From a press release issued by the PR Group:

UNDERSTANDING SUSPENSION WORKSHOP

The simplified theory and practical application of 21st Century suspensions.

On November 22, 23 and 24th, 2004 in the Los Angeles area the most complete suspension workshop ever will host two of the most suspension savvy people in the world: Author and world lecturer, Tony Foale and David Hodges of GP Suspensions.

MONDAY and TUESDAY, November 22 and 23, in Los Angeles is the Tony Foale Two Day Seminar. Tony Foale has called on his 40+ years of experience, riding, racing, building and studying motorcycle behavior to design a series of seminars on motorcycle dynamics. Foale says, “These seminars explain how tyres work, how we balance and corner, what stops us cornering faster, suspension, steering geometry, squat, braking, stability and much more.” Even factory racing teams have provided their staff members with Tony’s crystal clear understanding of suspension.

A small portion of subjects covered (first half of first day) are:
Type characteristics, suspension and offshoots
* Basic construction.
* Differences between radial and cross ply.
* Why radials have lower profiles
* Some reasons why we need tyres.
* Tyre is NOT a gas spring. Force/deflection curve is basically linear.
* Suspension action of pneumatic tyres.
* Weight support. – how?.
* Optimum conditions for maximum traction.
* Tyre hop and damping.
* Suspension settings and differences between optimum for comfort and performance
* Contact area – variation with load.
* Some geometric effects of tyre width.
* Sidebar on basic bike geometry – rake and trail, as a lead-in to:* Pneumatic trail.
* Mechanisms of tyre friction.
* General shape of force vs. slip curve.
* Driving and braking slip.
* Steering slip – slip angle.
* Camber force.
* Concept of steering and camber stiffness.
* Combinations of steering and camber forces.
* Required steering angles at given cornering speeds.
* Friction ellipse.
* Drifting and throttle steering.
* How tyre characteristics provide limit feel.
* Variation of grip with vertical load.
* Under/over-steering from tyre view point.
* Under/over-steering from steering and stability view point.

DAY 3 at the track with Dave Hodges – November 24th.

Under the guidance of master suspension tuner Dave Hodges of GP Suspensions, the California Superbike School staff will be on hand to help riders sort out their bikes at Willow Springs, in Rosamond, California. Dave will have his suspension shop on wheels, trailer and all the tricks and all the technology on what to do and how to make it work.

Dave says, “We will use the Horsethief Mile track on that day. The ‘Mile’ provides short but busy laps on a new and excellent track surface with a good blend of braking and elevation changes and 13 corners, all in one mile.”

The day will be limited to only two groups of 15 riders. Keith Code, Founder of the California Superbike School says, “That’s way too much track time and certainly more than enough to achieve a thorough understanding of suspension changes that will last a lifetime of riding.
It’s going to be awesome.”

To find out more – readers may call the California Superbike School at: 323-224-2734 or visit: www.superbikeschool.com