Mike Ruhe 52

Founder Owner

Hometown: Canton, GA

Profession: EVP Regional Director at CRC Group a Truist Company

I got into bikes like many with my first mini bike, which was a ’72 Honda QA50. Destroyed that, then moved on to bigger and better toys.

My wife, being the smart, sexy, intelligent woman she is, bought me my first experience on the track, which was Kevin Schwantz Superbike School at Road Atlanta over the 4th of July weekend of 2006. To say I was hooked was an understatement. From there I did a handful of days with STT and then found NESBA and the SE Crew of riders and instructors.

In August of 2009, Jeff Pitzer tossed me a CR shirt. Over three years I rode just about every event in the SE, worked booths at IMS shows, and when the chance came to get involved in fund raising, I had the honor of working with John Allen and Kenny Walsh to plan and operate the Airfence Fund events. These events have raised over $225,000 and deployed air fence at Road Atlanta, NC Bike and VIR to make all riders safer.

Joe “Joe Dirt” Basim

Director, Lead instructor

HOMETOWN: Kernersville, NC
PROFESSION: JPI Coastal

I have been riding sportbikes for many years now but found my addiction to the track back in 2005. Since then I have met and become friends with countless folks that have grown to be family to me over the years. I have ridden several tracks across the country and briefly did some racing with the CMRA during my short stay in Dallas, TX but I have always enjoyed the tracks and camaraderie on the east coast. I currently race several classes with CCS where I’ve had a lot of success, but I have found that I have the most fun riding with my family at PRE and working with everyone to better their skills as an intelligent rider.  I live in Winston-Salem, NC  and Marshal for Virginia International Raceway in my spare time……..Joe Basim is the name my mother gave me, but everyone at P.R.E. and V.I.R. know me as the one and only “Joe Dirt”!!!!!!!!

Jonathan Shoaf

Director

Hometown: Kernersville, NC

Profession: Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician

I started racing motocross at 13.  I got my first street bike at 20 and started doing trackdays in 2008.  I became a CR with PRE  in 2016. When not riding motorcycles I enjoy snow boarding, shooting, and beer.

Taylor Wells

PRE Customer Service

HOMETOWN: West Union, SC

As a kid I was into BMX bikes, raced a little, and did a lot of jumps and half pipes.
Then, I got into dirt bikes for a couple of years. After that I took a little hiatus. When I was 28 I bought a street bike and was in a bad accident that messed me up “real good.”
After a few years, I was able to ride again, and in ’04 I did my first track day at Summit Point and have been hooked ever since.

Nicole DelToro

PRE Staff

Hometown: Charlotte, NC

Profession: Business Analyst

I learned to ride in the dirt in 2004. Bought my first street bike in 2010, hit the track in 2013 and have never looked back. After riding with other organizations, thankfully I found PRE … and again have never looked back!

With the guidance of awesome PRE CRs, and a goal of Advanced group, it’s been a great journey full of sweaty leathers, duct taped body (bike and me) and yes, tears at times. I’ve been athletic all my life, but this sport has been my biggest challenge and greatest personal reward. The mental aspect of riding is like no other and has taught me a lot about myself.

I had been a group fitness instructor for many years, thus after achieving A group, my next natural aspiration was coaching on a motorcycle and giving back to the sport and to PRE. I am truly honored to be a PRE Control Rider!

As I always say … PRE is THE best place to be! So find me in the paddock or on pit lane, let’s chat … then let’s ride on!

Andrew Gold

PRE Staff

HOMETOWN: Chesterfield, VA
PROFESSION:Owner/Home Inspector and real estate investor at gsphomeinspections.com

I started out on motorcycles a little bit late in the game, I bought my first bike while I was in college in 2006 and just rode on the street until 2011 when a buddy talked me into coming to a track day. After that first day I was hooked. I immediately went and sold my street bike and bought a dedicated track bike. I was at the inaugural PRE event and haven’t missed many between then and now. I began racing with CCS in 2017. The 2018 CCS racing season ended with 5 South East Regional Championships. 2019 I received my expert racing license with CCS. In 2021 I competed in the Daytona 200 finishing 24^th and qualified for the Moto America twins cup event at Vir that same year. I now just enjoy coaching and doing track days with my Pre family.   Un-motorcycle related I am the Owner of Gold Standard Properties and Home Inspections. I also enjoy playing golf and mountain biking in my spare time when I am not working around the house or at our property. My wife, son and I also enjoy traveling, camping and spending time at the beach.

