Riding Camp

Well,  we just finished up another successful 3 day camp. This time we had twelve kids, and what a great bunch of kids they were. Being in July the temperatures were definately up, we went through plenty of water and it was great that with help from our freind and Bicycle Therapy owner, Lee Rogers helped by donating some squeeze water bottles and some HEED from Hammer Nutrition. This definately helped the kids stay enthused and energetic. Also we have to send a big "Thank You" out to Chris Galt at Enduro Engineering, Gloria Wood with NAPA, and Evan Yarnell with Solid performance for all there contributions.

We started off day one with some balance drills which require great clutch, brake and throttle control.  We split up into two groups of six and one group would work at the drill while the other six would complete laps around a two and a half minute lap woods track standing the whole time using only their front brake and throttle........thats right NO CLUTCH AND NO REAR BRAKE.  This proved pretty tough for a few just due to not being used to standing so much.  Our goal for day one was to be on their way to carrying more momentum by proper use of their legs. 1) By standing we learn that with the use of our legs our knees work as shock absorbers over bumps therefore increasing our momentum because we can keep the throttle on more consistantly. 2) We also learn that some turns can be dealt with easier while standing up, because while standing through a turn you can carry more momentum by using your knees to turn the bike rather what most do and use the rear brake pedal.

Day two was some of the same stuff from day before but now we moved on to gear selection. Most riders ride in too low of a gear and work the throttle to far and to often. We learned that just by shifting to a taller gear at the same rpm you can increase your momentum rather than overworking the throttle and by holding the throttle a little less open you can hold on longer into a corner therefore increasing momentum After some much needed lunch we then we broke into some front brake practice.............first by doing a front brake drag, then a front brake skid, and thirdly a nose wheelie. We explained the the front brake should be 65-75% of your braking power (more than half haha) and how this was also very important in keeping better momentum through a corner. Because even under proper hard braking the front wheel still keeps rollin carrying more momentum then a skidding locked up rear wheel .Boy, we had some dirty filters this night, so I took advantage and showed 8 youngins how to properly wash their air filter, while the other four just swapped dirty ones out for clean ones..

Day three was some quick laps through some more balance drills such as slow man race, and one armed laps around a short open track. Then Paddy took the boys to do some turn practice on one of our traingle drills, while I tended to a broken bike. After we fixed the broken zuki and had some lunch we finished up on some open practice at our pistol range track, where I witnesssed a different type of rider in all twelve students then three days prior. Before we headed back to the house to greet the parents to pick them up, I gathered them all around and told them all how proud I was of them and how I appreciated their awesome behavior over the passed three days. I meant it, this is one of the best camps ever, due to their outstanding behavior and the help of Paddy and his extremely positive attitude.

 Next camp is scheduled for August 8,9,10. You can find out more info
by emailing me at my website at www.richlaffertyracing.com. Camp is for ages 10-16. We supply food. Cost is $400 per child. Hurry interest, is high.

                                                                              Keep it smoothe, Rich

Camps, Schools and Racing and more...........

           We are about ready to say goodbye to June and hello to July my friends and this usaully means two things to me. Hot weather which I love and youth summer riding camps wich are alot of fun. The camps are three days packed with riding and fundemental drills, and also swimming, bmx, and good food to keep the boys bellys full and there minds occupied with better riding. I have recently hired National Enduro Pro rider Paddy Halloway to help keep the kids learning and also having fun. Anyone who has met Paddy knows that he is a great youngster with a great personality and a nack for keeping things light, fun and positive. So I am pretty pumped on his addition to the RLR Schools team. We usually welcome campers here for the kids to stay in but it isnt mandatory, so once everyone is parked and signed up and ready to roll, we get our gear on and start with a brief intro to let them know what is planned and what is also expected from them. I will briefly talk about some riding techniques and such, but keep it fun so they stay interested. Then we will line up and start a small brief trailride to warm up then into some drills. Alot usually depends on the individual student but I will spend alot of time the first day pointing out the importance of balance and balance while standing to achieve better bike control and untimely a better sense of momentum, especially if they are a sit down rider. Actually alot can be told about a rider in the way he holds onto the bars. Such as a low, straight hand position usually means, a poor low arm position wich also hurts the riders stance not only sitting but standing especially. Check out the video here on arm position and you will understand what I mean. We will then break for lunch after some drills to practice this. The afternoon will be spent  with a brief course set-up combining all drills then on to some trail riding. But slowly to reinforce what we have practiced. Repetition is the mother of skill. Then at end of day we get some food for dinner and usaully swimming in the river adjacent to the property and maybe even some bmx riding. This pretty much sums up the next two days. We have been doing camaps for over five years and been having the same kids and some new ones come back every year. We definately have a good time make some new friends and did I mention FUN at all...........Upcoming camps are July 11-12-13, and August 8-9-10. Contact us at rich@richlaffertyracing.com

              Speaking of Paddy Halloway helping us out at our camps/schools. We used to have a young man come help us that has done pretty well for himself racing as of lately. He also has a really fun upbeat personality as well. He is factory Husky GNCC/National Enduro Rider Andrew Delong. How about his recent results. He has had some very head turning results in the GNCC  and has had some decent rides wich he wants to improve on in National Enduro, and I know he can. We are proud of you Andrew, keep  it up.


                That being said I have to mention my brother Mike "Doogie" Lafferty for winning his 70th National Overall Victory. I believe he started riding for KTM team in 1995 and won his first race in 1997, so thats winning National Enduros in a fifteen year span. To have a carreer like that is amazing and I am definately not just saying this because he is my brother. I think that the most coolest thing is he still has the fire after all these years, he is not just trying to hang on to it and collect a paycheck. It is his job, but he still wants to win, not just ride his bike around and he finds ways to increase the fun factor and motivate himself year after year. Doogie has always been talented at alot of things and god blessed him with the ability to ride a dirt bike for sure, but to me its deeper than that. He cant stand to lose at anything, and you can be sure he will bust his ass to win and I think that is what motivates him. He is driven at anything he does. Hell just being around him drives and motivates me. I am not going to mention the other record he may possibly break this year in hopes that I dont jinx it (shhhh). But whatever happens was the way God meant it to happen, and yes God meant for my brother to be a off-road dirt bike racer. Furthermore, do you know anyone that actually accomplished what their future ambition was in their eigth grade yearbook..............well Doogies was "To be National Enduro Champion"!