track (And I love it) and I have been to countless others.

This was my first time at Barber, I was in heaven. What a facility!!! It literally looks like a country club or PGA course, the folks at Autobahn Country Club should spend some time at Barber and learn about how to truly present a facility. Barber is nothing short of breath taking (for a track guy that is!) The track is a bit too short but to be honest in a learning situation like this I actually liked that as I was able to get better on the track quicker and learn the layout faster.

For those of you that have been to Barber you know what I am talking about. I could spend days at the museum alone, during the two day class Kevin lined up a tour with the museum’s curator and even fired up some of the oldest most beautiful motorcycles on the planet. They claim to have in excess of 1200 motorcycles onsite and hundreds in a warehouse waiting to be restored or other.

Of course the Tamburni (I own #105) was proudly on display

(and anything else you can imagine.)

The Schwantz program allows you to bring your own bike or rent a school bike. They have brand new Gixxers and CBRs I own a Gix so I chose to ride the CBR the bike I rode for the program had 400 miles on the clock and I put 186 on the bike during the two days so I’m guessing about 85 laps. By the way the CBR was awesome on the track, but I still love my Gix. During the two days we had on and off rain, with sessions in the wet and dry, so we got to experience a lot of different riding conditions and different ways to approach the track.

Most of my track experience has been in cars, I have done several Skip Barber open wheel school’s, BMW Driving experience stuff, Track days with PCA and BMWCCA, as well as Super Moto at Road America. Every time I have gone to a driving school the instructors have huge ego’s. It’s to be expected in this Testosterone filled environment. I have never left a driving or racing school having learned as much as I did at Kevin’s school. His instructors are the best I have seen. They knew when to give feedback and when to let you figure it out on your own, the class was extremely safe and always in control yet it was not done in a way that reduce the fun or made me feel like I could not go as fast as I could.

The class is broken up by skill set group one being the fastest guys and in our case they all raced on a regular basis and they brought there track bikes to class. Class two is where I slotted in, this is for guys (and gals) with track experience, or are learning quickly and class three is for novices (with a minimum of one year experience on a bike)

I started off as one of the slower guys in group two but rapidly moved up the ranks as I learned. The instructors were very good at being able to judge the students ability and push them to do better without getting anyone out of there personal comfort zone.

During the class they had two instructors filming on 1000RR’s and a professional photographer taking pictures at various track spots. After each 20 minute session we would watch video and see for ourselves how we could improve. Each student is mailed a DVD video of a lap they did from an instructor bike behind them and photo’s from the photographer included in the package which I thought was WAY better than the sales pitch you have to site through at Skip Barber.

If you can’t tell I was thrilled to have gone, and I will be going back probably many times. What a great two days.

P.S. #34 Kevin if you read this get some three day classes on the schedule!!!

Eric Perkins

fs68426 · 05-28-2009, 08:10 AM

How much did this run you? It sounds like a great experience and I wouldn't mind checking it out for myself.

ESP · 05-28-2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fs68426

How much did this run you? It sounds like a great experience and I wouldn't mind checking it out for myself.

The class I took ran $1500 if you bring your bike or $1800 if you use a school bike. It included, plentiful food, pictures, a video, the museum and enough track time to have you really tired each night!

Worth every penny.

Eric

MR DANGLES · 05-28-2009, 09:10 AM

bad ass... wish i had the 1500-1800 to spare

Knoxvillan · 05-28-2009, 09:32 AM

good deal, sounds like it was a blast.

suzukigirl83 · 05-28-2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ESP

Hi All

I just completed Kevin Schwantz’s Program at Barber Motorsports and thought some of you may be interested in my experience.

Let me start with the only negative thing. For me getting to the facility was a little difficult with no direct flights from Milwaukee to Birmingham, and only a couple out of O’Hare which is further and not at great times. I took a connection in Memphis on the way down and out of Atlanta on the way back, I just personally prefer direct flights as it’s less chance for the airlines to lose my bags!

On to the fun stuff! I’m sure most people on the forum spend some time at race tracks either as a spectator or on the track yourself, Road America is my home track (And I love it) and I have been to countless others.

This was my first time at Barber, I was in heaven. What a facility!!! It literally looks like a country club or PGA course, the folks at Autobahn Country Club should spend some time at Barber and learn about how to truly present a facility. Barber is nothing short of breath taking (for a track guy that is!) The track is a bit too short but to be honest in a learning situation like this I actually liked that as I was able to get better on the track quicker and learn the layout faster.

For those of you that have been to Barber you know what I am talking about. I could spend days at the museum alone, during the two day class Kevin lined up a tour with the museum’s curator and even fired up some of the oldest most beautiful motorcycles on the planet. They claim to have in excess of 1200 motorcycles onsite and hundreds in a warehouse waiting to be restored or other.

