Northern Region Staff

Richard Harris, STT, STS and Apex Owner

• Profession: STT, STS, and Apex
• Hometown: Clinton, Michigan
• Birthplace: Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Education: Associates
• Current Bikes: 09' R6, 08' R6, 99' TZ250, 94' TZ250, and BMW S1000RR
• Recent Highlights: Winning Apexmfg.com championships in WERA NC. Purchasing STT and STS.
• Best Advice for Track Days: Attend as many as possible and use our staff they are second to none.

Nick "Gunshow" Amelio, STT Northern Region Director

• Profession: CSI/Northern Region Director
• Hometown: Toilet Illinois
• Education: Bach. Business management
• Current Bikes: R6
• Hobbies: Flexing the guns, track days, working out, being by the ocean
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: It's about the paddock more than the track.

Dennis Baker, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Bilstein OE Development Manager
• Hometown: South Lyon, MI
• Birthplace: Trenton, MI
• Education: BSME University of Michigan - Dearborn, 1988
• Recent Highlights: Getting to ride with Kevin Schwantz, Colin Edwards, Jamie James, Doug Polen, & Jason DiSalvo
• Current Bikes: 2006 Suzuki GSX-R 750 (track)
  2009 Buell 1125R (street)
• Hobbies: Camping, Fishing, Golf, Softball, Bowling, Bicycling.
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Look where you want to go, not where you don't want to end up.

Terra Boldt, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Sales Account Manager
• Hometown: Aurora, IL
• Birthplace: Hibbing, MN
• Education: Benedictine University, BA in Management
  BU Professional Certificate: Sales and Sales Management
• Current Bikes: 2007 CBR 600RR, White/Silver
• Hobbies: Street Rides, Track Instruction, Shopping and Foodie Extraordinaire
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: There is so much to learn at every track day, but the most important thing is to HAVE FUN!

Jeff Chen, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Software Test Engineer
• Hometown: Chicago, IL
• Education: Bachelors of Computer Science from Texas Wesleyan University
• Current Bikes: 1999 Aprila RS50, 2006 Triumph Daytona 675, 2009 Triumph Daytona 675
• Hobbies: Motorcycles, photography, rock climbing, being a smartass
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Try to have a specific goal for each session ("go faster" does not count). Get consistent, then improve in small chunks. And have fun!

Justin "Stickboy" Chmielewski, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Patrol Sergeant, City of Northville Police Dept.
• Hometown: South Lyon, MI
• Birthplace: St. Louis, MO
• Education: BS- Criminal Justice, Northeast Missouri State Univ.
  Various lessons learned the hard way over the years!
• Recent Highlights: Beginning my tenth Season with STT, taking two podiums at the 2010 AMA Road Race Grand Championships.
• Current Bikes: 2008 Yamaha R6
• Hobbies: Anything motorcycle related, fishing, golf, target shooting, mountain biking, spending time with friends and family
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: RELAX and have fun! Be humble and allow yourself to learn at your pace. Don't be afraid to ask questions of the staff, we are here for you.

Dan Chrystal, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Electronic Engineer
• Hometown: Marengo OH
• Birthplace: Utica, NY
• Education: Franklin University, BSEET.
• Current Bikes: Suzuki SV650, Triumph Bonneville, Norton Commando, Harley FLHS, Bultaco Pursang, Honda XR100, FZR400
• Hobbies: Skiing, Target Shooting, Motorcycles.
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Relax, have Fun.

Don Cook, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Investment Guru
• Hometown: Chesterton, IN
• Birthplace: Pittsburgh, PA
• Education: BA, Wheaton College MBA, DePaul University
• Recent Highlights: Attending Jason DiSalvo Speed Academy in Alabama (do it!) then, just to mix it up, attended BMW Off-road academy in California.
• Current Bikes: ’07 GSXR 600, ’07 BMW R1200GSA, ’70 Triumph Trophy
• Hobbies: Racing, riding and repairing bikes.
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Check your ego at the gate and allow yourself the luxury of patience while you learn the limits. Invest in suspension and tires first, not motor. Ask lots of questions of the coaches.

