Illustration by Jon Towle
“Aw’ right. How many of you pencil necked geeks think you know how toride a motorcycle safely?” Our instructor, Wayne Jackson, grinned at ussardonically, as he tried to instill in us some degree of learned caution.We were all planted in the drewery classroom for a variety of reasons, some to qualify for the DMVmotorcycle riders license, some to reduce their insurance premiums, some toincrease their skills, some because they know how dangerous riding amotorcycle can be. As for me, I’m trying to scrunch down in my seat as lowas possible.
“I would strongly suggest we close the doors,” Wayne slaps a hammy mitt onthe side of his muscled arm, “the mosquitoes are rabid and vicious,” as hecrushes a fragile bug body. I look cautiously around for West Nile ladenkiller bugs, licking their killer bug lips. Harbor College is located in themidst of a swampy oil drenched bog at the edge of the L.A/Long Beach Harbor.A group of 18 to 20 neophyte and experienced, men and women are awkwardlyseated in a sweltering classroom at Wilmington’s Harbor College. We’veassembled to experience the Motorcycle Training Center’s “Riding and StreetSkills Course.” The training schedule includes two evenings of classroomtraining and two days of riding on their course.
“More than half the riders involved in motorcycle accidents have less than 5months riding experience,” Wayne quotes statistics from the HURT STUDY ofmotorcycle accidents. This 1980 5-year study by Prof. Harry H. Hurt is thebasis for most of the course content.
As for me, I’m starting to have uncomfortable flashbacks to my 1969 Armybasic training. My college education is for naught. What bike ridingexperience I have ran out the door screaming. I’m back to the militarytraining logic of, “There’s the right way, the wrong way and then there isthe Army way.”
My momentary flashback hallucinations are brought suddenly back to thepresent by Wayne’s intense stare in my direction. He has obviously asked mea question while I was back at Viet Nam era Ft. Ord, trying not to be thedumbest recruit ever drafted.
“Sir,” I vainly stumble at toadying to authority.
“Who’s the most vulnerable on the road?” Wanye’s expressionless stare in mydirection caught me like a deer in headlights. I stared back in fearfulincomprehension.
Answering for me, “Šthe motorcyclist.” Wayne continues, “36% ofmotorcycle/car accidents in which the car is going 50MPH, have an impactspeed of 50MPH. What do you think that indicates?” Wayne lightens the drillinstructor demeanor enough to lower my panic response. But I still can’t getmy brain to signal my lips fast enough to speak.
“It means that the car driver didn’t see the motorcyclist, and that the bikerider isn’t sufficiently experienced to avoid the accident.” The whole classbreathes a sigh of relief as one.Wayne Jackson is one of a number of instructors who teach the “MotorcycleRider Course: Riding and Street Skills.” My other instructors included:David Bransky, Tim Thielmans and John Mueller. The $200 course has a varietyof times and locations.
The Motorcycle Training Center, initiated by Red Runyon, opened in 1979. It is one of manysuch schools in California governed by the Calif. Motorcycle Safety Program.The driving course is rigorous but educational. It was a challenge for eventhe most experienced riders. There is constant repeated instruction, but thecourse doesn’t allow for personal, extended instruction. If any studentfails to negotiate the specific exercises or driving procedures, or presentsan issue of safety to self or others, they are asked to leave the course.Students that fail to complete the days’ instruction are allowed to repeatthe course.
I’m sure some of you out there are going to rag on me for supporting such arigid set of bike riding concepts. I agree that in the ‘real world’ thereare a lot of unusual circumstances, unusually capable bike riders andexperiences that may contradict this training. I also feel strongly thatpersonal freedom is a primary issue.
The intent of this course is to give you sufficient survival skills to allowyou to ride another day. They admit that the course will not guarantee yoursurvival. Most will admit that they’ll do whatever they have to do tosurvive. But few would take the position that ignorance is a valuedpossession. Experience is a great teacher, but experience can be a painfullesson.
The course driving tasks are regimented and very specific. Some of thetactics relate to: speed braking, accelerating through a turn, gear shifting,swerving to avoid a road hazard, weaving through cones, negotiating 90 degreeturns, looking through turns, anticipating and reacting to traffic, and muchmore.
My challenge was to listen to directions, that and to not be so damn jerky in mybraking or accelerating, or maybe not being such a jerk. “Squeeze,” Waynewould holler at me above the roar of screaming Yamahas, “just squeeze thefront brake, don’t jerk.” Or did he mean- “Šdon’t, Jerk.”
Somehow on my last day of driving, I managed to take in some of theinstruction offered. My braking and accelerating was smoother. I managed tocalm down enough to understand what was being said. Some were actuallyenjoying the day’s riding. A casual camaraderie lightened the tension.The time had come to show what we had. Tim and John finally ran us throughthe testing phase. There was no joking around now. The peso was on theline. I don’t think you could have forced a dime between our collective buttcheeks, we were all that tense. Each maneuver was viewed silently butcritically. Each rider was evaluated on each element of required procedures.
When we finished, we rolled our bikes into the cargo container, handed inour helmets and stood in line silently, as if awaiting our orders for ‘Nam.I passed! But not without a few of points against meŠ.that damn jerkyaccelerating through a curve, and a couple of other riding indiscretions,but I passed. Two guys had perfect scores. For what it’s worth, I think thisprogram is well worth the time and effort. I can’t imagine anyone whowouldn’t benefit. As a matter of fact, I’m trying to get that belligerenthard-ass, Bandit, to take the experienced riders course. We’ll see what 30+years of wild riding does for him.
The experienced rider course is one day of instruction and driving. The costis $99. Another fun/educational biking experience offered by the MotorcycleTraining Center is the Willow Springs “Streets of Willow” driving course.This is not a school but a chance for bike riders to test their mettle. Probikers will be there to swap stories and give advice. Riders must have 3,000to 5,000 miles of riding experience. Ride your own bike and bring extra gas.Lunch is supplied. For information you may call Leslie at (818) 932-0433 orat www.ccriderlosangeles.com