Of course the Tamburni (I own #105) was proudly on display

(and anything else you can imagine.)

The Schwantz program allows you to bring your own bike or rent a school bike. They have brand new Gixxers and CBRs I own a Gix so I chose to ride the CBR the bike I rode for the program had 400 miles on the clock and I put 186 on the bike during the two days so I’m guessing about 85 laps. By the way the CBR was awesome on the track, but I still love my Gix. During the two days we had on and off rain, with sessions in the wet and dry, so we got to experience a lot of different riding conditions and different ways to approach the track.

Most of my track experience has been in cars, I have done several Skip Barber open wheel school’s, BMW Driving experience stuff, Track days with PCA and BMWCCA, as well as Super Moto at Road America. Every time I have gone to a driving school the instructors have huge ego’s. It’s to be expected in this Testosterone filled environment. I have never left a driving or racing school having learned as much as I did at Kevin’s school. His instructors are the best I have seen. They knew when to give feedback and when to let you figure it out on your own, the class was extremely safe and always in control yet it was not done in a way that reduce the fun or made me feel like I could not go as fast as I could.

The class is broken up by skill set group one being the fastest guys and in our case they all raced on a regular basis and they brought there track bikes to class. Class two is where I slotted in, this is for guys (and gals) with track experience, or are learning quickly and class three is for novices (with a minimum of one year experience on a bike)

I started off as one of the slower guys in group two but rapidly moved up the ranks as I learned. The instructors were very good at being able to judge the students ability and push them to do better without getting anyone out of there personal comfort zone.

During the class they had two instructors filming on 1000RR’s and a professional photographer taking pictures at various track spots. After each 20 minute session we would watch video and see for ourselves how we could improve. Each student is mailed a DVD video of a lap they did from an instructor bike behind them and photo’s from the photographer included in the package which I thought was WAY better than the sales pitch you have to site through at Skip Barber.

If you can’t tell I was thrilled to have gone, and I will be going back probably many times. What a great two days.

P.S. #34 Kevin if you read this get some three day classes on the schedule!!!

Eric Perkins

we are headed to to WI I think in July to the track just to get on it not the class! way to much money for sure! are you going to be there then?

ESP · 05-28-2009, 10:13 AM

Yeah for sure, I'll be around in July. You going to Road America or Blackhawk? I'm going to attend some track days now for sure. Actually after this class I'm considering converting my Gixxer over to a track day bike.

Knoxvillan · 05-28-2009, 10:14 AM

sounds to me like the price was worth it to him.

Hong3103 · 05-28-2009, 10:15 AM

Expensive school but who better to learn from than a former MotoGP Champ!

Barber Motorsports is awesome track to ride on too!

ESP · 05-28-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hong3103

Expensive school but who better to learn from than a former MotoGP Champ!

Barber Motorsports is awesome track to ride on too!

Absolutely... to add on to this, Kevin and his entire team are very nice people, you could ask them anything you wanted. Very humble. Not only do I think it was worth the money I spent, but I would do it again tomorrow.

And Barber was a blast!!! I have driven Road America many times, but riding Barber was awesome!

suzukigirl83 · 05-28-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ESP

Yeah for sure, I'll be around in July. You going to Road America or Blackhawk? I'm going to attend some track days now for sure. Actually after this class I'm considering converting my Gixxer over to a track day bike.

We are going to do both, I just dont know which one we are doing first tho. I will let you know as soon as I find out. Im always looking to lap someone new!

J/K
I really need to convert mine also, its getting to be a pain in the bleep switching out plastic!

ESP · 05-28-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzukigirl83

We are going to do both, I just dont know which one we are doing first tho. I will let you know as soon as I find out. Im always looking to lap someone new!

J/K
I really need to convert mine also, its getting to be a pain in the bleep switching out plastic!

No problem let me know, I always like a girl that like to be on top.....(of the time sheets)

suzukigirl83 · 05-28-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ESP

No problem let me know, I always like a girl that like to be on top.....(of the time sheets)

I thought I read somewhere that if its your first time there then you get $75.00 off the price. Is that true? have you heard of it?

ESP · 05-28-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzukigirl83

I thought I read somewhere that if its your first time there then you get $75.00 off the price. Is that true? have you heard of it?

At Schwantz? or at Road America / Blackhawk?

I did not hear about this at Schwantz but maybe? Everyone else in the class had paid what I paid, and no one felt it was too much. It was a deal compared to how much I have paid to Skip Barber and the value I have received

ESP · 05-28-2009, 03:07 PM

If interested here are all my pics from Schwantz school. Day two I took pictures of the track etc so look past the museum pics, unless you like bikes as much as I do, than feel free to check them all out.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Eric.Per...SchoolMay2009#