Comments, Page 2Danny, A funny thing happened on the way home from Supercamp. I had to cross the median to get to a gas station just the other side of I-25, and as I was going through the turn I found myself saying out loud "Drive deep into the turn, brake to slow down, get it turned, accelerate out." LOL I guess it stuck!!! So I just wanted to drop you a line to say an enormous "thank you" to you, Chris, Dred, Scooter and Scuba and everyone else who helped put on our class last Friday and Saturday. The school ran like a well-oiled machine and the instruction and attention to detail were truly first-rate. I hadn't been on a bike for 4 months following a couple of racing crashes and the school really helped me get past the mental hurdles I was battling with. It was fun, challenging, frustrating and immensely satisfying all at the same time. Most importantly, it put the fun back into riding for me, which had somewhat disappeared. I was really struggling on Friday and Saturday morning but your team was able to spot the little things it took to make each small step forward, so I never got discouraged. My "Eureka" moment was when I rode with the Chatterbox and from that point on it just kept getting better. The last few sessions on Sunday were the most fun I've had on a bike in a long time and I literally rode until my muscles had given out! I'm now in the market for a CRF100 and looking forward to lots and lots of practice of all your drills - especially the one-handed cone weave LOL. I've posted a little write-up on my racing website: http://www.boogieracing.com/reports.php and I'll definitely be recommending the school to all of my riding friends - both racers and non-racers. Please pass on my thanks to all the guys and I'll see you at next year's Greeley Supercamp, if not at the Supermoto School! Hanna MRA #62 Hey Danny, I just wanted thank you and the rest of the Supercamp crew. My wife Shawna and I attended your class in Springfield earlier this year. This past weekend we headed up to Road America to watch the AMA races. We both rode up there with Shawna riding her Speed Triple and myself on my FJR. Needless to say the expressways heading out of Chicago and through Milwaukee are not in the best of shape, still Shawna did great and rode through every dip, pothole and frost heave the road could throw at her. It may not seem like much but those things really used to bother her when she was riding. I sure that your school is what brought on the huge boost in confidence, allowing her to get comfortable with the bike moving under her. Thanks again for making riding that much more enjoyable for us!!!! Bill U'Ren Hi Danny, I'm just getting settled back into work and the regular routines since returning from the racer supercamp in Delaware. Sorry, to see that you got hurt there on the second day of the camp, hope nothing is broken and you'll be back in action soon? Danny, I can't say enough about how awesome that camp was. I learned more than I ever thought I was going to and had a bunch of fun too. You are a great teacher, and I really enjoyed your jokes and anecdotes. They really made me laugh and at the same time realize the mistakes I have been doing (that's why they are so funny I guess). The teaching methods and techniques you guys used worked perfectly and I can still hear my name being yelled out over the bullhorn to keep my elbow up or whatever and I think that has made me a more disciplined rider. I look forward to practicing the position and techniques that you have taught me. Thanks again, keep up the good work, and hope you have a quick recovery, Scott Armstrong Danny, I sent my boyfriend Bill Burger to your camp last February and I have to tell you that I don't think I have ever seen as good an impression of a jack-o-lantern as he was doing when he got home. He had this huge grin from ear to ear!!! I just wanted to say thank you for putting on such a great school and giving so many people the opportunity to learn and improve in a supportive environment. Your ability has been explained over and over about how he was riding (and thought he was doing better than before) and you come up on one side of him with no hand on the throttle, turning around, gesturing wildly what he should be doing, yet all the while passing him with ease!! I think it is safe to say he has recommended the camp to every one he comes in contact with that is at all interested in riding. I know that there are a couple of us girls that are thinking about coming for your camp I think it was going to be in Sept? (all I know is I heard that there will be a girls only camp?) Any way I just wanted to send you a note thanking you again for all the time, energy, effort and spirit that you put into the camp!!! Thanks again, Jill Rieger I took your course in November 1999 to learn better control of my motorcycle. I almost didn't make it to the second day of camp, because I was so sore and just wasn't getting it. I was getting frustrated and looking for excuses. Most of what was wrong was just that I was so out of shape. I hadn't been on a dirt bike