Nicholas Desautels, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Senior System Applications Engineer
• Hometown: Beecher, Il
• Birthplace: Chicago Heights, Il
• Education:Bachelors in Electronic Engineering and currently working on a Project Management Degree. Also have various training and experience building and working on motorcycles.
• Recent Highlights: CCS Expert License since 06, AMA Pro in 2008 (raced Moto-ST), AMA District 17 competitor in various off road events, Compete in various AMA sanction Ice Racing events and dabble with Supermoto and Flattrack.
• Current Bikes: A few SV650s for racing and track duty, Aprilia RSVR Mille for track duty, Superhawk for the street, KX250 for the ice, KDX200 for the woods, Custom CB750 cafe for posing and a little TTR125 for tearing up the field by my house.
• Hobbies: Ice Hockey, Motorcycles, Snowboarding, Surfing, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Camping, ect...
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Be smooth on and off the throttle, smooth on the brakes, smooth when you move around on the bike and alway look where you want to go. We live more during one lap around a race track than most people live in their life time. Have fun and never trust someone in a clean roadracing suit. If you need spare parts at the track I probably have it in the green bucket.

Andrew Feldhaus, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Service Manager @ Turn One Motorsports
• Hometown: Argos, IN
• Birthplace: Lafayette, IN
• Education:McCutcheon High School 1998
  Motorcycle Mechanics Institute 2003
• Recent Highlights: Getting the opportunity to work with STT staff and customers.
• Current Bikes: 2006 Yamaha R6 (track)
  2003 Honda VFR 800 (street)
  1987 Honda elite (pit bike)
• Hobbies: motorcycles, hunting, shooting
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Relax, have fun, be smooth and most of all ask questions! We are here to help.

Tea Figuric, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Software Engineer / University Professor
• Hometown: Chicago, IL
• Birthplace: Sarajevo
• Education: M.S. Computer Science - Loyola University
  B.S. Computer Information Systems - DeVry University
• Recent Highlights: I was a Fighter Pilot for a day!
• Current Bikes: CBR 600RR - Simon - street
  CBR 600RR - Garfunkel - track
• Hobbies: motorcycles, scuba, video gaming
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Each session, choose something to work on. Remember to breathe. Don't let the peer pressure influence you.

Craig Frantz, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Civil Engineer
• Hometown: Uhrichsville, OH
• Birthplace: New Philadelphia, OH
• Education: Finishing my BS in Civil Engineering
• Current Bikes: 2003 and 2008 ZX-6R
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Work on something every time you ride, even if it's just one corner per session.

James Gaylord, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Marketing & Communications
• Hometown: Menominee MI
• Birthplace: Anderson Air force base - Guam
• Education: Associates in Industrial Model making
  BA in Finance
• Recent Highlights: The birth of my two daughters - Addison (4-19-09) & Abigail (8-12-10)
• Current Bikes: 2008 CBR 600RR
  2003 CFR 450 with motard setup
  1973 Trail 50 with a stack of go fast parts waiting to be put on it
• Hobbies: Riding bikes, woodworking, and hanging out with my kids
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Relax and breathe. If the guy in front of you can make the corner so can you

Oliver Gooden, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Financial Advisor
• Hometown: St Clair Shores MI
• Education: I done got my learn on in the skool of hard knocks!
• Recent Highlights: 2010 WERA NC B Superstock and Formula 1 Champion
• Current Bikes: 600RR, Trek
• Hobbies: Mountain Biking, Snowboarding, Rock Climbing, Beer Brewing, and Motorbikes
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Ask a coach for help! We are here to help build your confidence and lower your lap times.

