Best Training Facility for an Old Slow Guy

mfowler
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Kelseyville, CA US
6/12/2016 8:36pm
Like the title says, I'm old (55) and slow (mid pack 40C) but would like to get faster while staying safe. Was wondering if anyone has suggestions for a training facility that would work with someone like me for a month at a time.

Obviously I have no great aspirations so I think something like MTF would be a bit much. Maybe Club MX? Shannon Niday also has a camp going in Texas but I would really like to stay somewhere that has on site gym and RV hookup. I am in NorCal but can travel for a month or more during the winter, December through March.

I'm going to email them both but wanted to hear any feedback you guys might have on them, or maybe someplace else? I don't need to be training with fast 250B kids, but would love to ride five days a week with instruction for a month. I will OWN that 40C class! HaHaHa!
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moto0852
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6/12/2016 8:51pm Edited Date/Time 6/12/2016 8:52pm
Awesome question! As a 50 yr. old mid pack B rider who would like to improve but stay safe id be interested as well!!!
Wade221
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6/12/2016 8:55pm
Being in NorCal, isn't Herrera Ranch a training facility?
colintrax
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6/12/2016 8:59pm
Might be a far drive, but thé entkinap brothers do training days. Ashley Fiolek has a solid schedule of tracks across the country wheres she doing training.
Whatever you do, have fun!
moto0852
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6/12/2016 9:04pm Edited Date/Time 6/12/2016 9:15pm
Wade221 wrote:
Being in NorCal, isn't Herrera Ranch a training facility?
I'm hearing Herrera Ranch is up in the air right now because of their close affiliation with the Blue Buffalo /Slater skins stuff.

The Shop

OR Racer46
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6/12/2016 9:17pm
Nor cal. Then you would want to get in touch with Tommy Weeck and Ryan Huffman . They work with me and are great . I can get you in touch with them if you would like . I am
Pretty sure you could stay right at Washougal . I ride at Ryan's parents house were there are about 6 or 7 different tracks .
OR Racer46
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6/12/2016 9:21pm Edited Date/Time 6/12/2016 9:26pm
There is also Rodney Smith and ? I can't think of his name right now but it will come to me in the middle of the night they were doing classes at the sandhil track in Livermore I remember. Terry Bostard
IceMan446
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6/13/2016 12:10am
Try VTF, it's in Manteca.

Great place and some good training going on there.

FWYT
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6/13/2016 12:22am
At the risk of sounding like a dipshit, I'd make sure your diet is REALLY well tuned and you are in GOOD shape before investing in further training. If you have those covered, right on.
mb
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6/13/2016 2:21am
There was a video series where they stopped by all of the training facilities in the south east, just can't remember what it was called..
Zycki11
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6/13/2016 4:58am
It's pretty simple. Go to the gym, and find a local pro who does training/riding day classes. The training facilities lump you into a large group and cost a decent penny. The things you are looking to learn and improve on can be taught in a small time frame and you work on them yourself.
skid mark
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Fraser, CO US
6/13/2016 5:03am
Steve hatch in arizona might be an option also. Granted he is geared towards off-road, but a lot would translate to moto
MX4EVR
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6/13/2016 8:11am
Gary semics
Fly him out there
He is a badass
1-1-1 @ lorettas
gharmon
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6/13/2016 8:21am
MX4EVR wrote:
Gary semics
Fly him out there
He is a badass
1-1-1 @ lorettas
Just because someone is fast doesn't mean they are great teachers. Nothing against Gary as he has several videos that prove his worth. Just don't always think that because someone is fast that they will teach you better than someone that is slower.
6/13/2016 8:32am
I can't recommend anyone any place near you, but I agree you'd be way better off with private lessons than in a group. I was nervous before I ever started working a trainer. I thought he would say get in better shape first, or that he only works with full-time hard-core racers, etc. When I finally did start working with one I wished I'd done it years before! Another thing to think about is that trainers want to see improvement in their riders, so they know their training is working. With a fast kid a this is measured in 10ths of a second, but with slower riders they might be able to knock 5 seconds off per lap pretty quickly.
IceMan446
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6/13/2016 8:33am
gharmon wrote:
Just because someone is fast doesn't mean they are great teachers. Nothing against Gary as he has several videos that prove his worth. Just don't always...
Just because someone is fast doesn't mean they are great teachers. Nothing against Gary as he has several videos that prove his worth. Just don't always think that because someone is fast that they will teach you better than someone that is slower.
Agreed.

Donnie Hansen worked really well for me. Very understandable and he would actually have someone show you what he was talking about (usually Josh)

I didn't care for the Semics videos or the way he explained things. Just didn't click with me. Great teacher IMO but didn't work for me. Everyone is different though.
kijen
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Jacksonville, FL US
6/13/2016 8:58am
I did MTF military weekend, they did a great job with the vets, learned more that weekend then a few other traing days I did. You're the rider so safety is up to youSmile I would be happy to do 30 days at mtf, definitely put some hours on the bike!
Prairieboy43
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Edmonton, AB CA
6/13/2016 11:57am
Best Training Facility for an Old Slow Guy?? Try Hospital in Physio. EvilEvil
p0wn
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Portland, OR US
6/13/2016 1:03pm
http://www.lcatmx.com has 3 day camps that are really good for all ages.
I'm getting old(32) and had never ridden on an mx track when I first went to their fall camp. I'm hooked now. They've got all skill levels and really pack a shit ton of instruction and riding into their camps. They're always in the PNW so not too far from Nor Cal even though it's not a whole facility type deal it may interest you.
Moto_Geek
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6/13/2016 1:30pm Edited Date/Time 6/13/2016 1:36pm
Come up our way.. Donnie Hansen still one of the best..And you get to converse with one of the icons of the sport.