for years, but still remembered how much I enjoyed it as a kid. It somewhat came together for me on the second day and as tired and sore as I was, I felt that I had accomplished something and did learn to be smoother and more controlled. On Thanksgiving weekend, three weeks later, I was riding my full dress Harley on the northbound New Jersey Turnpike. I was doing about 70 in the left lane when I suddenly heard a sound of WHOOOOOSH. A few seconds later the back end of the bike got very loose and started to slide. My rear tire had been punctured and was going flat. I had a tractor trailer behind me. Thankfully he was alert and slowed down some, Well it felt familiar after sliding those little dirt bikes around for 2 days. I didn't panic. I transferred my weight forward, up onto the tank, got right up on the center pivot point of the bike and got my elbows up high. The back end almost came around, but I rolled off the throttle without chopping it' and managed to ride it to a stop. I used 3 lanes but did not come off. With all the traffic behind me I probably would have been road kill if I had come off. Thank you for teaching me how to manage and control a slide. It probably saved my life. Sooner or later all street riders have one of those 'Oh shit' experiences. Supercamp instruction and training is a geat way to learn how to deal with it. Eventually every street rider will experience a slide from water. or oil or sand. Being able to not freeze up or make the situation worse is an essential skill. Sincerely, David Lenkowsky AMA 173760 Danny, I attended your camp at Harrington DE. earlier this year and had a gas!!!! Quite honestly, I have no designs on subjecting my 40-year-old body to the wear and tear of any racing circuit. I just wanted to enjoy the weekend with some friends and learn another aspect to motorcycling. I honestly never thought I'd use any of the techniques we learned during the camp. But I was WRONG. While riding this weekend in the southeastern twisties of Ohio, I got return on my dollar IN SPADES. One of my friends took a nasty spill (was asked but did not want to go to the camp....OOOPS!!!) at about 70 mph on one of the few straight stretches of road. Fortunately, he is okay. A bit rashed up, bike trashed up, but he is okay. I had the misfortune of being next in line behind him, about 25 yards back, putzing along at about 60, rider "rolling" down the center line, bike tumbling along in the right half of the lane. IT WAS SCARY!!!! Me? Hard on the brakes, back tire locked up and sliding left. I just stayed with the slide (scrubbing speed as it were) long enough to pick my exit and...............shoooommm!!!! Off the brake, on the gas, zig right, zag left and I'm clear. Four months ago I'd have either low sided, run over my friend and/or crashed into his bike. Instead, I didn't panic, stayed with my slide, and cleared the trouble. Me, my friends, my Daytona, my girlfriend, my boss, my etc..... can't thank you enough (or at least I think my girlfriend would thank you.) Hope to see you this fall in Atlanta. By the way, I think my friend will be joining us THIS time!! Dan DeChristopher Columbus,OH Dear Danny, You may not remember me. I attended your Supercammp in Atlanta last November. My name is Scott Kay. I've read some of the sugar-coated quotes from other students. So if you don't mind, I would like to be honest and up front about what I thought about it. Your so-called "Supercamp" was nothing like what I expected. I have been to a riding school before. I've been to a Roadracing school. Now, the way that worked was , I gave them some money. we rode a little bit, they told me what a great rider I was. Then they gave me a couple of pointers, and presto, I came out a better rider. Most of all they made it fun. So that is pretty much what I expected when I enrolled in your Supercamp. Well, I guess it started out the same. I gave you some money. But that is where the similarities ended. We did "Not" ride a little bit, we rode allot. I think we had more saddle time than the people riding in the Paris to Dakar Rally. It wasn't just listen and putt around. It was more like go fast, turn left, Granny get your gun, 'Bubba' watch this, and hang on kind of a thing. Very intense. And then you didn't bother to tell me what a great rider I was. As a matter of fact, you told me how many bad habits I had. Then you didn't just give me a couple of pointers, Nooooo. You commence to giving me a stack of techniques, that two grown men couldn't, shake hands over. It was very cold, very wet and I was very sore from falling. On top of all that y'all kept hollering at me. Normally, when I get faced with all these circumstances at once, there is gonna be a butt get kicked. I was starting to think you were all butt-holes. And I was not having fun. Then I started realizing a few things. Like, first of all, maybe I really wasn't a great rider. And I did have allot of bad habits. And if you'll remember I am not exactly a mental heavyweight. So I took a lot of notes. That enabled me to deal with the wealth of knowledge that