Our Class Coaches

  

 

 Marianne Hamilton - I decided to ride my own bike in 2002.  After riding behind Tim for almost 20 years, I finally decided I wanted to be in the front. After taking the MSF class, which I highly recommend to everyone, my starter bike was a brand new 2002 Road King. Everyone thought I was crazy to start on such a large bike, but like the MSF instructors said, riding has nothing to do with size or strength. Riding is technique and I have proved that to be correct!!! We knew we were going to be touring on the bikes, so the right move was to buy a tour bike. I made Tim take me to the parking lot and help me practice maneuvers just like on the "Ride Like A Pro" DVD. That little bit of practice made me an excellent rider very quickly.


Now we are professional riders in the Ride Like A Pro DVD's and shows. Traveling with Jerry and Donna Palladino has been a blast and we love being on the road entertaining and talking with folks at shows. We are honored to ride with Jerry and Donna, they have given so much to the motorcycling world.

 

 
Tim Hamilton - I have been riding all my life, starting with a mini bike. As a young boy, the first ride on a Harley was with my Uncle Clint. He had bought an old 74 basket case and rebuilt it. I will never forget the excitement hanging on behind my uncle and the way the big seat felt as wide as a horse. When I was in college, I worked for the Harley dealer and the Harley bug bit me. To my fathers disapproval, I bought a new Sportster and have been hooked ever since. Of course, Dad was the one who helped build my first off road mini bike trail by hand. I'm sure he never guessed how far that would take me!


We started a business in 1989, and sold the Sportster for some extra money and stayed out of motorcycling for many years. I got the itch to ride again in 1996 and found a great deal on a 1994 Road King. That started our involvement with HOG as life time members.


All those years, I thought I knew how to ride until a new member joined our local HOG club and got involved with teaching rider skills. His name was Don Loonie and he was a retired Chicago motor officer and instructor at Northwest. That was when I realized I didn't know much about riding!! He would train the H.O.G. members once a month with a rider skills class. That was one class I would not miss!!


Now we have traveled most of the United States on motorcycle and the passion is still growing. There is nothing like traveling on a motorcycle and unless you have taken a great trip on two wheels, you will not understand it. We hope to see you on the road!!!!

 
Reno Birt - Reno has been certified since 1995 for teaching the Basic Rider Course, and since 2002 for teaching the Experienced Rider Course. He is a certified Tour Rider/Instructor for GWRRA and H.O.G. Reno has earned a safe miles award for 500,000 plus miles. He is currently a member of the world champion central Florida drill team, and has owned 14 Harley-Davidsons and two Honda Goldwings in the last 13 years.

 
Rob Cooley - My first bike was a Honda 250 Scrambler in 1964 and then I did not ride again until 2006. I bought a Honda 1300 VTX-C at the dealer and rode it home and put it in the garage. I knew I needed good skills to ride safely so I took the BRC and got my endorsement before I got back on the bike to ride. I was impressed with the Rider Coaches and how they took their time to teach the techniques to become a better and safer rider. After a couple of months I decided I wanted to become a Rider Coach and that I did in 2006. I am BRC, ERC and Trike Certified and have coached for 2 1/2 years. It continues to be a pleasure to see new riders develop their skills and the smiles and excitement they share on what they have learned. I ride over 12,000 miles a year and try to get one long trip in each year like last summer which was a trip to the West Texas Foothills from here in Florida. A nice 3380 mile trip and less than 100 miles of it was Interstate highway. Current bike, 2006 Kawasaki 1600 Nomad.

 
Stephanie Baldwin - I never had the idea to ride before my husband, Tim, bought a new street bike in 2006. I took one ride on the back of his bike and decided that's great but I wanted my own. I took my MSF course and bought my first bike. I continued to learn when I found Ride Like a Pro. Donna Palladino & Marianne Hamilton were a great inspiration to me as a brand new rider. When I learned Marianne & Tim were opening an MSF school I signed my son up and talked to them about us becoming MSF coaches & were honored when they sponsored us to become coaches. I really enjoy working with new riders and re-entry riders as they learn.
Tim Baldwin - I have always enjoyed riding. I had an early start with mini bikes at around age 8 and moved on to dirt bikes soon after. Street riding has been an on going learning experience for me. While I thought I was a pretty good rider, I knew something was missing. At the same time, my wife started expressing interest in riding her own bike; she took an MSF course and was on her way. A friend introduced her to the "Women Who Ride" Website where she met Donna and Jerry Palladino. One weekend, Donna invited us to stop in and watch a Ride Like A Pro class in action, that was it, that's what was missing for me. After that I was hooked. I've always wanted to be a better rider and the Ride Like A Pro instruction took me to the next level. At one of the local shows we were introduced to Tim and Marianne Hamilton. A couple of years later when Tim and Marianne started the Ride Like A Pro Central Gulf Coast MSF course they asked if we would be interested in helping. I really enjoy meeting new and re-entry riders and sharing experiences and helping them become better and safer riders.

Ride Like A Pro Central Gulf Coast
19521 SW 128 Ct.
Miami, Florida 33177

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