Oklahoma Highway Patrol Training.. Free!

[hop along]

Okay, not exactly a MOOT event, but I just signed up so there will be at least one Magna at the Norman training date...
I didn't know it until just yesterday, but one of my students mentioned they'd heard about the
Oklahoma Highway Patrol Motorcycle Patrol free rider safety training classes.
A little search brought up this site:
http://www.ohpsaferiders.com/McEvent/Classes

It sure beats the cost of the MSF classes here (all MSF classes in Ohio were $25!  Supported by MC registrations of course)

So I've signed up for the Norman class, on Sept 29, But it's already full 

 A few other classes are listed throughout the state.

No word on the website if classes are open to Texans though    

EDIT: If anyone else is going to the Norman date, I'd love to meet up for coffee and donuts pre-ride (aren't coffee and donuts required to meet the Highway Patrol???)
Hop Along

[Brad Badgett]

But, alas, I will be with Deb at a craft show in Ada, OK. Cooling off, need to ride more.

Brad

[hop along]

Brad, I agree on the 'riding more' concept.  This week I am at work all day and evenings.  Long week. Hoping to ride out to Santa Fe for the first time this weekend.  Guess I should actually turn in the 'Day Off Request' Form!
Scott

[hop along]

So yesterday I was able to attend said Oklahoma Highway Patrol Motorcyclist training.  It is taught by the members of the OHP Motorcycle unit.  They take their training to different locations around the state; sadly I couldn't make their training dates here in Norman, but I could make yesterdays training... in Enid.  2+ hours away.  I left at 5:45AM (and on a side note.. it was gorgeous.  I need to see more sunrises in my life!!)

The class was 8am-4pm.  It was almost entirely 'on course' excercises, and the class wasn't full to it's capacity of 30 so there were only two groups of 8 or so.  One group would be on course, the other would be talking to the Captain-half sharing road stories (a learning moment of its own), half reviewing the previous excercise, and half previewing what was next.  I know that's 3 halves but hey, there was alot of info flying around 

Great things came from it.  Like the mousepad swag I'm currently using 

Seriously, All said and done, it was a great class.  The instructors were superb at verbal communication before each excercise, reminding the rider what good habits to get into-and the instructor at the opposite end of the course excercise verbally reenforcing good things you did.  Or ribbing you gently for doing things wrong, whatever the case may be.

I've ridden alot, and taken several MSF classes in the past 8 years or so.  This was, hands down, the most valuable class I have ever taken.

And... They can essentially be 'booked' for events... As in , if MOOTMag were to take place in Oklahoma, and we could  secure an available 200'x300' clean parking lot, we could request their presence for training, special to MOOTMag!

How awesome would that be?  And did I mention it was free? 

This is their website:  http://www.ohpsaferiders.com/

Hop Along

[TLRam1]

Good to hear the service they are providing, I would like to attend one when time permits.

[lragan]

Given the way OU trounced UT this year, perhaps the Oklahoma Highway Patrol would not mind too much holding an event around the Magna Owners of Texas!!

Maybe we could get our Texas folks interested in a similar program, so I would not have to go so far to avail myself of the free instruction.