Road to Road Racing (R2RR) Practice and Instruction / Bike / Gear History

Each of the series covering the last three years lead to the purchase and final setup for race bikes, and much needed continual practice and instruction.

Track History

Since starting three years ago, I've been blessed to experience five tracks.

PKA

PKA's Mac Track

The Portland Karting Association coordinates all activities at the Mac Track in McMinnville Oregon.

Practice

As often as possible, I try to go to PKA's Mac Track with my R3's and Grom.

Instruction

  • Dave Moss
  • Bill Youngblood
  • Jeff Toevs

Additional Riding Interactions

  • Andy Dibrino
  • Jeremy Coffey
  • Kevin Pinkstaff
  • Mark Degross
  • Alex Taylor
  • Pearce Lutz
  • Brittany Dickson
  • Adolfo Valdovinos
  • Kumpy Kump

Visit our PKA section for more info, photos, and links to our related videos with the Mac Track.


2Fast

Portland International Raceway (PIR)

2Fast Instruction

One-on-one instruction from Mark Degross and Pat O'Connor. Plus lots of practice.

Visit our 2Fast section for more info, photos, and links to our related videos with 2Fast.

OMRRA

Additional Light Weight Riding Tips

  • Alex Clarke
  • Alex Taylor
  • Jason Iverson
  • Paxton Gray

2Fast

Pacific Raceways

2Fast

2018 and 2019 with Mark Degross and lots of practice.

Kris P

2019 practice sessions plus tips from Kris P at 2Fast track day.

Visit our 2Fast section for more info, photos, and links to our related videos with 2Fast.


MotoVixens

The Ridge - MotoVixens

2019 - attended two different two day track day events

Met Carol

>Met and interviewed Carol Carpenter during my first time out with MotoVixens, and hung out with the crew including lead instructor Troy Cook and Steve-O.

JP43

JP43 Instruction

Attended classroom instruction with Jason Pridmore and his crew, then interviewed Jason and later Caroline Olsen.

Visit our MotoVixens section for more info, photos, and links to our related videos with MV and JP43.


Oregon Raceway Park

2Fast

In 2017, I attended an all day class at ORP.

2Fast Instruction

Mark Degross - One-on-one instruction and the 2Fast classroom instruction.

Visit our 2Fast section for more info, photos, and links to our related videos with 2Fast.

Track / Bike / Gear Track and Race History

See some highlights spanning 1) Journey to Track Days, 2) Return to Track Days, 3) Road to Road Racing

2017 - Journey to Track Days Series (43 videos)

Document the process to purchase, setup, and go to track days on a tight budget.

  • Obtain a sport bike at a modest price for the track;
  • Setup a bike (Honda CBR954) for trackday, and later in the season added a CBR1000;
  • Assembled my initial trackday gear which included a Cortech suit, Alpinestars gloves; a Bell helmet, and SIDI boots;
  • Four track days (one-on-one instruction with Pat O'Connor at Portland International Raceway (PIR), one-on-one instruction at PIR with Mark Degross, classroom instruction at Oregon Raceway Park with Mark Degross, solo track day at PIR) - all track days with 2Fast;
Performance School

2018 - Return to Track Days Series (40 videos)

After one season, I knew this was something I would be doing for a long time. Since my track trek started, I noted that I wasn't driving my 370z roadster... so I decided to donate it to my new cause. In 2017 I determined that I needed to purchase a small bike to practice at a small track, so I decided to make some upgrades...

  • Sold my 2010 14ft enclosed trailer, and then bought a 2018 18ft V-Nose enclosed trailer;
  • Sold my 2004 Escalade, and then bought a 2014 RAM truck;
  • Sold my CBR954 and CB1000, and then bought a 2013 Yamaha R1, 2015 Yamaha R3, 2014 Kawasaki Ninja 300, Honda CR125 shifter kart;
  • Upgraded to a custom fit suit, better gloves, racing helmets;
  • Two track days at PIR and one track day at Pacific Raceways with 2Fast, The Mac Track for small track practice and kart fun plus hosted two track days at The Mac Track with PKA;
Return to Track Days

2019 - Road to Road Racing Series

On the last track day of 2018, I was approached with an invitation to go racing with OMRRA. Going into 2019, I had the lofty goal to get my race license and enter a race... however I quickly found out that I was not riding close to where I ended the 2018 season, so 2019 was going to be long road if I was going to improve enough to race. This is what I did in 2019...

  • Sold my shifter kart, and then bought a 2016 Yamaha R6;
  • Sold my Ninja 300, and then bought a 2018 Honda Grom to start training my wife to ride;
  • Multiple track days at The Mac Track with PKA;
  • Two track days at The Ridge with MotoVixens;
  • Classroom instruction with Jason Pridmore JP43 at The Ridge with MotoVixens;
  • Three track days at PIR - two of those were on race weekends and used as practice prior to racing;
  • OMRRA New Racer School, got my race license;
  • 1st Race - OMRRA Ultra Light Weight Super Sport (Yamaha R3) = personal best on last lap of race;
  • Track day at Pacific Raceways with 2Fast, with comparison of 2018 R1 and R3 lap with 2019 R6 and R3 lap; personal best lap on R6;
  • Last practice of day on R6 = new personal best at PIR;
  • 2nd Race - OMRRA Ultra Light Weight Super Sport (Yamaha R3) with new R3 personal best on last lap of race;
  • 1st Race - 600 Novice (Yamaha R6);
Road to Road Racing

Road to Road Racing : The Video Series

This 5 episode video series spans 2017 to 2019 and is a narrated documentary, enabling watchers to get an overview of the whole story from first track days to racing. Total watch time of this collection is 1:37 hours.

R2RR Video Series
2019 Friends