SLIDE SCHOOL

FEATURED ARTICLE

by Scott Wakefield

We spent the day at Royal Enfield’s Slide School powered by Johnny Lewis’s Moto-Anatomy. Thanks to Royal Enfield’s Global Brand Manager, Breeann Poland, for making slide school a reality.

When Breeann Poland shared the link for Slide School in the Royal Enfield USA Facebook group, I did not hesitate to click it. I had seen videos from India’s Slide School, and now it was coming to the US? How could I pass up this opportunity? The chance to learn a rad skill astride a Royal Enfield Himalayan was more enticing than buy-one-get-one-free peanut butter milkshakes.

Johnny is interviewed before the start of class

The custom-built watering truck kept the track in great condition on a hot, dry day.

Date & location? Perfect. August 8th, just south of Cleveland Ohio. With a shoestring budget, a there-and-back-again trip would suit us nicely. I quickly filled out the registration, fearing that class would fill up, and was pleased to see the confirmation arrive in my inbox. Next I opened my countdown app and plugged in the details. It was real, and I couldn’t contain my excitement.

To be clear, I have very little off-road experience. I was most definitely nervous about not only riding on the dirt, but also sliding a bike sideways with my foot down. I understand the overall theory and physics behind the practice, but putting it into play is a completely different bag of worms. But then, I didn’t start riding motorcycles to stay in a cozy safe comfort zone.

Leading up to the school, I communicated with Johnny about taking pictures, writing this story, and my lack of experience and gear. Johnny reassured me that the school is for all skill levels, and that he had plenty of gear. He even kept his composure when I mentioned my waistline.

[This is where I skip all the boring bits about driving there, checking in, etc.]

After getting geared up, we went right into ground school, and while the beastly modified Ford Econoline watered the track, Johnny explained how the rest of the day was going to run, starting with the fundamentals of flat track riding. Basic motorcycle skills still apply to this outrageous method of going round and round, but big differences make big differences. For instance, it’s important to sit with one’s crotch firmly smooshed against the tank, and to also be “crack on crack” as Johnny put it. That means, the split betwixt your gluteus (glutei?) should rest along the right-side seam between the seat and the bike’s bodywork, with your hips turned toward the left. It’s also important to press your right knee into the tank when turning… among other things.

Scott geared up and ready to attack the track (thanks to Cody Johncox for loaning us a jersey)

Johnny explains the basics

Ok. I filed this away. But I learn by doing, and until I applied it, it wasn’t quite sticking.

With 10 riders and 5 bikes, he split us into 2 teams. I was happy to be in the second team, as this meant I could watch others give it a go, while Johnny pointed out what they were doing wrong.

We started with going around the track in first gear, getting comfortable with the feel of the dirt, the glaring omission of a front brake, the seating position, throttle response, and so forth. No sweat. I could do that all day!

But with each lesson, Johnny added a new skill. Ever so slowly I started to push the bike - and myself - a little harder, and attempted to apply what I just learned. Everything was perfectly paced. I never felt like it was too much to digest.

The FT411 is a lightly modified Himalayan made for flat tracking. For Johnny’s full description of the upgrades, check out our YouTube channel.

My only complaint is that we had to stop. Just as I was starting to really get into it, the constraints of time would weigh in, and we’d be called back into the paddock. That’s really ok, because it was time to learn something new. During one of these sessions, Ben Groh stepped in close to give me some advice. He told me I was catching on, but I wasn’t twisting my hips outward. “Do that,” he said, “and you’ll be a million times better.”

I can’t confirm that I was a million times better, but that tip was a colossal boost to my comfort level. Turning my lower body allowed me to get my leg at the correct angle, but even more so, I realized that the instructors were watching us, cared about our success, and were ready to help with encouragement and guidance.

Confidence rose with every lap. We cracked the throttles and hit the rev limiter. Out of the turns, “WHAAAP-AP-AP-AP” would burst from the throaty S&S exhausts. Speeds increased; dust blew higher, and long rays of late-day sun sliced across our happy little racetrack. Many of us were getting it. That left foot was out, the bike was tipped, and we zipped - slid, even - around the turns. The sensation was fantastic! To be clear, I looked nothing like the seasoned racers who compete elbow-to-elbow against the toughest competitors, but I certainly kinda, sorta felt like one.

A demonstration of proper starting line technique

Now that I was getting it, I never wanted to stop.

Finally, sadly, we did have to wrap it up. We killed our engines for the last time, stripped off gloves, helmets, and pads, and, smiling despite fatigue and a layer of dust, took a group picture in front of the Slide School banner. Many of us had long rides home, so we said our goodbyes and parted ways.

After thanking our hosts and Johnny and his crew, we hopped in the car.

[This is where I skip the part about driving home, DQ Blizzards, and staying awake with Top 40 pop music.]

The crew gets ready for the group shot at the end of the day

I went to Slide School with the goal of leveling up my riding aptitude, to add a new skill (or the basics thereof) to my quiver of motoring abilities, and to have a blast on a Royal Enfield. In the few weeks since, I’ve become more aware of how I ride - how I corner, where I look, what I do with my hands, elbows, and so forth. I also think of the insane fun I had turning left and sliding on my left foot. So at the very least, I’d call that a success.

But there’s more.

I came home with an increased admiration for the time and effort that goes into racing well, and a renewed admiration for people like Johnny and Ben who train and cultivate a new crop of racers and riders. Would I do it again? Despite soreness in strange places the next day, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Thank you to Johnny, his crew, the Lupikas, Bree Poland, and Royal Enfield North America for all the awesomeness of Slide School.