Ron Haslam Race School - Anyone Done It?

[Delvard]

Been thinking about options for getting further training. For on track I found https://www.haslamraceschool.com/
There are 3 programs on offer. On Track, Premier & Elite The On Track program offers roughly 2 hrs of training but is open to 12 year olds. As I'm a little older the thought of chillin' with twelve year olds for £159 doesn't appeal strangely enough.
So, we have the Premier. CBR600RR bikes £249 for roughly half a day.
Elite, well maybe next time but it's one on one instruction with data logging.
I think the costs are acceptable but it would be great if anyone could convey race school experiences, recommendations etc etc.



Over to you



Andy
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A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

[.....]

I did the 600RR sessions. It was good and I got some good instruction that really helped. I would recommend it only if you're a track novice.

Only 3 sessions though, which is a major downer, I'd be more inclinded to do a normal track day and grab one of the instructors there.

The advantage is that you get to use their bikes, and there is no insurance excess - if you bin it then your day is over, but won't cost you hundreds.

I won my day there for free, but would have been fairly disappointed if I had paid £249 for it.

The Elite course is a different kettle of fish, worth it if you're a keen trackdayer wanting to develop your skills.

[fuzz]

I've got my date booked for 4th May. Heard some good things about it, and the fact that I don't use my own bike, helmet and leathers is a plus

I'll most likely do some trackdays further into the year, but this seems like a good starting point.
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[scol1]

I did it once,wife got me the 600 (CBR at the time),for christmas a while back,brilliant,thoroughly recommend as an initiation to track daying,nothing else to worry about bar getting round in one piece,all Ronnies gear ,boots,gloves leathers an' all.I'd deffo have a go if I were you

When I did it ,it was a max of 2 to 1 instruction,some riders ended up with 1 to 1.
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[Delvard]

Brilliant Thanks for the replies fellas, really encouraging.
'Be interested to hear about any alternatives experienced as well.




Andy
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A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

[Cillit-BANG]

Try posting in the racing/track section of the forum, you may find a few opinions from people who have track experience.

[Delvard]

[carlnicholson...]

I did the Premier course at Ron Haslam last year, as an absolute track novice, it was excellent.

All the kit is provided and the staff are fantastic. I really learned a lot.

You have to do the Premier before being eligable for the Elite course, I will be going back for the Elite after my wedding, mark my words!
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"THOSE WHO RISK NOTHING, DO NOTHING, ACHIEVE NOTHING, BECOME NOTHING."

[G]

It would worry me using other peoples kit.

My kit protective kit is generally selected so that it fits me, to ensure best protection. Ill fitting kit can in some cases make injuries worse - especially if you hit your head.

You're a lot less likely to crash your own bike following a race instructor than on the road, I would have thought.

Most of the stuff I've heard about Ron Haslems hasn't been good - especially considering value for money.
Basically for the money spent you could probably get four to six times the track time along with some free instruction from track day instructors over two or three days.

[carlnicholson...]

They have a huge selection of kit. You are fitted with kit that fits you properly, using their's isn't compulsory though, you are welcome to use your own if you want.

It is a hugely professional set up, and although you could do two trackdays for the money, you won't get a 2005 CBR600RR, a guaranteed instructor, all the kit or full insurance thrown in would you?

Just hiring a bike for a track day can cost a fortune, and then theres a deposit. If you have a track bike and a bit of experience, then doing a track day would be more suitable, but if you don't have a bike or suitable kit, the Ron Haslams school is a pretty good deal.
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"THOSE WHO RISK NOTHING, DO NOTHING, ACHIEVE NOTHING, BECOME NOTHING."

[G]

Only one brand of helmet fits me well.
Will they have every brand of helmet? I can't believe they have a big enough selection to fit everyone well for other kit.

Yes you do get to ride their bike. But then will this be such a good thing if you want to improve your own riding as well?
One of the advantages of a track day is getting to know your own bike.

The majority of road bikes are fine on track.

If you got 6 sessions on track I'd agree it is good value, but only getting three session on track doesn't seem very good.
I've paid from £125 for 600cc bike hire on a track day for seven sessions (+£90 for the day in that case).
I also got an instructor for one session.

It depends what you want to do.
If you want to experience the track in a very 'safe' environment, it makes sense if you've got the money.
If you like riding fast and think the track is a natural progression, then it doesn't seem nearly as good.

[.....]

I wore my own leathers and lid for the reasons G has mentioned above, and I had a 600RR already so the bike thing wasn't a factor for me. But I agree with G, there simply isn't enough track time.