all of you were giving out. I also realized that ya'll didn't really have a whole lot to do with the weather. It really wasn't your fault that I kept falling. I kept falling because I wasn't listening to y'all. And that's why everyone kept yelling at me. I also realized this was a school and not a time to play. I finally understood that you were not there to be my friend. But you were there to teach me how to ride in a short time. If I didn't get it through my thick head in that short time, then I would have lost out. Your Supercamp was not what I expected. It was Much Much more. So I apologize for all my first impressions. I honestly believe that anybody, that ever enrolls in this school, will not have a clue what to expect from your Supercamp. You are all super instructors. I feel that I am a 100 percent better rider now, than I was prior to this school. For that I do owe a great deal of thanks to you all. My only regret of the Supercamp was that my main competition, in the "Georgia Flat Track League" took the same school, and he "Got It" too. So much for any edge I could have had. Your friend always. Scott Kay Opelika, AL Hello Danny, I just wanted to say thank you for the great teaching job you did in Atlanta, Georgia in November. My boyfriend Frank Cupo attended your Atlanta, GA school and was one of the worst riders there in his opinion. He has never ridden dirt bikes before and was intimidated when he arrived at the school. Even though, he fell a million times he enjoyed himself and learned a lot. Well, here's a little update on Frank's dirt biking experience since the school. He came back to New Jersey after the school and was determined to get better. He practiced every weekend with some friends and still came home with from hitting the ground so much. He was preparing himself for the indoor dirt track series in New York. This series runs the entire month of January, however instead of dirt they use Coca-Cola syrup on concrete. So, now the big day arrives. He misses practice on Friday because we had to attend a wedding that night. He arrives at the track on Saturday and goes through 2 practices, falling in both. Well now his heat is up and he WINS in Yes, FIRST place. He is now qualified for his main event and finishes in fourth place and receives a trophy. The following week the same thing. He finishes fourth again. He has two more weeks left in the series hopefully he will work his way up to first!! Roadracing starts in April and hopefully this will help him improve there as well. In short, I just wanted to say thank you again for the great job you, Will Davis and Chris Carr did in teaching the school. I am very proud of him!! Sincerely, Carissa Aiello Danny, Hi. I'm Vicky Sowders, Bret's Mom and Scotty Adams' sister. I just wanted to email you to let you know my thoughts. When Brett got home Sunday night after the camp and CRAWLED out of the van. I thought what did they do to my baby. Bless his heart, he couldn't hardly walk. He showed me all of his war wounds. I was still thinking I must have been crazy to send my baby through all of this TORTURE. Well as the week went on he healed. On Sunday we loaded up and went to Ada, Oklahoma to race. During practice Bret really looked bad. He struggled, wouldn't shift and just couldn't do anything. Boy my thoughts still weren't happy.... Then the heat races came up.. Bret went out and ran all over the leader...He messed up in corner three (going in too hot) giving the leader some breathing room-- Within a lap he had reeled him in again and was all over him again. He ended up second in the heat. My thoughts changed completely!!!! ( They were now happy...very happy!!!!) He came out for the main event and the same thing ran all over the leader until in turn three (again) too hot and slid down. (found his braking point) But the difference from practice to the main showed everyone he learned an awful lot from you, Chris and your staff. I just wanted to thank you for allowing him in your camp and the time you gave him. Scotty even said " Vicky, he is going faster than he ever has in his life. He is going to crash but he is learning with every twist of the throttle. I realize this is extremely long, but i just wanted you to know you really helped him. MANY THANKS TO YOU!! Vicky Sowders. Danny, Greetings! Hope Everything is going well with you and your family. I am writing to tell you about the incredible changes to my street riding ability as a result of American Supercamp. When I returned home to Sacramento from the Greeley school, I couldn't wait to head up to my favorite canyon roads in Northern Sierra. I now have a few rides under my belt and the changes in my cornering style, balance,control and confidence are nearly unbelievable. When I first rode after your course I must admit my hesitancy to incorporate my newly acquired dirt riding skills on the street. However, I finally began to actively find the "balance point" on the bike and suddenly found myself going much faster around corners without forfeiting any margin of safety or control. To the contrary, I now