The Power of Building Relationships at 10 Training, Our first 4 day of 2018.
2018 came fast, almost to fast for 10 Training but fast is something we stride for daily in our life as motorcycle racers so we take it as a good thing and channel it.
Our first 4 day program of 2018 was a great success in my eyes. This past week we had 4 riders with 4 completely different backgrounds of riding, racing, careers, and goals for coming to 10 Training and training with me. One of the things I love most about what I do with training riders is meeting new people, learning their story, understanding what drives them and what they really want and enjoy out of motorcycles. You'll here me say over and over again that a motorcycle is a tool, a tool to take you to places in life that most don't understand or know if they have never experienced riding a motorcycle before. This tool lead 4 riders into my life this weekend, 3 of them I have already met and have had the opportunity to grow a relationship with but 1 rider was completely new to me and even the sport of flat track.
Our first 4 day of 2018:
Tuesday morning kicked off day one, but 1 riders asked to get in Monday night since he was making the trip by plane. Pulling up to the new facility that is still a working process, with our new house/ kitchen/ shop/ gym still waiting for inspections and unfinished I greeted the rider outside the build and made our way into the building to chat. Right away we clicked and start talking motorcycles, crash stories, homes, careers, and how he ended up at 10 Training. This rider, only ever seeing flat track in person once was hooked on the idea of understanding it and gaining enough control to slide a motorcycle into a corner, no goals of going racing and becoming a AFT champion, just wanted to understand the art of flat track.
Showing up with a bag about the size of gallon water jug, we literately provided everything he needed to ride a motorcycle safely including: TCX USA Boots, Lightshoe, 100% goggles/ gloves, Arai VX Pro4 helmet, EVS Sports knee/elbow pads, and some donated riding gear. Obviously we planned it out and made sure we had everything to fit him for his time here training, and thankfully we did and do for riders shoe size ranging size 3 kids to size 11 in TXC Boots, EVS Sports youth and adult size pads, a LARGE fleet of Arai Helmets, plus a brand new supply of 100% goggles.
(Head to toe, 10 Training provided all the gear needed for a week of training)
This 4 day program also was the first time the mini short track was truly put to the test with more then 1 rider riding on it at a time. Being that the facility is built in Florida and the land is nothing but sand, I have spent a good amount of time money trying to craft our own soil to provide great training on but also be able to soak up the random Florida down pours we get from time to time. Monday afternoon, I spend a few hours preparing the track, water, racking, packing multple times throughout the day and was really excited to see how it came out. But then Monday night around 10pm the rain started and didnt stop until 6am. I came out to a track that I had a hard solid base to, that was now extremely wet but with no standing water. Thankfully I was prepared for this and mixed a soil base that soaked up the water and allowed me to rack it to air out and pack within a couple hours and had a track ready for day 1.
(Exit of turn 2 on the mini short track at 10 Training after preparing again after the rain storm the night before)
Its amazing what these "Mini bikes" or what I really call them is "training bikes" can teach a rider along with small short track. The speeds are slow, so that element is taken away and a rider can focus their energy in another direction, usually body form to begin with. Alot of bad habit can be broken here and also alot of good habits can be developed here, so we spent two full days training our minds and bodies in an area less then a half acre.
(Second day on a modern bike, his daily rider is a old Norton. Form isn't perfect yet, but he is starting to learn the ins and outs of how this flat track stuff works and building an understanding of why we focus on good habits and not riding until we are completely exhausted making mistakes)
(Riders 2 and 3, brought their own gear, owns bikes, and different goals. Both over 50 years old, one a road racer and the other a long time flat tracker, both riders I worked with in the past multiple times, returning again to reach new levels and focus on better habits on and off the bike)
To me, 10 Training is more then a motorcycle training school, its a life style, its a love, and its easy for me to put in 110% into each rider to reach their wants and needs because it inspires me to see riders reach moments on motorcycles that are somewhat life changing in the simplest way.
(The mini short track after day 2, and nearly 150 laps each rider)
Day 3 & 4 Crossroads Complex Jasper, FL
For day 3 and 4 10 Training trucked north to Jasper, Florida to Crossroads Complex for a larger short track since the 10 Training Facility 1/5th mile short track isn't complete yet, remember I said 2018 came away to fast, part of that was we weren't able to source clay fast enough to build our big short track the way we wanted and had to search for another option. After searching for a short track that I felt would provide the surface I wanted to train my students on I worked a deal with Wade from Crossroads and his beautiful facility in north Florida.
(Showed up to a freshly watered and prepared track on a sunny but chilly winter morning in Florida at 40 degrees, but it warmed up to nearly 75 degrees on by the end of the day)
Over day 3 and 4, the track worked absolutely perfect for what I wanted and needed to work with each rider. With amazing consistency, the track would slowly go from wet slick to tacky to dry slick to dark blue groove over the course of the day. With each rider having different experience, whether is was road racing only up until a year ago, 40 years of flat tracking, flat tracking for years on a brakeless motorcycle, and even limited experience on a dirt bike, we were able to hone in on each riders good and bad habits each session. Finish up the 4 day program with everyone faster/ safer then ever and wanting to know when the next training program is because they just couldn't get enough of it, this stuff is pretty addictive if you didn't already know that!
Aside from the riding training, we spend hours talking nutrition over plant based meals prepared by Alysha Lewis even while we were on the road while staying at an Air BnB. We kicked off each day with stretching and breathing techniques, mental training, and most importantly enjoyed each others company, sharing life stories, experiences, beliefs and goals in life. At the end of 4 days with these riders I am able to look back and really see how powerful each and every one of my training programs really are. I may be the teacher but my students teach me just as much as I taught them.
Our next 4 Day Training program is right around the corner Feb. 5th to the 8th, and we have a couple spots to fill after a recent postponed spot. If you want in on the 4 day experience we'd love to have you join in. If you read this all you'll understand this program is for all types of riders, beginner to professionals and we work it to accommodate everyone's skill level, and goals. Our 4 day programs are for 4 riders, with a possible one or two "jump in riders" which could be a professional rider for a day or a past student for a day for some fine tuning, but the experience is built for you, your needs on and off the track. Email or call us with your thoughts and we will build the plan.
JL
10 Training
484-354-2852 Call or text
johnnylewis10@live.com