Mike Graham, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Engineering Manager
• Hometown: Delaware OH
• Current Bikes: 2006 GSXR 600
• Hobbies: Anything related to motorcycles
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Smooth = speed

David Grey, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Sportbike Tire Service Manager
• Hometown: Holland, MI
• Birthplace: Waterford, MI
• Education: Oakland University
• Current Bikes: 2008 Yamaha R6, 2008 Yamaha Zuma, Trek Madone 5.2
• Hobbies: Cycling"Pedaling", Hockey , Hanging out with my amazing friends
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Slow down be patient and learn the right way, the first time, rather than trying to break a bunch of bad habits that have been picked up along the way of going fast

Troy Havelka, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Manager/Entrepreneur
• Hometown: Batavia, Illlinois
• Birthplace: Delnor Community Hospital in Geneva, Illinois
• Recent Highlights: Starting my own business.
• Current Bikes: 2008 Kawasaki ZX6R
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Focus on one thing at a time. Don't push yourself to be fast. It will come with patience. Oh, and please secure all trays in their upright positions and remain seated until ride comes to an end.

Aaron "Smalls" Hardiman, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Martial Aarts Instructor
• Hometown: Auburn Hills, MI
• Birthplace: Detroit, MI

Brian Healea, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Motorcycle Industry Rep
• Hometown: Mount Gilead, Ohio
• Birthplace: Lexington, Ohio
• Education: Associates Degree in Business Management
• Recent Highlights: Being at the track and even getting some races in now and again!
• Current Bikes: 2009 Suzuki GSXR1000 and 2011 KTM RC8R RS
• Hobbies: Road Racing, Mountain Biking, Off Road riding
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Smooth and consistent. Learn to be fluid and relax. It isn't about the lap time as much as it is about how smooth and consitent you are. If you get to that fast lap time and you have nothing in reserve, things can get VERY sketchy quickly. Developing smoothness and being as fluid as possible may slow you down at first, but you will be better in the long run and blow right through that target lap time. Finally, ASK FOR HELP from instructors! They should be watching and coming around, but ask if you need help! It's why we are here!

Chris Hipple, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Business Development Manager
• Hometown: New Lenox, IL
• Birthplace: Indianapolis, IN
• Current Bikes: Yamaha R6, Kawasaki ZX6R
• Hobbies: Playing guitar, riding bikes
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Relax, have fun, and don't forget to breathe. Smooth = fast.

Glen R. Johnson, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: AT&T Network Services Manager & US Army Reserves
• Hometown: Schaumburg, IL
• Birthplace: Elgin, IL
• Education: Bachelor's Degree
• Recent Highlights: Humm...I'm 58 and still vertical! Hope that counts... :)
• Current Bikes: Honda Goldwing, Honda 919
• Hobbies: Scuba Diving, MC Tour's
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Be Smart, Be Smooth, and you will be fast!

Jane Kaminski, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Marketing
• Hometown: Franklin, MI
• Birthplace: Southfield, MI
• Education: University of Michigan
• Recent Highlights: 2010 WERA Michelin National Champion, Sportsman National Champion, North Central Champion, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Champion (Womens Superstock)
• Current Bikes: 2007 Suzuki gsxr 600
• Hobbies: Anything and everything having to do with motorcycles.
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Listen, focus and take the time to learn the required skills you need to be a safer and faster rider.

Nicholas Lefurgey, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: G.M.
• Hometown: Macomb, MI
• Birthplace: Mount Clemens, MI
• Education: Bachelor of Science
  Associate of Arts
• Recent Highlights: 5 time WERA champion
• Current Bikes: Honda CBR600RR
• Hobbies: Skiing, cycling and sailing
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Set a goal and create a plan to help you achieve it.

Rick Lind, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Aircraft Avionics Tech
• Hometown: Milan
• Birthplace: Michigan
• Recent Highlights: 3 WERA Novice Championships in 09 and working on some for 2011.
• Current Bikes: 2008 R6, 2007 R6, 1964 Triumph 650, 86 Fazer.
• Hobbies: Racing, Trackdays and making composite motorcycle parts.
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Enjoy your time at the track with friends.