Go to a normal trackday, grab an instructor there and do it that way. In any case, out of the three sessions, the first one was pretty much the only one we got instruction in, the rest were just spent getting faster and faster.

[carlnicholson...]

You are right, if you have a bike and suitable leathers, then you would be wasting money at Haslams school, but if you don't have a bike or leathers, then a trackday is just impossible!

The cost of a set of leathers and bike hire as well as the track day would be a lot more than £250!!

I do agree that a trackday is much better value for money, but only if you have all the kit you need to do it.
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[Bendy]

If you don't own riding gear or a bike then treat it as a 'experience day' and it's all good.

But if you do own all that stuff (this being a bike forum, most of us do) and you ride regularly, I reckon you'll learn just as much by yourself at a normal trackday.

The free instructors at normal trackdays, coupled with listening to other people's advice and a bit of homework should see you progressing quite happily, personally I'd only seek paid-for instruction when I'd stopped getting any faster by myself.

Incidentally, it's only fairly recently that I've got into taking an unfamiliar bike out on track and felt like I'm actually getting anywhere near pushing me or it. Fair enough if you've always fantasised about riding an RR and think you never will, but otherwise I'd rather be taught on my own bike that I've already spent (free) time mastering the finer points of, so all my paid-for time can be spent making progress, rather than just getting used to a new machine. (eg. out on a bike with higher redline than mine, kept changing up too soon. out on one with a lower redline, kept spanking the limiter).

[cunni]

I went along to this two years ago and was very impressed. Yes it costs more than a track day on your own machine, but they have tyres and crash damage, oil, furl, etc to pay for!

All in all, you get what you pay for, a great time on track (especially if it's your first time) on an excelent bike with top class instructors who used to race. You crash, you go home, no added costs. They even have a decent photographer on hand!

Go for it, you'll enjoy it and come away grinning, even if it rains on the day. You'll be amazed at when you can do when there is no pressure or stress!
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[carlnicholson...]

When I went, I owned a G reg GS500, and had a second hand set of textiles.

It would have cost the same as the racing school day to get a set of leathers that would have been acceptable for a trackday.

Even if I had them, I wouldn't be able to go particularly quick on an old 500cc twin.

Instead, I paid £100 more than a trackday and got a one piece suit for the day, a guaranteed instructor for all three sessions and a brand new CBR, which was, quite frankly, fucking awesome.

If I had my own bike and a van, (which I intend to do when I get some cash!) then I would have gone on a trackday. But I didn't, so I couldn't, and so can't a lot of other people.

Besides, what would you say if I held you up on my KLE going through Goddards!!!
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"THOSE WHO RISK NOTHING, DO NOTHING, ACHIEVE NOTHING, BECOME NOTHING."

[G]

[MattEMulsion]

I've done the Ron Haslam Race School Premier program in the summer of 2004. They were using the CBR600RR then and I think they were a relatively new bike out. Anyway I have nothing but praise for the experience it was great. Okay it was an expensive experience but like it has been mentioned previously you get to use their 'new' bikes, their kit and you get a pukka instructor. You don't get a great deal of track time, but you do get tuition and advice off the bike and it gives you a great start for you to take what you have learnt and apply it to your everyday 'riding' and hone your skills. In the Premier program it is one instructor to two pupils so there is plenty of individual tuition. I definitely recommend you to do this race school at least once just for the experience of doing it.
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[carlnicholson...]

Being the lucky bugger that I am, a few guys didn't show so I had my instructor all to my self!!!

Shit hot he was as well, he threw that Hornet 9 around as fast as some of the Blades being ridded by the elite course!
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"THOSE WHO RISK NOTHING, DO NOTHING, ACHIEVE NOTHING, BECOME NOTHING."

[fuzz]

[MarkyPancake]

You can't do the Elite course unless you have done the Premier one first. Unless they have changed their policy on this.

I've been considering going, but haven't had the time or money yet.

[fuzz]

No you still need to have the premier first.
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Bikes: '99 NSR125R, '00 SV650S, K1 GSX-R600, '97 CB500, K3 SV1000S, '16 VFR800

[carlnicholson...]

Yes, you do have to do a Premier course before the Elite.

After doing the Premier, you can either do the Elite (about £350 I think but with full data logging and a personal instructor for the 4 sessions) or do another Premier and get a 10% discount. Not a bad deal.
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"THOSE WHO RISK NOTHING, DO NOTHING, ACHIEVE NOTHING, BECOME NOTHING."

[syl]

[fuzz]