John Thornton

PRE Staff

Hometown: Richmond, VA

Occupation: Project Manager for General Contractor

I’ve been into bikes and racing as long as I can remember, and after a number of years street riding I did my first trackday in 2011.  Since then, I have participated in many trackdays each year to focus on improving my technique and to become a safer rider.  I started racing in the South-East region with CCS as an Amateur in 2016.  I look forward to continued improvement and the opportunity to share some knowledge as a CR with PRE.  When not at the track, I live in Richmond, VA and work as a project manager for a general contractor

Alan Knitter

PRE Staff

Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI

Residence: North Carolina, since 1992
Employment: Ford Motor Company, Field Service Engineer
Family: Two daughters

My passion for riding began before I hit my teens, racing BMX, then graduated to motocross and eventually street bikes, track days and racing.  I began with NESBA in 2006 and have never looked back.  I hold a CCS expert license and won the Southeast Amateur Formula 40 championship in 2012.  Life has gotten in the way of racing, but that’s ok.  My interest in honing my skills and sharing what I learn with the members of PRE is a desire that will never die.  As a former technical training instructor, it’s ingrained in my DNA to teach/coach and share my knowledge.

As many others have said, the track is my favorite place to be.  I feel “at home” when I’m the track and feel riding is something I was meant to do all my life.  I just took me a while to get there.

Billy Robbins

PRE Staff

Hometown: Rich Valley, VA

Occupation: Professional Land Surveyor

I’ve ridden bikes of all kinds since my teen years , took a break to start a business in 2003 and went to a PRE event at VIR at the request of my wife in 2016 on a Ducati super moto bike, I saw quickly that it definitely sparked my interest and had a lot to learn. I attended only one more that year but in the next couple years I started getting more serious about the track. I have to say PRE control riders showed me things that I would have never picked up on by myself. I tried not to miss an event from 2019 on and got into advanced that same year (thanks Rocket Dan) and became a CR in 2023 and have definitely enjoyed seeing other riders progress in the same way I did.

Nick Munson

PRE Staff

Hometown: Somewhere in Florida

Hi, I’m Nick. I was born and raised in Indiana. I bought my first motorcycle in college in 2006. I discovered the track in 2009 with my wife Ashley. I still rode on the street until 2014 when I got my first dedicated track bike. I’ve always loved going fast and when I found the track that’s the only place I wanted to be. I was fortunate enough to discover P.R.E. during their inaugural season and have attended every event I could since.

I am married and have three Great Danes: Rossi (after Valentino), Idgie and Shogun. Also two cats a Syphnx named Drakula and an Oriental Shorthair named Igor. They are my babies.

I enjoy helping people discover their passion for the track. P.R.E. is like a second home to me so being a CR is a huge honor to me. I can’t wait to see you on the track and help hone your riding skills.

Jim Eglinger

PRE Staff & Trackside Support

Hometown: Kernersville, NC

Owner:  Max Speed Cycles

I was a member of NESBA since 2001 and a control rider since 2006. I spent a few years racing including a bit of time vintage racing a Honda VFR 750. My wife Wendy (who also rides) and I are the owners of Max Speed Cycles in Kernersville NC, so you could say we really love motorcycles. I got my first bike, a 1974 Suzuki TS125 when I was 19 and my first streetbike, a1984 Honda Interceptor 700 when I was 21. Now I ride a CBR 600 F4i and a GSXR 1000.
Not relating to motorcycles, I have been married to Wendy for 20 years and have 3 children, Will, Aubrey and Emilie. You will usually see Aubrey with me at the track. I love music and have played the guitar for a bit and with the help of John Chalk will annoy people late into the night playing music at the track.

Matt Spinak

PRE Staff

Hometown: East Windsor, NJ

Current Residence: Raleigh, NC

I was born and raised in NJ. I moved to Raleigh, NC in 1999 where I currently live. I work for Lexus in Durham, NC where I’ve been since 2008.  I discovered the racetrack in 2005 after only about 1 year of riding a motorcycle for the first time. I was instantly addicted and knew that this was something that I wanted…something that I NEEDED… to get better at.  It quickly became my passion/addiction in my life and something that I took very seriously. I rode as much as I could and eventually made it up to the Advanced group to ride with and learn from the fast guys.

In 2013 I was asked to be a Control Rider with the Southeast NESBA organization who was being run by John Allen…which eventually became P.R.E in 2014. This was an important goal of mine so I was honored to be asked. I became addicted to CRing just as quickly as I had become addicted to the racetrack. In 2014 I started racing with CCS and eventually earned my Expert license so that I could get spanked by the super-fast guys…but also learn what I could from them.

I love helping people that are passionate about learning how to ride and improving their skills, so being a CR with such an amazing organization as P.R.E. is a very important thing to me. The members and especially the staff are family to me. I believe that the PRE staff is the best in the business and I am proud to be a part of it. I look forward to the opportunity of riding with and helping as many P.R.E members as possible. I hope to see you out there soon.