Erik Lindgren, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Village of Lombard Public Works
• Hometown: Lombard, IL
• Birthplace: LaGrange, IL
• Education: Everyday is a Learning Day.
• Recent Highlights: A supportive wife for 10 years.
• Current Bikes: Ducati Hypermotard 1100s, 2006 Yamaha R6
• Hobbies: Wrenching, riding, cooking, honey do lists,weight lifting and hanging out with friends.
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Slow down to go fast. Work on one thing at a time. HAVE FUN!

Jeff Little, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Air Traffic Controller
• Hometown: Sandwich, IL
• Birthplace: Cherry Point, NC
• Education: HS, College, FAA Academy, Flight Safety, Yamaha Champions Riding School.
• Recent Highlights: Riding with Nick and Ken from YCRS at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this past winter.
• Current Bikes: GSX-R 600 track bike, GSX-R 750 street bike, Katana 600 street bike.
• Hobbies: Track Days, no time for much else.
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Think about what your doing. Ride below your limit and have fun. You really do have to go slow to go fast. "Brake for Geometry"

Matt McCurrie, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Police Officer/ Bomb Technician
• Hometown: Palos Park Illinois
• Birthplace: Chicago Illinois
• Education: Two years of college, On going from work.
• Recent Highlights: Valor award for bravery from the Cook County Sheriff for taking apart an incendiary device. Chicago Black hawks March Hockey coach of the Month.
• Current Bikes: 98 Ducati 916 , 08 Ducati 1098S
• Hobbies: Mountin biking , Playing Hockey and coaching , Track riding and coaching
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Stay relaxed , focused and know your limitations. Always ask questions if I don't know we will find someone that does.

Robert McNeel, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Respiratory Therapist
• Hometown: Somerset, PA
• Hobbies: Enduro/Harescramble Racing, Riding

Chris Mcvay, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Bomb Tech
• Hometown: Helendale, CA
• Birthplace: Wadsworth, OH
• Education: Texas A&M
• Recent Highlights: Wandering the high desert in California.........
• Current Bikes: GSXR 600 YZF 250
• Hobbies: MOTO'S duh, flipping rail buggies, golf, guns, blondes
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Don't forget to have FUN

Christi "BamBam" Midlam, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: IT Sales Executive
• Hometown: Columbus Ohio
• Birthplace: Kentucky
• Current Bikes: '06 GSXR600
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Wear your humble-hat to the track...the best way to learn is to realize others might know more than you. Somebody is always faster! Take advantage of track services such as suspension and photography; both will make you a better rider :)

Jig Moore, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Photographer
• Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
• Birthplace: Ogdensburg, NY
• Education: Engineering Degree
• Recent Highlights: Just won the Michigan 8-ball APA state singles championships. Heading to Vegas for the Nationals 4/24/11 (wish me luck, please!)
• Current Bikes: '05 Yamaha R6, '02 Ducati ST4s, '95 Yamaha V-Max, '09 Husqvarna TE510
• Hobbies: Pool, Supermoto, Trail riding, Dual Sporting
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Quit focusing on equipment upgrades. Put good tires on it, set your sag, and ride the damn thing.

Stuart Moore, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Aerospace CNC Machining Company
• Hometown: Vernon Hills, Illinois
• Birthplace: Seattle Washington
• Education: Middle Tennessee State
• Recent Highlights: Being on STT Staff
• Current Bikes: '06 GSXR600, '06 GSXR750
• Hobbies: Cycling, sky diving, watching MotoGP and WSBK, hanging with friends
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Focus, be smooth, consistant and concentrate on reference points. Master the basics and learn at a comfortable pace. The speed will then be there.

Ben Moyer, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Musician and Sound Recordist
• Hometown: Glen Carbon, Illinois
• Birthplace: East St.Louis, Illinois
• Education: B.S. in Mass Communication from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
• Recent Highlights: Anytime my kids actually listen to me.
• Current Bikes: 2007 Yamaha R6, 1984 Honda Aero 80
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: If you ride at 100% of your ability, you have no margin for error. So, ride within your limits and continue to learn.

