Zalusky Advanced Riding School

[Abercrombie FJR]

We had perfect weather last Sunday for my two sons and I to attend Zalusky Advanced Riding School. My youngest son sold his R6 Thursday but he was already signed up and paid so dad made the ultimate leap of faith and let him ride my 999 while I herded the FJR around the track. The oldest son rode his Ninja 1000.

This was a day with my sons I will never forget. I am afraid I have created a problem as both boys were shopping for dedicated track bikes Monday. I happened to find a nice low mile 2008 R6 also to prevent me the inevitable wrecking of my Ducati. I love that bike and the thought of balling it up makes me sick.


Taking a little break between sessions. Yep, that's my trailer behind us. The FJR loves trailer rides!

:no:

:no:



Here I am trying to wrestle the big girl around a corner.


I tried to get a knee down on the asphalt on the FJR but it wasn't happening. When I was loading the bikes afterwards I realized I had the seat in the high position.

My youngest son at 23 rocking my 999.


Youngest on the 999.


My oldest at 24 on his Ninja 1000 following his rider coach out on to the track. The rider coach proved none of us are invincible when he crashed his CBR hard ending his riding day, while out riding with his group of level 1 riders after lunch.


My oldest 24 year old son carving a cautious corner earlier in the day.



Another shot at my oldest son.

 

[Sharif]

Well done!

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

A little shocking to me. An "advanced riding school" that let's your wear jeans out on the track? (your youngest on the 999)

 

[Abercrombie FJR]

I suppose I should add a short review of what my sons and I thought of Zalusky Advanced Riding School for those in the Midwest that might be interested.

I think Jessica Zalusky and her team puts on a nice well organized advanced riding school. They sell it as an advanced riding school to make you a safer rider on the street and suggest you ride within 70% of you and your bikes capability. I have no doubt that getting on this course and pushing yourself and bike more than is safe on the street will not hurt anybody's riding skills and will make you safer on the street. I am happy to have had the opportunity to get my 999 and FJR out on this course three times and feel I am a much improved rider because of it. The rider coaches all seem to be patient teachers who are eager to pass on their passion and knowledge and are fun to hang out with at the social they provide afterwards.

The track is located at Dakota County Technical Collage and is use for all sorts of drivers training. The track is bumpy in a few spots, had a few elevation changes to make thing interesting, and had a few different surfaces through out the track varying from new smooth black top, to chip seal surfaces with some concrete patches on the inside of a few curves like shown in my pictures. It makes things a little interesting as your about to hit the apex transitioning from blacktop to concrete at the apex back to black top chip seal. It provided a great education of how the tires react to the different surfaces. Although the track is not perfect, it was very enjoyable and provides a safe location for training.

They offer 6 levels of training at ZARS with one day dedicated to sport touring bikes, cruisers, and the ladies. Levels one and two are mostly men and women like my sons and I who take their regular street bikes to the school. It appears that by level 3 and up more of the bikes are dedicated to track day bikes with owners that are either dipping a toe in the water to see if racing is for them or are working to gather knowledge and experience to move up to track days or racing.

For $110.00 you get about 6, 20 minute track sessions followed by 20 minutes of class room discussion and lecture and a 20 minute break. They also throw in lunch, an afternoon ice cream snack, and a ZARS t shirt.

Some fellow with a large truck and trailer offers Dunlop tire service on site throughout the day and Ducati of Minneapolis was on hand with 6 models of Ducati demo bikes. We signed up late for demo rides and got the last two available bikes. My son tried the Monster 796 and I rode the Hyperstrada on the DCTC track for just about 20 minutes. Neither one of us fell in love with them immediately but I if my slow appreciation of my 999 is any indication I think I could really grow to like the Hyperstrada. I know a lot of people go gaga over the sound of the L twin Ducati engine but it is taking me a long time to become accustomed and to learn appreciate the sound. I guess I'm just enamored with the sound of an in line 4 over a triple or a twin. I dearly miss my FZ1 singing through the Two Brothers pipe.

I will be going back with my boys. They are gung ho for ZARS and I predict will all have a 600 supersport soon to continue our education. Now to talk the wife into letting me slide a 4th bike into the garage.