Mike Branson

PRE Staff

Hometown: Mechanicsville, VA
Profession:  Computer Programmer/ Systems Analyst for Dominion Electric

I’ve been riding motorcycles all my life, but I started late on this street bike thing. I purchased my first street bike when I was about 34 years old, after several years of street riding, I crashed on the street and was very fortunate to walk away with minor injuries. I made the decision at that point to head to the race track where I could ride my sportbike in the safest environment possible. No gravel in the turns, no oncoming traffic, no guard rails… etc. I started by getting my race license with CCS, and after my first weekend at the track, I was hooked. I’ve never been back to the street. I’ve been racing for about 12 years and had an incredible year in 2003 winning the Heavyweight Superbike, and Heavyweight Supersport championships in CCS.
I started riding with NESBA around 2006 and a year or two later I became a control rider for them. I enjoy hanging out at the track with all the new and avid track day junkies. Nothing is more fun than meeting new people that love to ride and seeing the track day “family.” I’m looking forward to continuing this incredible experience with the Performance Riding Experience (PRE) family.
I am married and have one son. He is 10 years old and is passionate about baseball. We have our own Little League regulation field in the back yard with its own batting cage. You can find us practicing almost every day. Maybe someday he’ll make the big leagues and he can support my racing habit – LOL
Always looking forward to the next track day – see you out there, and remember “Smooth is Fast!”

Aaron Kellogg

PRE Staff

Hometown: Willow Spring, NC

I started riding on the street, but after a few years and some hard lessons about the dangers of treating the street like a track, I decided to try an actual track day—and I’ve been hooked ever since. Track riding has not only become a passion but also a way of life for me.

As a business owner, I’ve dedicated my career to helping people grow and thrive, and I bring that same approach to coaching. I love working with new riders, helping them build confidence, develop their skills, and discover the incredible excitement of track riding in a safe and supportive environment.

There’s nothing better than seeing someone light up after their first lap or when they finally hit a new milestone. For me, it’s about more than just riding—it’s about sharing the sport I love and creating a positive experience for every rider I coach.

Personal Philosophy:
“I love coaching new riders and bringing the sport I love to new people. Seeing someone grow their skills and confidence on the track is the most rewarding part of what I do.”

Hobbies: When I’m not on the track or working, I enjoy hiking, painting, mountain biking and restoring motorcycles.

Favorite Tracks: VIR North and Road Atlanta

Joel Abernathy

PRE Staff

Hometown: Stony Creek, VA

Profession: Police Officer

I never had a motorbike as a kid; “too dangerous.”  That all changed in 2005 thanks to my best friend and thus began a love affair with two-wheeled death machines.  April 2006 was almost the end of that due to a major crash and a broken neck during a mountain ride—I got a helicopter ride which made the ordeal totally worth it and now I have a cool bar story.  Six months later, to the day, I replaced the bike, eventually making it to the race track the following year with NESBA at VIR.  My second track event was shortly thereafter at Summit Point and while watching the advanced group roll by, I heard a single bike go by that was different.  It was a Ducati. That sound. No idea what it was and I never got to see it up close but that was it—I had to have one.

Track days took a hiatus after 2009.  Finally got that Ducati in 2014 and found PRE in 2015.  I’ve met some of the best people in my life riding and working with PRE.  I’m proud of my career but I’d never felt more accomplished than when I was handed an orange shirt at the beginning of the 2018 season. I enjoy teaching at work but to be able to do it on a bike with PRE has been surreal.

In real life, this is year 21 in sworn law enforcement. I’m currently a lieutenant assigned as the day shift patrol commander. I’m also a firearms instructor. When I’m not at work, I maintain a small cattle farm and a massive garden in Dinwiddie County, VA with my partner and I usually have a wrench in-hand working on bikes, tractors, and trucks.

Andy Crossman

PRE Staff

Hometown: Charlotte, NC

Profession: Engineering Consultant (Instrumentation and Controls)

I started riding motorcycles in my early 20s, with my first being a Honda CBR600F3.  After riding just a little more than a year I received the California Superbike School at VIR as a gift.  Being a relatively inexperienced rider and this being my first track experience, it was terrifying yet exhilarating.  A couple months later I did my first trackday with NESBA at CMP to cement the addiction, and then many more trackdays thereafter.  I have stepped away from motorcycles several times throughout the last twenty years due to work and family.  After a seven-year hiatus I bought a GSXR-750 in 2014 with the intention of getting back to the track.  I have been riding with PRE consistently since then, and became a CR late 2019.