find my self-confidence markedly improved. Decreasing radius corners? No problem. Just literally push the bars down, and maintain your balance point on the bike. My old style would have found me in a panic on a decreasing radius turn, drifting dangerously toward the gravel-strewn shoulder. My only regret is not having acquired these skills during my first 35,000+ miles of street riding. Looking back, there have been a number of times when American Supercamp training would have gotten me out of a jam. You can be certain that those cornering "jams" are now only history with me. Please give Joann my regards. I will do my best to drop in on you and Chris during your next visit to San Jose. Now if you ain't slidin'...... Ride safe Bud Brown Captain- American Airlines Sept. 20th, 21st. Greeley,CO Dear Danny, I am doing fine.I am not a lot worse off then after one of my full contact trail rides. I couldn't settle on which leg to limp on, so I shuffled for a couple of days ( The Supercamp shuffle) I have a bruise the size of a salad plate on my hip and a level 3 case of monkey butt, but I would do it again next weekend if I could. I had a chance to get out and ride behind my house for about an hour yesterday, and while I was a little stiff to be able to do what I wanted I was able to start applying my new knowledge. This stuff does work, or will once I get it ground into my so called riding technique. In particular I was working a very tight, twisty little sand wash and I was having a much better time getting the bike where I wanted it to be. I am a good bit more confident and in control, which is a good thing. I expect to have a good time anytime I get on a motorcycle, but the Supercamp really exceeded my expectations. It was just about the perfect weekend. The instruction is first rate, the drills are well thought out and the free for all at the end is a great way to wind up. I also have to say that your family's hospitality added a lot to the weekend. Please pass along my particular thanks to Joanne for the fine meals and bottomless gatorade. So far as ad copy, I can say without reservation that this is one of the great experiences I have ever had on a motorcycle. We get too few opportunities for real training in this sport. The naturals figure it out. Ordinary mortals like me have to flounder around and pick up the occasional tip or glimmer of insight. The single most valuable thing about the Supercamp is the opportunity to explore how the machine reacts near the limit, at the limit and beyond the limit without waking up in the emergency room. Close behind is the chance to get real, believable instruction. It is one thing to be able to do it and quite another to be able to pass a complicated skill like this along. Your people are the best. I hope you heal up quickly. I suspect this is fate getting back at you for getting carried away with the fire hose. Again, thanks for a fine program and one of the truly memorable good times of my life. All the best, David Pierce Farmington, NM 30 Years dirt and street riding experience. Sept, 20th & 21 Greeley, CO. Having nothing to compare this to, I would have to say everything is perfect. It is a thrill to have Chris Carr here to help out, especially for a greenhorn like myself. I often lead workshops in my profession, so I know how much patience it takes to deal with beginners, but I also know the reward of watching progress and enthusiasm flourish. Danny has an ideal personality for doing this, great people skills, patient and projects a lot of enthusiasm. I'm sure Supercamp will prove to be a great success, I feel it already is. - Dante Marioni May 6th Corona, CA This old dog traveled 1,000 miles to learn new tricks, and indeed I did! The masters of dirt, Chris and Danny, patiently explained techniques easy to grasp and with sheer determination got this old dog to see a glimmer of light. This school was fun! Nobody can say they didn't get enough riding. I'm not much for clockwise riding but I understand the need. Tetsu was a super mechanic, always right on top of any problem with the bikes. Kudos to Joanne for her fantastic spread of fresh fruits, vegetables, Etc. The breakfast and lunches were the best! Now I must remember, body position, lean angle and most importantly for me, throttle control. Chris and Dan's demonstrations, lead and follow and hollering techniques are the way the old dirt tracker can learn. Now I must practice, practice and practice. When is your next school? How about Florida the second week of November? Covered arena? The certificates were a nice touch and you even spelled my name correctly . . . Thanks. - Guenther Leon Age: "50 something", May 19, 1997 - Atlanta, GA This was the best! From quality equipment to very high caliber coaching and instruction. Insights, drills, pace, and food, very impressed. enjoyed the humor too. you guys did it all, I will come back (because it was fun and my riding apperently sucks!) I am a finance guy by trade, so I had to be pretty analytical, and this was the real deal. Dean Crabs May 12-13, 2006 San Bernardino, CA |