http://www.dhma.com/

He offers 1-4 days classes and private as well
6/13/2016 1:31pm
I'd say try south of the border. They have a great facility but are a little more layed back than clubmx and mtf. However I've heard nothing but great things about clubmx and their facility is second to none.
kismith38
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Buford, GA US
6/13/2016 3:11pm
MTF my son and I just got back from the veterans 3 day school I'm 50 and he's 15 we had a great time probably 20 people in the class and never felt we weren't getting the attention we needed I wished sometimes they didn't see me Colleen and her staff are great
mfowler
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Kelseyville, CA US
6/13/2016 8:30pm
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. OR Racer46, I will be at Washougal for the Oldtimers International next month and will be taking a class with Tommy then (for the second time, he's great.) I will see about maybe extending my stay up there.

What I'm really looking for is something more than a 3 or 4 day camp, I want to ride and get some coaching everyday for four or five weeks. Winter is the best time for me, so that makes the PNW a little sketchy, weather-wise. I took a two-day class a few years ago with Scott Davis when he was still running E-Street and Riverfront, and have also worked with Vital member Travis Hudson after I bought one of his race bikes from him.

It's all been good, but I soon go back to my old bad habits. Plus, I like the idea of being away from home: I live and work on my ranch and there are way too many distractions (work) here. So I was thinking either SoCal or out of state. Would be very interested in someplace that uses video. As painful and humbling as it may be to watch myself ride, I've found what I think I'm doing and what I'm actually doing are two very different things.

Thanks again everyone
1
OR Racer46
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6/13/2016 9:04pm
I think the old timers is just before the national ? You should try and stay . Maybe do the old timers then train then try the pro/am day see how you are progressing . Maybe I can talk to Ryan and you could come down to his parents . And train I would be happy to ride with you . I also know a bunch of people in FL if you wanted to take a Moto vacation . I personally think you get better by riding different tracks .
Paw Paw 271
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Benton, LA US
6/13/2016 10:46pm
Trampas Parker has a good school in Oklahoma.

Paw Paw
jmurphy243
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6/14/2016 12:26pm
Gpf right next door to mtf, awesome place
mfowler
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Kelseyville, CA US
6/14/2016 5:29pm
Wade221 wrote:
Being in NorCal, isn't Herrera Ranch a training facility?
moto0852 wrote:
I'm hearing Herrera Ranch is up in the air right now because of their close affiliation with the Blue Buffalo /Slater skins stuff.
I've never heard of Herrera Ranch until now. I'm a little out of the loop regarding the local scene. I mostly ride with the Old-timers, OTHG, and some vintage.
mfowler
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Kelseyville, CA US
6/14/2016 5:30pm
IceMan446 wrote:
Try VTF, it's in Manteca.

Great place and some good training going on there.

Same as above, but I will look into it. Thanks for the tip.
mfowler
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6/14/2016 11:12pm
OR Racer46 wrote:
I think the old timers is just before the national ? You should try and stay . Maybe do the old timers then train then try...
I think the old timers is just before the national ? You should try and stay . Maybe do the old timers then train then try the pro/am day see how you are progressing . Maybe I can talk to Ryan and you could come down to his parents . And train I would be happy to ride with you . I also know a bunch of people in FL if you wanted to take a Moto vacation . I personally think you get better by riding different tracks .
Old-timers is two weeks before the National, and that's my usual summer vacation. I try and hit up some practice days at Mountain View or Albany in between the races, maybe a Thursday night at PIR. Amateur days is a little different from Old-timers though. Competition is a bit stiffer, and the whoops are not dumbed down like they are for Old-timers! Those things are pretty intimidating and I really struggle. I definitely agree about riding different tracks.

Just checked out LCAT mentioned by p0wn, looks like they have a 3 day camp starting Monday after Oldtimers. Counting Tommy's class on the Thursday before, that would be six days of training/racing out of seven. Now if I could just figure out how to do that four weeks in a row!
yzrider53
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Walnut Creek, CA US
6/15/2016 9:13am
Mike, it's time to park the 2 stroke and get a 350 Smile
See ya in 3 weeks
6/15/2016 11:02am
Zycki11 wrote:
It's pretty simple. Go to the gym, and find a local pro who does training/riding day classes. The training facilities lump you into a large group...
It's pretty simple. Go to the gym, and find a local pro who does training/riding day classes. The training facilities lump you into a large group and cost a decent penny. The things you are looking to learn and improve on can be taught in a small time frame and you work on them yourself.
I second this. I'm 40 and came back to racing after having no bike for 15 years. I found a local pro/coach here in CO (Wes Hale with Halestorm MX) who does one on one sessions with me throughout the year. It's great because the 3 hour sessions are intense but I then get to go away for a week or two and practice before my next session. IMO much better than a one-off multi-day school as you have progressive and continual feedback. Good luck!

Cheers
Simon

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