Ron Haslam race school, Any good?

Tom85 · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Karma :

I'm wanting to start doing the odd track day and was thinking i might first try a day at the Ron Haslam race school, and just wondered what people thought of it. Is it worth the money? £289 seems a lot of money for an half day course?
My main worry would be their bike and gear, if i was to bin it would i be wacked with a huge bill on my way out or is it all covered within the price?
I've had a quick look on their site but can't find anything. Also they've just added a new date which happens to be on my birthday so if you all wanna chip together it would be greatly appreciated Very Happy

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"You live more for 5 minutes going fast on a bike like that, than other people do in all of their life.” Marco Simoncelli .

supZ · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Karma :

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=244462
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=889655

to answer your questions.. bike and gears all included. no extras. no costs if you bin it.. go nuts Wink

short version, if you've not been on track before or done 1 maybe 2 trackdays its a great experience and you'll learn a lot.

if you've done a load then its a waste of money and you're better off doing a trackday and getting an instructor to follow you round.

so if you fall into the former.. go for it!
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CBR954RR - Daily toy
CBR600RR - Trackbike

vt6 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Karma :

Agree with the previous, I did it a month after passing my test four year ago and it was an eye opener for sure - Learnt a lot, I then went on to do track days. I wouldn't do it after being comfy doing trackdays though - a waste of money.

Although a bonus of mine was I had Mr Guy Martin as my instructor, awesome day.

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

For the same money you could do two trackdays which would get you four times the time on track.

Get your self a copy of A Twist of The Wrist 2 and it's likely you'd learn a fair bit more with all that track time than doing one Ron Haslam day I suspect.

From what I've seen it's more of an 'experience' than proper schooling.

T0MMY · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Karma :

Yeah, just do a trackday, much cheaper and instruction is free with some companies (No Limits I think are?).
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Free for a session (or two if you're lucky) with all trackday companies I've used.
Quality does vary - I believe Focused events (used to at least) not even cover any expenses meaning instructors are basically looking for free tracktime; while others may at least cover petrol etc.

neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Had an instructor with focused events at Brands GP - he went in front, I followed for a bit until he slowly pulled away.
Found him after; "Yea, you're not bad. It's my first time here too, nice track."
Err, great; ta.

That was about the worst experience, however.

Deano · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Karma :

My sponsor did the chris walker school this week and called me on wednesday to tell me he had a brilliant day with his son, you get timed and someone from bsb level showing you round, giving loads of advice on how to ride the track at your level. The instructors also get you chase them around slowly increasing the pace to help push you along as they watch you in there mirrors.

You also get to do race starts and a race at the end of the day, so its really good value for money compared to the ron haslam school which seems to be lacking value as you only get 30 minutes tracktime, alot of it is in a classroom
I hear.
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Babba · Banned Joined: 05 Jan 2012 Karma :

I'm biased, but it will probably be the BEST £289 you ever spent.

The only bad words you'll ever hear about it are from the fuckwits who know it all but still languish in the 'beginners' group at their trackday of choice 'cos they're far too good to consider a riding school.

A few know it all fuckwits turn up at Rons school but he can spot them a mile off . . . . & he soon wins them over.

RH is a riding god who doesn't give a flying fuck about how good you think you are, they will assess you & start from there.

You WILL be a better rider at the end.

Tom85 · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Karma :

cheers for the advice guys, thing I'll look at just doing the odd track day. Come to think of it the owner of the place i take the bike for mot said if i was ever interested in doing a track day i was welcome to tag along with them so might go down and see when they're next doing one. He was mechanic for a lad riding in bsb superstock last year and has a couple of lads riding in the thundersport series so rekon it could be my best option. Cheers once again.
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"You live more for 5 minutes going fast on a bike like that, than other people do in all of their life.” Marco Simoncelli .

WannaBeDude · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Jul 2011 Karma :

My mechanic is an instructor there, and tbf, he a well measured top bloke and knows his stuff, and how do deal with all sorts of peeps.
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Jogging on, destination living.

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

T0MMY · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Karma :

I'd almost think you'd be better to do loads of trackdays first and then do a race school.

No point pissing about learning the basics...get reasonably quick first and then see if there's anything you can improve on that you've been doing wrong. You could spend all day just learning basic body position and getting your knee down when you could easily learn that yourself. Better to use it to develop higher level skills imo.

I feel like I've sort of plateaued at a level that could best be described as mediocre so I'd almost be tempted if I thought it was any good.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

supZ · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Karma :

T0MMY · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Karma :

Well that's my idea blown out the water Laughing

To the OP...I think doing it because you've never done a trackday is not a valid reason. The novice group is very friendly and unintimidating so just go for it. You won't be the slowest guy there.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

WannaBeDude · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Jul 2011 Karma :

Fair enough I would of thought, but in business, Experience day is not gona pull in the punters as well tbf ....
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T0MMY · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Karma :

It's something to think about...I'd like to get into racing but it would just be a real moneypit and I still enjoy trackdays for now.

Would like to do more in the car but I worked out my last car trackday cost at least £400 for the day which is more than double what a bike one costs...
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

WannaBeDude · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Jul 2011 Karma :

I also imagine, many a weekend warrior turns up on shiny new bikes and hands over their cash! of which they have plenty off, and learn some skills that may stand them in good stead, or even kill them ... Lol
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Jogging on, destination living.

Rob W · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Nov 2004 Karma :

I did one at Silverstone.

It got a 5/10.

I did a 'normal' trackday at Snetterton on the GSX-R and T595.

That scored 11/10.

Much, much, much better, and a third of the price.
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'23 XSR900