I was recently given the chance to go to the track at BeaveRun with the AllAboutBikes CEO and hard-core road racer Julian Taylor, to see for myself what the racing lifestyle is really all about. Who wants to see Tayrn scorch the track at about 130mph? Not likely on this trip, but maybe next time, kiddies.

I woke up way early Saturday morning kinda feeling like the first day of school since I had no idea what kind of day was ahead of me. Honestly, my first thought and major issue was what I should wear. Since it was so hot I opted for my usual sundress, but quickly realized I didn’t need to make myself stick out anymore than I already would. So I tossed on some shorts and a t-shirt, grabbed my clipboard, and took off for the track.

Of course when I first got to the track I couldn’t find the right tent, and I ended up parking too far away. So after wandering around I finally found where I was supposed to be. And then it all began…I was overwhelmed by the frantic state everyone was in to get the bikes ready to take on the track. I was also confused at all the guys changing in and out of their leathers. The closest thing I could compare the whole waiting around, changing, preparing thing is to a cheerleading competition.

So the day went on and I interviewed a riding instructor and met some of the people in the class. I continued on doing some more interviews, and just took everything in. The best thing you can do is observe so that’s exactly what I did. Well that and trying to not get run over…bikers really don’t watch out for people walking around writing in a notebook. All I know is that I was able to learn a lot from everyone that I talked to, and saw that there really is a great community in the bike world.

At the end of the day, the whole experience was really helpful. I don’t think you can fully appreciate anything until you dive into the lifestyle and engage people in conversation. As my editor always says, “There’s a learning curve for bikes.” Hopefully after a few more days at the track, countless bike nights, and maybe hopping on a bike myself, I’ll fully understand AllAboutBikes…pun intended.

Rolling up to BeaveRun for Track Days you immediately see the rows of bikes getting ready to roll to the track. The adrenaline gets pumping as rider’s race off to track school. It’s Saturday Track Day/School at MotoSeries, and with a new owner their pulling out all the stops to share the passion of riding throughout the Great Lakes Region.

If you’re looking for an organized motorcycle school where you can travel to various tracks, get the ultimate riding education from current racers, and get the best motorcycle experience around…then MotoSeries is where it’s at. From guided track instruction to competitive endurance racing, there is something for everyone at MotoSeries/FastTrax Road Racing.

The road racing club got its start as FastTrax before rebranding to MotoSeries in late March 2010. The name change came about after Todd Karam seized the chance to own the series he grew to know and love. Karam started out racing with FastTrax from 1995 until 2001 when he ultimately decided to take a break from the track. It’s hard to keep a biker away from the track, and in 2007 Karam started helping for Fasttrax events. “Basically I was running the show since I knew the ins-and-outs of the track. I was able to be hands-on in making improvements because, as a racer, I knew what could bring out a crowd. I knew the former owner was looking to sell, and since I would do anything to keep the series running I knew I had to buy it out,” said Karam. The first order of business, change the name to MotoSeries and change the events to mix-up the tracks. “No one wants to eat the same thing every night sometimes you gotta mix it up with pizza…it’s the same thing for what track you ride on and when.”

Not even a year later, it seems that was the smartest business decision he could have made. The turnout at BeaveRun for the Saturday Track Day/School has been record breaking with the roads lined in tents and bikes. “People can come here to share the love of riding with a varying group of people, and the track school can help encourage rider safety tips…which are number one,” said Karam. Even before Karam took over MotoSeries he had been building to make little changes, specifically in pricing, to make the series standout against their competition. The great part about Track Days is that its price pointed economically, making it easy for people to get proper instruction and enjoy the track.

Worried about riding the same track all the time? Fortunately with MotoSeries you’ll never find yourself at the same track every weekend. Riders can travel around with the MotoSeries in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, or Indiana. As far as expansion goes, Karam hopes that they will build a relationship with Summit Point in West Virginia. Another cool feature that will be starting next year is demo tire days featuring all of the major MotoSeries tire sponsors. “Everything we’ve done to improve the series has been done with the best knowledge. It’s important that we grow and continue making good choices, but it’s really all about the riders having fun.”

What’s better than an open track with no obstacles, no stoplights, bad drivers, and better yet…no cops? Cue the MotoSeries Track Day/School. When you’re on the track going at some incredibly fast speeds, it’s really important to know the basics before you let loose. “Track riding is a lot of fun, but it’s a lot different than street riding. Some people love it so much they only ride on the track, and other people only come out once,” explains riding instructor Sam. When students sign-up for track school their day starts off with a 20 minute in-class instruction that covers speed control, layout of the track, body position, and other riding rules. Then it’s track time. Student’s get one full hour of on track instruction with their group leader. Then its back to the classroom where the instructors review how the first ride went, what to improve on, discuss how the rider felt, and see if they want to pump up to a higher skill level. There really are no speed regulations, but most people take it easy the first time around. “We don’t want our riders to lose focus so it’s important to review their race control so they can take advantage of the track. Comfort really is key on the track.”

The track doesn’t discriminate against age either, it’s really for people of all ages (even a kid as young as 11) and skill levels. When I sat in on the second round of classes you could see everyone’s willingness to learn from the instructors the energy in a room full of people that just raced for the first time is pretty intense. So what’s it like for a first time track rider? “It’s been a really easy way to learn speed control and get comfortable, but you still get to go fast,” said Ryan Kerr. Kerr’s been riding dirt bikes since he was about 16, but decided to buy a Kawasaki to experiment with on the track. Jokingly Kerr said, “The bike goes fast cuz it has flames.” The great thing about track school is that the safety tips relate to street riding. So even if the rider isn’t feeling the track they still walk away with some valuable knowledge that could help prevent mistakes.

“I just want to give riders a place to come with their whole family and have fun,” said Karam.