Dan Hughes

PRE Staff

Hometown: Wilmington, NC

Profession: Financial Services

I loved things with motors for as long as I can remember. I got my first taste of motorized two wheels when I was a kid and my friend Philip got a moped. My parents wouldn’t let me have any sort of motorcycle, but I was already hooked. When I went off to college and had a job, I bought a motorcycle as soon as I could afford one. And of course, like any responsible child, I hid the bike from my parents. I’ve had a number of street bikes over the years and finally clued my parents in on my new found motorcycle passion. In 2011, my good friend, Justin, talked me into trying out track days with him. I loved the ability to ride a motorcycle to explore my limits, and once again I was hooked, and have been riding on track ever since. In 2019, I started a new chapter with my riding when I became a CR. Now I enjoy learning and improving my own skills while helping other riders advance their own riding. I consider P.R.E. and the track day community my second family, and look forward to seeing you at the track!

Shawn Hall

PRE Staff

Hometown: Abingdon, VA

Profession: Owner Highlands Air Conditioning and Electrical

I have loved all things 2 wheeled since I can remember. Cycling and motorcycles have been an obsession for most my life. Ive raced in endurance sports , bicycles and dirtbikes  for years and got into sport bikes later in life. My first track event was with P.R.E. and I was hooked! Its now an honor to be a CR with P.R.E. and I’m always looking forward to helping other riders improve.

Jack McCausland

PRE Staff

Hometown: Chapel Hill, NC

Profession: General Manager Porsche Cary

I have always loved fast cars and motorcycles. And, in particular, I’ve had a more-than-slight obsession with Italian hardware because of the insistence on equal parts art and technology when pushing for performance.

My first track day was in 2017 and my first ride with PRE was in 2018…after that, there was no looking back. I love the challenge, the competition and the camaraderie that comes with riding track and PRE, bar none, creates the best environment in which to do that.

I am married with two youngish kids: Sophie and Luke whom you will often see with my wife, Ingrid and I at the track. When we’re not there, we enjoy being outdoors: hiking and mountain biking and I’ve recently taken up riding single track enduro on my Beta.

The crew at PRE (many on this page) were extremely influential in my development as a rider. The CRs always took time to work with me and help me to accomplish my goals. They have become some of my closest friends – my second family – and I was honored to be asked to try on an orange shirt at the beginning of 2022. I thoroughly enjoy working with new riders, helping them progress and get the very most out of their day.

Ron Pryor

PRE Staff

Hometown: Stratham, NH

Profession: Field Service Engineer

I moved from NH to Charlotte NC in 1997. I’ve always loved motorsports. I raced go karts as a kid and had dirt bikes as a teenager. After a bad crash I took a long hiatus and then in 2017 bought an FZ-09 to just “cruise” around on. In 2018 I did my first track day and the addiction began, doing every track day that I could possibly do. In 2020 I bought a 2015 R1 to further feed this addiction. In 2023 I became a CR for PRE. I love sharing the knowledge and experience that I’ve gathered along the way. I love helping other riders have the same incredible journey that I’ve got to experience.

Joey Bristow

PRE Staff

Hometown: Chesterfield, VA

Profession: Realtor/Rental Property Manager

I grew up wanting a motorcycle, reading about motorcycles and dreaming of one day owning one.  As a kid all I ever wanted to do was ride my bicycle and was fortunate enough to live in a neighborhood with miles of trails to keep me occupied.  I would beg people to let me ride their dirt bikes, but it was never enough.  After a friend let me ride his GSXR 750 on the street I was hooked. I got my first street bike when I was 26, it was wrecked by the previous owner so I fixed what was broken and painted it, this was around the time “Biker Boyz” came out so it of course had yellow paint and a polished frame and wheels.  I realized sport bikes weren’t really made for the streets, they were too fast for posted speed limits and avoiding cagers was becoming difficult and dangerous.  During an AMA race at VIR I was able to do a parade lap with other squids before the race and my mind was blown.  I had to get on the track, but figured there was no way I’d become a motorcycle racer.  I found NESBA in 2009 and shortly after my first track day I sold my street bike and bought a toy hauler, from then on it has become my biggest passion and the friends I have made at the track have become my second family.  I had a pretty successful run as an amateur racer, and was able to race on the banks of Daytona International Speedway which was a huge bucket list item for me.  I was an expert racer for a season but quickly realized the commitment to be successful at this level was more than I was able to give since I am over 40 and have 4 kids and a family to support at the end of the day.  I was honored to be asked to become a coach for PRE after watching most of my track family graduate to this level.  It was another step in my progression in this amazing sport and I’m so glad I took the leap.  It is amazing to be part of such a safe, professional and friendly community while doing something that so many consider dangerous.  I feel that the track is safer than any highway and every winter I can’t wait for the season to start again!!!