Mark "nummy" Nemetz, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Electric Operations Supervisor, WPS Corporation
• Hometown: Ledgeview, WI
• Birthplace: Green Bay, WI
• Education: MBA - Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, WI
• Recent Highlights: Becoming an STT Staff member, retiring from CCS racing, and my wife & I becoming “empty-nesters.”
• Current Bikes: Yamaha R6, Yamaha FJR1300, Kawasaki KLR650, Harley-Davidson Softail, Suzuki GS700ES, and two scooters.
• Hobbies: Anything related to motorcycles, coaching for STT, X-Country ski racing, PCs / web design, and hunting (gun & bow)
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Start-out slow and enjoy all the aspects of track day participation – it’s not all about just going fast. It’s a privilege for you to ride on the track with others, so be safe and don’t put them in jeopardy. Don't hesitate to ask questions - the STT staff is here to help make your track day fun and rewarding!

"K3" Chris Onwiler, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Magazine Editor / Civil Servant
• Hometown: Kankakee, Illinois
• Birthplace: Evergreen Park, Illinois
• Education: Wyoming Technical Institute
• Recent Highlights: Competing in AMA, first as a rider and then as team owner. Continuing as Senior Editor for TrackdayMag.com
• Current Bikes: GSXR 1000, Aprilia Mille R
• Hobbies: Racing, writing, wrenching and coaching
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Yes, you need new tires! If you're even thinking to ask, that's the answer.

Rudy Pyle, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Judge
• Hometown: Anderson, Indiana
• Birthplace: Providence, Rhode Island
• Education: B.A. - Anderson University
  M.P.P. - College of William and Mary
  J.D. - Indiana University
• Recent Highlights: My 2 year old son said, "Motorcycle leathers."
• Current Bikes: CBR600RR, CBR954, RC51
• Hobbies: Trackdays, cooking, playstation 3
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Go slow to go fast.

Nicholas Razo, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Project Coordinator
• Hometown: Farmington Hills, MI
• Birthplace: Youngstown, OH
• Education: Kettering University - Mechanical Engineering
  Youngstown State University - Advertising & Public Relations
  Spring Arbor - Management & Org. Development
• Recent Highlights: Every day spent on the track is a highlight!
• Current Bikes: 2003 Kawasaki z1000 fighter
• Hobbies: Mountain bike riding/racing, Music, Astronomy, Computers & Technology
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Take it easy. Don't try to show us how fast you are. Just stay loose, let your bike do the work, and faster laps will be the natural result.

Sam Snellenberger, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Buy here pay here automotive lending and finance
• Hometown: Kent, Ohio
• Birthplace: Ohio
• Recent Highlights: 2009 AMA RoadRace National Champion, 2010 AMA RoadRace National Champion
• Current Bikes: 2007 SV 650
• Hobbies: All kinds of bikes, and skateboarding
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Going slow and learning really does make you faster.

Tom Southworth, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Industrial Designer
• Hometown: Royal Oak, MI
• Birthplace: Big Rapids, MI
• Education: Fine Arts education from Wayne State University
  Hard Knocks education from the Automotive Industry
• Recent Highlights: Starting and maintaining my own business successfully. Thank you for being so understanding, Vickie!
• Current Bikes: Triumph Daytona 675, Ducati Streetfighter, and Honda CRF450 SuperMoto
• Hobbies: Acquiring motorcycle and car projects that I'll never finish!
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: The first session after lunch is the time to slow down and remember all of your coaching. Breathe. By the end of the day you will be faster and smoother than before!

Rob Wienhoff, STT Northern Instructor

• Profession: Business Owner
• Hometown: Chicago, IL
• Birthplace: Germany
• Education:College and the School of Life!
• Current Bikes: Suzuki GSXR-1000, Aprilia RSVR Factory
• Hobbies: Track Days, Track Day Coaching, Working, and virtually anything challenging.
• Best Advice for Someone Doing Track Days: Have fun with your day. Your competition is your best last lap. Beat yourself and improve your skills. Smile. Laugh. Have Fun