 

[Abercrombie FJR]

A little shocking to me. An "advanced riding school" that let's your wear jeans out on the track? (your youngest on the 999)

Yes they allow jeans as a minimum. Its not the best situation and I wasn't crazy about it but it was the best he had. The way he rode the wheels of my Ducati out there on level one I will not let him out there with out some type of riding pants. Level one is billed as an advanced riding school for the street riding at 70% capability but when you mix a 999 Superbike, 22 year old kid, and 17 corners in a mile track its more than a red blooded man can take.

I begged him to show restraint on his fathers pride and joy Italian beauty but you know how that goes.

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

A little shocking to me. An "advanced riding school" that let's your wear jeans out on the track? (your youngest on the 999)

Yes they allow jeans as a minimum. Its not the best situation and I wasn't crazy about it but it was the best he had. The way he rode the wheels of my Ducati out there on level one I will not let him out there with out some type of riding pants. Level one is billed as an advanced riding school for the street but when you mix a Superbike with 17 corners in a mile track its more than a red blooded man can take.

I begged him to show restraint on his fathers pride and joy Italian beauty but you know how that goes.

Awesome. Thanks for the review. I've been wanting to get up there to do a track day at DCTC for 3 or 4 years, but haven't made it yet. I've done 4 track schools/days (3 at RoadAmerica, and 1 at Mid-America near Council Bluffs) and I need to go again. And I concur; those track days have saved my bacon on the street several times. Worth their weight in gold.

 

[El Toro Joe]

Very cool...looked like you did pretty well with the FJR

 

[Abercrombie FJR]

Very cool...looked like you did pretty well with the FJR

Last week I rode the Ducati for a 5 hour afternoon class and walking up stairs was a chore two days later. After an all day class on the FJR, two days later I am in much better shape although I am a bit stiff. I don't think the ZARS rider coaches expected the FJR to haul ass and corner as well as it does. Its no superbike on the track but I had a blast and rarely looked back to see other bikes wanting to pass. Ham fisting the throttle while leaned over out of the corners and seeing the TCS light flashing and doing its thing was a hoot! Back end stepped out a whisper or two and off she went. I was going to run those PR2s I bought at last falls EOM to SW-FOG later this month but I might have to reevaluate that after Sunday.

 

[Aasland]

A little shocking to me. An "advanced riding school" that let's your wear jeans out on the track? (your youngest on the 999)

It isn't a "trackday". ZARS has two places the ride, one is at Brainerd which is an actual track and they do require full suits (1 or 2 peice). The other place they ride is at Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) in Rosemount, on a roadcourse designed for teaching students the CDL (semi trucks etc). Zalusky will take that course and make a "track" throughout with safe run-off areas, brush most of the debris off, and set up corner workers. Speeds are limited by virtue of very tight corners and they suggest keeping the bike in one gear, typically 3rd (2nd works well on the FJR). They separate the riders into novice (1,2), intermediate (3,4) and advanced (5,6) groups, and only the advanced are allowed to pass in corners (IIRC). There is a long straight in the back where the rest of us are allowed to pass, and by pulling into the pit area to let folks pass.

But I still think they should require armored pants. This isn't an ERC!

I've taken a few bikes there and totalled one (VFR). The FJR is a bear to manhandle through the corners but it does OK; the SV is a blast though. Half the times I've been there it was raining which was great training to see how much traction our tires actually have. Some local racers use it for practice, but they'll be in the advanced (5,6) group with the motards.

The focus of the DCTC class isn't speed or racing; it's about body position and looking through the corners, or anything else the students want to ask about. They have full day classes but I prefer the friday night classes which go for four hours and cost less. I think they have a sport-touring/cruiser day this summer, and another one for women only.

There is a new outfit that also uses that track now, called Road Closed Racing, link is below and it shows the driving course:

https://www.roadclosedracing.com/drupal/Location

I don't have any experience with RCR, but ZARS is an outstanding outfit and provides a great service for us. It's definitely something I would recommend any rider do at least once.

 

[Bungie]

Cool.

I'm guessing you grew up riding dirt bikes though. Elbows up! Relax that upper body!

