new safety courses

THE ‘E’ IN ABATE STANDS FOR EDUCATION
by John Del Santo
Many of us feel that if you don’t learn something new today, It was a wasted day. We would like to keep learning, right up until the day that you start forgetting your next door neighbors last name. Even then, you can teach an old dog new tricks.
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) has developed or is developing a series of new training programs, many of which are already in operation at different sites around the state. Dr Ray Ochs, the Director of MSF training said that “Each MSF CORE was created to encompass the knowledge, skill, attitudes and habits linked with high-quality riding”. The “Basic Rider Course” stays primarily the same, except it adds the “Street Rider Course 1” which takes the first MSF course beyond traditional closed-course riding. Three students are linked by radio to one Specially trained MSF course.
“Basic Bike Bonding RiderCourse” skill drills to help students handle their own motorcycles. This includes three classroom hours, and four hours on a closed range focusing on rider awareness. The “Advanced Rider Course” is High-test training for people who already ride. It is based on the “Sport-Bike Techniques” that has been taught on military bases for the last year. “Street Rider Course 2” adding to time and mileage to that in “Street Rider Course 1”, focused on improving the perceptual strategies of street riding. The “KS-RiderCourse” Developed with Grand Prix road racing champion Kevin Schwantz uses this circuit-type, fine-skills course uses a much larger riding range, permitting speeds closer to that on public roads.
There is a course developed for scooters and three wheeled motorcycles (Not for “Trikes”, yet) Because there are so many motorcyclist fatalities that happen to older riders, there is a course being developed for riders who rode in the ‘old days’ and now want to get back in shape to get back on the road again.
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) is a member of ABATE of California. Check out some of their programs at
www.msf-usa.org. Sharpening your skills will keep you ready, alert and alive
AND...... ANY ACTIVE MEMBER OF LOCAL 6, TAKING ANY OF THESE COURSES IS DUE A $30 REBATE OR A YEARS EXTENSION ON THEIR MEMBERSHIP. WHEN YOU FINISH A TRAINING COURSE, BRING YOUR DIPLOMA/CERTIFICATE IN TO THE NEXT MEETING.


John Del Santo
mcbwaycool@yahoo.com
(ABATE of California