Thank you for your comments, I always welcome feedback because it is the only way that I get to know how to improve the content and presentation of the seminars.
The two Canadian seminars had people with an unusually wide range of previous experience and educational background and so it was practically impossible to provide material that interested all the attendees all of the time. I aim to give a presentation from which everyone walks away having gained something of use to them. I sincerly hope that happened in your case.
It is unfortunately that the first morning’s tyre topic was unhelpful to you. However, a good understanding of tyres is a basic necessity to understanding practically all other aspects of bike dynamics, and is probably one of most misunderstood areas. In fact I get more feedback thanking me for the tyre section than I do on any other aspect. In any case you’ll be glad to know that I have changed the tyre material to try and enhance the general interest without removing the detail that many people want.
I don’t want anyone signing up with the wrong idea of they are about. These are not seminars to show anyone how to build stuff, rather they are designed to explain the dynamics of how and why motorcycles behave as they do. Although designed around the physics of a bike many riders come to me and say that the knowledge gained has helped them with their riding because they understand better what is happening when they make certain control actions.
You are right that more benefit is derived from the seminars by those who have already read the chassis book, but that is not always practical.

my only beef was – about half the first day covered how tires interact with the pavement, shock absorption and damping qualities of tires, tire profile effects, etc. it kinda drove me nuts, because I can build (one day) just about anything on a bike – EXCEPT the tires. well, i guess i could, but after tons of time and money I’d only end up with something good enough to competitively run at the isle of man in 1921!

If you can, buy and read his book beforehand, (and the gaetano cocco & john bradley texts too!) because he covers so much more in the book than he can in 16 hours of speaking. the trick is to ask a billion questions, during or after the presentations, about what topics you need more detailed explanations on.

try e-mailing him about a package deal for the book and course. (and software, if you want to do your own suspension design) if I remember right, he sells the book at a discount during the seminar, but you will get MUCH more out of it if you’ve pre-read the text. bring business cards too, and pay attention to who’s there. anyone in the industry who hasn’t been to a seminar could show up. (has CSYZ been to one yet?) collect everyone’s card you can – because you can never know too many bike loving materials and mechanical engineers, suspension techs, aftermarket component manufacturers, etc. if you need help on a design down the road!

goodies at my seminar included some freeware for bike design and a copy of the powerpoint slides he used in his presentation.

that new volume is tempting too…maybe I’ll have to upgrade to the new edition!