Alpha Training Center -- Total Control "Advanced Riding Clinic"
IMPROVE YOUR RIDING FROM EVERY ANGLE
Watch the Video for a course overview
Who It's For?
In today's age of high-horsepower superbikes, large-displacement cruisers and super-heavy-weight tourers, riding skills are more important than ever for safe, fun motorcycling. Unfortunately for experienced riders, there is a large gap between the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Experienced RiderCourse (ERC) and the many racetrack schools around the country. Many riders are interested in improving their skills but are unwilling to take on the additional risks associated with a high-speed environment. If you fit into the "I'm interested, but" group, you're not alone. In fact, if you add up all the attendees of all the race schools together, they only represent a tiny percentage of street riders. This is not to say they are not good schools. To the contrary, they have much to offer. But they are not for everyone. Fortunately, Lee Parks' Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic (Total Control ARC) has a solution for those experienced riders "caught in the middle," as well as those track-day junkies and racers who want to be able to further enhance their skills in a controlled environment with expert instruction.
Who Teaches It
Chief instructor Lee Parks has been racing for 25 years and won the 2001 G.M.D. Computrack National Endurance Series Championship in the Lightweight class. He also finished 2nd in the 1994 AMA 125GP national championship in its exhibition year. He spent five years as the editor and chief test rider of Motorcycle Consumer News where he road tested every new street motorcycle available in the U.S. and became one of the top performance-testing journalists in the world. Lee's staff of personally trained instructors are located all over the U.S. and Europe and bring with them an impressive list of riding and teaching credentials. Lee is now the president of Lee Parks Design, a motorcycle gear and accessory manufacturer.
How It Works
Part of the reason for the program's success is the dynamic classroom training, which includes both theory and application of the Total Control ARC techniques. By including a basic analysis of vehicular dynamics, riders get a clear understanding of how their actions affect their bikes. For instance, in the suspension portion of the class, riders learn how to analyze the effectiveness of their suspension and how to set it up for maximum control and comfort.
The range portion of the training is done in a large parking lot or skidpad where each of the skills are individually broken down and practiced. Working on only one skill at a time is the fastest way to make consistent riding improvements. The beauty of doing it this way is that the student is never asked to make a huge "leap of faith" in any one area.
Each skill is built up in small two-mph increments until the desired result is achieved. This allows for high confidence and never gets too scary. In fact, cornering speeds never go above 25 mph. While this may seem slow, in a tight enough corner, 25 is very, very fast.
Combined with a strategic "building block" formula for integrating the individual skills into a complete riding package, the Total Control ARC enables riders to learn faster and easier than ever before. Equally important, all the Total Control ARC skills are taught with their direct applications for street riding. After all, knowing how to do something is of little value if you don't understand when and where to use it.
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What It CoversCornering technique is the primary focus of the Total Control ARC. Individual skills include corner entry, line selection, body position and corner exit. There are slightly different versions of these depending on the type of bike ridden, but all follow the same philosophical principals that are taught in the course.Throttle control and throttle/brake transitions are also covered in great detail. Additionally, super-tight, low-speed, "parking lot" turns are taught. |
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Requirements
All students must provide their own motorcycle or scooter and have at least one year of riding experience. Motorcycle or scooter should be in proper working order, including cooling and charging systems, and a battery that is in good condition. For students with less than two years of experience, it is advised (though not required) that they have completed an MSF ERC. Protective gear is required for all students, which includes a DOT-approved helmet (full-face recommended), motorcycle jacket and pants, gloves and boots that cover the ankles. Jeans and fingerless gloves are not allowed, but Kevlar jeans will be accepted.
Absolutely no race tires or race compound tires allowed regardless if they are DOT approved.
The Total Control ARC's Promises
The Total Control ARC is committed to making you a better and safer rider and in doing so makes these promises:
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Specific, measurable improvement in your riding. No matter what skill level you are now, the Total Control ARC will make a recognizable difference in your ability to control your bike.
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Better understanding of how your bike works. How what you do affects your bike's ability to maintain traction and control
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The ability to self-diagnose riding problems in the future. While it's great to be able to ride better in front of a skilled coach, it's equally important to be able to coach yourself when you detect a riding problem in the future. There are enough support materials in our package to help make sure you won't forget what you learned during your training.
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High teacher-to-student ratio. Each class is divided in groups with never more than six students per instructor for lots of individual attention and support.
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Friendly, professional service. The Total Control ARC instructors are highly trained and carefully handpicked for their teaching abilities and friendly dispositions. Your experience at ATC's Total Control ARC will be a positive one.
Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic
Level 2 with Lee Parks
Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic, Level 2 starts where the Level 1 class left off. Included are more challenging exercises from the best-selling book Total Control plus some exciting new ones that will allow students to take their riding to a whole new level. Hard braking, trail braking, clutchless up-shifting, rev-matching down-shifting, decreasing radius turns, multiple apex turns, bike setup and more will be featured in this follow-up to the most effective advanced riding curriculum on the market. Cost of the class is $295.
Topics covered include:
* Riding Psychology
* Speed Shifting
* Trail Braking into a Turn
* Decreasing Arc Mid-Corner
* Decreasing Radius Turns
* Chassis Setup
* Quick Stops
* TC Solo
In TC Solo, we combine the skills from Levels 1 and 2, and experience them at significantly higher speeds, mimicking the g-forces of track riding. Students will be given individual feedback on how they use the Total Control techniques and riding skills technology. The TC Solo exercise is similar to a Battle Trax close circuit course except that it is not timed and there is only one student at a time on the practice range.
Students MUST have completed the Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic, Level 1 as a prerequisite BEFORE taking Level 2.
NOTE: THERE IS ONE ONE SESSION THIS SEASON AT ATC AND THE CLASS WILL
TAUGHT BY LEE PARKS
When and Where
If you're interested in attending a Total Control ARC at Alpha Training Center in Lansing, our registration link is below.
The updated course dates and openings appear on the registration page.information is below. The cost for the eight-hour
Total Control ARC is $295.00, which includes a workbook with explanations and examples of the techniques and
concepts covered in the course.
Additional classes outside of Michigan can be found at
What's Next?
We are often asked after Total Control; "what's next?" The answer may be riding on a closed track under the watchful eye
of a coach. Going to the track is not just for racing and there is no better place to practice the skills learned in
Total Control then on a track.
Please visit our friends at Sport Bike Track Time to learn more
Track days are the most exciting and fun way to ride your motorcycle and we guarantee that a Sportbike Track Time event will be unforgettable. A closed circuit course (racetrack) is the only place you can ride your sportbike and experience the true power and beauty of your machine without worrying about speed limits, traffic, or speeding tickets!
Our events are open to riders of all skill levels and event formats are designed to give each rider maximum on-track time during our weekend and weekday events.
You choose your skill group and ride at your own pace. STT will have track coaches in every group to evaluate all riders.
At the end of the day you will have a newfound sense of confidence in yourself and your machine.