A few pics from Thunderhill 12/11/06

[Evan K.]

Just a few pics from Thunderhill on Monday.

http://www.gotbluemilk.com/web061211

Worst weather I have seen yet a TH. The fog shut the track down for long stretches in the morning. After the wind picked up a bit the fog cleared then the rain came. I'm not complaining though. It's the middle of December and I was at the track. God I love California

The newly redone Muellerized JIC's were very nice. I was playing with a Dinan M3 that I couldn't pass on the straights ( see car 3b) I had just installed a new turbo and an intercooler clamp loosened. That made it a challenge to get the power down. However I just didn't have to slow down in the corners like to M3 guy did. The rear of his car just kept stepping out as he tried to apply throttle to stay ahead.

I tired to say hi to him after the session but he seemed a touch grumpy I gotta say passing him and then extending the lead significantly each corner sure felt good.

 

[Ludachris]

Yeah, December's hit and miss in Norcal as far as rain and fog. At least you can still go through with the event if it's raining. Out here in Colorado it's been perfect weather for a track event lately, but when there is precipitation out here in the winter it's almost always in the form of snowflakes not raindrops, which can ruin a track event. Luckily for us, it's usually sunny a lot more than it is snowy in the winter. It's just tough to plan ahead for track events as quickly as the weather changes around here.

Nice pics. I'm pretty sure I've seen that widebody BMW at a couple events a couple years back when I lived out there. Was it fast at all?

 

[Ghettodsm91]

wow that looks like fun, i really like the 2g. This makes me want to go to the local road course here, second creek is so much fun. Are they still thinking of closing it down?

 

[Evan K.]

Nice pics. I'm pretty sure I've seen that widebody BMW at a couple events a couple years back when I lived out there. Was it fast at all?

I didn't see him on track even though we were in the same group. I didn't pass him and he didn't pass me so I think he does ok

 

[Evan K.]

wow that looks like fun, i really like the 2g. This makes me want to go to the local road course here, second creek is so much fun. Are they still thinking of closing it down?

It gets even better for me. They just approved Riverside Motorsports park down in Merced. I will now have 6 tracks within a reasonable drive from my house.

http://www.rmpracing.com

track map

http://www.rmpracing.com/map_popup.htm#

Listed in order of approx. distance from my house:

1) Sears Point/ Infineon
2) Thunderhill
3) Riverside Motorsports Park
4) Laguna Seca
5) Reno-Fernley Raceway
6) Buttonwillow

 

[Defiant]

It gets even better for me. They just approved Riverside Motorsports park down in Merced. I will now have 6 tracks within a reasonable drive from my house.

Kind of dopey to call it Riverside, since there already was a famous Riverside track. But I'll bet the guys who've been left orphaned by the closure of the 99 Speedway are delighted.
Looks like a great layout, now fingers crossed the EPA dolts don't eff it up.
Too bad Yuba City's NASCAR track was aborted.

 

[Ludachris]

It gets even better for me. They just approved Riverside Motorsports park down in Merced. I will now have 6 tracks within a reasonable drive from my house.

http://www.rmpracing.com

track map

http://www.rmpracing.com/map_popup.htm#

Listed in order of approx. distance from my house:

1) Sears Point/ Infineon
2) Thunderhill
3) Riverside Motorsports Park
4) Laguna Seca
5) Reno-Fernley Raceway
6) Buttonwillow

It's about time they approved that track. Being California though, I'd still be weary.

We've got a track that's being planned for our area - I've been contracted to do their website. It's already got the land permits, track designer, and a few other things. They're in the process of raising the funds now. I can't wait for it to open:

http://www.genoamotorsports.com

 

[mavisky]

We've still got a lot of corn out here in Indiana.


Unfortunately that's about it

 

[eclipse2via]

Evan from the pics it looks like you haven't replaced your CF hood yet?

I may have it even better than you since I'm able to easily reach Willow Springs also. But Reno and TH are a long slog from me. I really need to get a tow rig.

Are you going to do the TEAM event at Reno this year? It looks like TEAM won't have any events for spring.

 

[Evan K.]

Evan from the pics it looks like you haven't replaced your CF hood yet?

I may have it even better than you since I'm able to easily reach Willow Springs also. But Reno and TH are a long slog from me. I really need to get a tow rig.

Are you going to do the TEAM event at Reno this year? It looks like TEAM won't have any events for spring.

I would like to do TEAM at Reno this year. I haven't had a chance to do the new long course. So far those I have talked to have said that you really need a 2 day event there. The 1st day to figure out the layout and the 2nd to actually improve your times. I have no problems going for one day myself. If any of you do get to go to Reno stay away from the Nugget in Sparks. It is right on the freeway and even on the 19th floor Ii could still hear traffic far to well. The first time I went I stayed at the Silver Legacy ($29 per night FTW). It was much more conducive to sleeping.

As Far as C/F hoods I am done with those for awhile Plenty of other things to concentrate on before I get back around to those again. Any lightweight panels I put on are going to be painted so fiberglass is fine with me.

 

[stealthTT]

I would like to do TEAM at Reno this year. I haven't had a chance to do the new long course. So far those I have talked to have said that you really need a 2 day event there. The 1st day to figure out the layout and the 2nd to actually improve your times. I have no problems going for one day myself. If any of you do get to go to Reno stay away from the Nugget in Sparks. It is right on the freeway and even on the 19th floor Ii could still hear traffic far to well. The first time I went I stayed at the Silver Legacy ($29 per night FTW). It was much more conducive to sleeping.

As Far as C/F hoods I am done with those for awhile Plenty of other things to concentrate on before I get back around to those again. Any lightweight panels I put on are going to be painted so fiberglass is fine with me.

The long course rocks if you have good torque or low gears to make up for the lack of torque. I loved 4 wheel drifting around one of the u-bends up in the mountain. The tight right to enter the hill climb was a lot of fun as well. It was fun to throw it into 2nd gear and use the torque to pull the car up the hill while the inside front tire is screaming for traction. They didn't mess up the bowl! I loved shooting out of their with all 4 tires squirming for traction. I scared my instructor a little . I also hit my fastest speed on that track.....170+ I remember really nailing the entry at the end of the day and shooting onto the main strait with a lot more speed. The next thing I know I'm blowing by the crowd and shifting into 5th gear after topping out 4th.....and thinking....wait a minute, I just topped out 4th gear and goosed it a little more in 5th. The sweeping left came up very fast at those speeds.

Have fun if you go to Reno-Fernley. It's one of my favorites! Oh and take pics!!! Please.

 

[95gs200k]

man you guys are amazing. This makes me want to go outside right now and finish up my winter work on my car so it is ready for spring. I can't wait for classes in the spring to start so I can start my road racing career.

 

[Defiant]

They don't do the Virginia City Hillclimb anymore, do they? And I'm sure Georgetown is just a dim memory.

 

[wishihadatalon]

man I love that e30 m3. If I ever have a surplus of money I am going to buy one