Thunderhill Raceway Park has invited our MINIs to attend the Grand Prix of Willows. This is the San Francisco Region of SCCA's finale. Our MINIs will be given special Corral parking, reserved seating, special lunch, tour of the entire facility, and more. For more detail and to sign up, please email me at norm@redwoodempire mini.com

Schedule Update for MINIs

Minis arrive - EVERYONE signs in at the front gate. This is the first of TWO waivers you will sign.
10:30am-11:30am - SCCA registration for parade laps in the drift pad Empty out cars of all unnecessary items.
Sign the 2nd waiver and receive wristband
12:00pm - Pregrid in Paddock
12:10pm-12:45pm MINI Parade laps with Pace Car
12:45pm-2:15pm- Reserved Seating lunch and watching the SCCA races
(100pm-130pm) Group 3 Race
(145pm-215pm) Group 6 Race
2:15pm SCCA Tour of Thunderhill Raceway for those that wish.


Attire long pants and closed toe shoes required, no helmets needed MUST HAVE WRISTBAND

Lodging - Michelle, 530-934-8900, she can book Holiday Inn Express, The Travelodge, or the Baymont Inn. Mention Mini Cooper Group or Lisa Diamond.
All three motels have different prices so ask Michelle and she can get you the one you want. For the Travelodge ask for rooms in the 200 series. These are the ones that were recently refurbished.

Passengers must be minimum age 12 with a parental waiver for any ontrack activities including parade laps. Younger children stay in the clubhouse during the parade laps - there will be adult supervision.

Maximum Number of 40 MINIs on track during parade laps.
Lunch: Since we will all be together and it takes some time to go through the Thunderhill Grill line, SCCA has set us up for Option #1 which will require a minimum of 10 and will cost $8 each.


FOOD - Option #1 Preorder Deli Sandwich Trays and fixins $8 per person ( min 10)
Option #2 Packed picnic style lunches provided by each participant
Option #3 - Order from the Grill individually, hot food, but takes time to get everyone's order.

 

A message from Mike Kearney of 7 Enterprises

Hi Norm,

Put me down on the list for parade laps and I will be driving my 67 Cooper S or the woody Estate to the Thunderhill race.

I wanted to pass along information about a brand new GTL Mini racer that will be making his first race at Thunderhill October 24th.

Terry Orr has purchased the Fortech built tube frame GTL Mini from Randy Arbogast and will be racing in the group 3 event at Thunderhill. Terry has raced for years in the much faster sports 2000 class in SCCA but this will be his first time in a Mini on pavement, also this will be Terr’y first time driving at Thunderhill. He has done ice racing in a Mini in his home region in Minnesota. This will be the last time this Mini will race on the west coast as it will be going to its new home in the Twin Cities right after the event.

Please come by our pit area to visit with us on Friday and Saturday

I have also talked to Ward Barbour and he is serious about entering his tube frame GTL Mini in this event also. Ward lives in Portland so this is a good 8 hour tow for him. If the weather is good he hopes to make it down.

Fastest Mini time at Thunderhill is Doug Peterson in the GT5 Fortech Mini at 201.25 in 2004.

See you soon,

Mike Kearney

 

Early weather forecast for the Grand Prix of Willows (Thunderhill) for Saturday Oct 24: Per Accuweather: H 82F / L54F Mostly Sunny - Sunday Oct 25 H 77F / L49F Partly Sunny Per The Weather Channel: Sat. Oct 24 H 77F / L 51F - 0% chance of precip Sunny Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Forecast is for sunny & crystal clear skies, temperatures near 80F so bring your sun glasses, sun screen, shorts, lounge chair, and a full cooler, as we will be basking in the sun. Come join us and enjoy the SF-SCCA Regional Points Finale races. MINI/Minis will be the marque car for the event, with corral parking and parade laps during lunch on Saturday.

If you have not already signed up you can still come, the lunch order has already been put in so you are on your own for that, but if you get your name in, you will be able to join us for the parade laps and Mini corral parking.