Good on ya for taking your sons to the course. It still boggles my mind how much a person can improve with good instruction. The harder part is to put it all into practice consistently.

 

[Abercrombie FJR]

Cool.
I'm guessing you grew up riding dirt bikes though. Elbows up! Relax that upper body!

Good on ya for taking your sons to the course. It still boggles my mind how much a person can improve with good instruction. The harder part is to put it all into practice consistently.

Its funny Steve now that you mention it I have never even ridden a dirt bike in my life. I do have the Tenere but have very limited experience taking that off road more than dirt or gravel roads as its not exactly a starter dirt bike. A thumper endure is on my stable wish list though.

 

[Gramps]

Let me know the next time you go Kevin & I'll join you...it would be fun to give the triumph a little workout.

 

[Chuck35]

I wonder if they would allow my FJR on the track with a car tire on the back.

 

[Tanker]

Looks like you had a great day with the boys.

I took one of there classes a few years back and need to take another one, for sure. Perhaps when my kids are home for summer break from college this year we'll head out there for a training day.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[hppants]

Nice pictures - enjoyed the review as well.

I have dreams occasionally of buying a 600cc beater and converting it to a track bike. The track fees here are stupid though - that won't be happening any time soon.

 

[luvtoride]

I suppose I should add a short review of what my sons and I thought of Zalusky Advanced Riding School for those in the Midwest that might be interested.
I think Jessica Zalusky and her team puts on a nice well organized advanced riding school. They sell it as an advanced riding school to make you a safer rider on the street and suggest you ride within 70% of you and your bikes capability. I have no doubt that getting on this course and pushing yourself and bike more than is safe on the street will not hurt anybody's riding skills and will make you safer on the street. I am happy to have had the opportunity to get my 999 and FJR out on this course three times and feel I am a much improved rider because of it. The rider coaches all seem to be patient teachers who are eager to pass on their passion and knowledge and are fun to hang out with at the social they provide afterwards.

The track is located at Dakota County Technical Collage and is use for all sorts of drivers training. The track is bumpy in a few spots, had a few elevation changes to make thing interesting, and had a few different surfaces through out the track varying from new smooth black top, to chip seal surfaces with some concrete patches on the inside of a few curves like shown in my pictures. It makes things a little interesting as your about to hit the apex transitioning from blacktop to concrete at the apex back to black top chip seal. It provided a great education of how the tires react to the different surfaces. Although the track is not perfect, it was very enjoyable and provides a safe location for training.

They offer 6 levels of training at ZARS with one day dedicated to sport touring bikes, cruisers, and the ladies. Levels one and two are mostly men and women like my sons and I who take their regular street bikes to the school. It appears that by level 3 and up more of the bikes are dedicated to track day bikes with owners that are either dipping a toe in the water to see if racing is for them or are working to gather knowledge and experience to move up to track days or racing.

For $110.00 you get about 6, 20 minute track sessions followed by 20 minutes of class room discussion and lecture and a 20 minute break. They also throw in lunch, an afternoon ice cream snack, and a ZARS t shirt.

Some fellow with a large truck and trailer offers Dunlop tire service on site throughout the day and Ducati of Minneapolis was on hand with 6 models of Ducati demo bikes. We signed up late for demo rides and got the last two available bikes. My son tried the Monster 796 and I rode the Hyperstrada on the DCTC track for just about 20 minutes. Neither one of us fell in love with them immediately but I if my slow appreciation of my 999 is any indication I think I could really grow to like the Hyperstrada. I know a lot of people go gaga over the sound of the L twin Ducati engine but it is taking me a long time to become accustomed and to learn appreciate the sound. I guess I'm just enamored with the sound of an in line 4 over a triple or a twin. I dearly miss my FZ1 singing through the Two Brothers pipe.

I will be going back with my boys. They are gung ho for ZARS and I predict will all have a 600 supersport soon to continue our education. Now to talk the wife into letting me slide a 4th bike into the garage.

You do know that CBR stands for "Crashed But Repaired". lol! & good luck with that 4th bike in the garage. One day I'm going to take an advanced riders course. As of yet, I haven't. Money & time rule over desire.