I'm signed up for the thunder hill driving school offered by
the track (http://www.thunderhill.com/html/driving_school.html)
Anybody else going or want to join me?

I've never done thunder hill before so I figured these guys would
be a good place to start and then maybe the TEAM event Dec 11.

 

there is an excellent driving guide for Thunder Hill at the Nor-Cal Shelby club web page.... http://www.norcal-saac.org/ot/otbook.htm. There are basic driving guides and guides for Sears Point and Laguna as well.

Matt

 

Got it Matt Thanks!!
-Gerry

 

11-13 now has some paved off track stuff so that if you get in trouble there, you can just drive straight over the berms. IF they're smart, they'll put some cones there to "discourage" those that want to shave a bit.....

By far the most fun for me is turn 2, a hugely long sweeper, that's long enogh that you can really feel how changes in balance affect the car. One excersize I do every thunder hill event is work up to flat out on 8. It doesn't seem like you can do it, but you can. So I start going what I think is fast, and each lap, work up a bit more. When you are at flat out, no lift, the pucker factor is large, but the run-out for the turn will lhave you just touching the berm on the way to 9, and if one screws up, its pretty smooth sailing into the grass (haven't done that, don't plan to, but it's nice there's no wall there!)

Have fun! I don't think I'll make it, cause I doubt my car will be back together!

Matt

 

Thanks for the update Matt, I can hardly wait!

I may also do Laguna Seca Dec 23 with the Nor Cal Shelby club
http://www.norcal-saac.org/news/0612ls.htm
I've done that track before in a '88 Porsche 928. I'm
interested to see how it feels in my MINI. Maybe you'r car
will be back togther for that one...?

-G

 

and if it is, it will scream! New head, intake and exhaust.....

Matt

ps, the Nor-Cal crew is a good bunch. That's the folks that I got my first track experience with.....

 

You just summed up my thoughts on Thill.
I really miss turn 2 in the Miata - throttle steer goood. Hopefully I'll get up there in the MCS soon. With a rear bar, maybe it won't feel so pushy.
You describe 8 perfectly. I started out braking, then accelerating, but haven't worked up to full pucker factor yet.

 

I nail it early, some days I just never get there..... Such is racing, uh, club driving.....

And Eric, if you're running stock front camber, check into some plates, fixed or adjustable. I'm running -2 degrees in the front, and it doesn't really eat the tires with street driving... Anyway, it improves the contact patch management in the turn, and improves grip up front, without shorting the independance of the suspension.

Matt

 

Or, since it's Thunderhill, you could just put the boot in and brake only when you see God. If you see Jesus, just lift.

 

I'm here at Willows and signed up for the event tomorrow. I'll look for Minis. Hope we have a good day. Chance of rain. Maybe I'll get to practice driving in the wet. I was up in the Sierras for the last two days exploring but snow is forcast for higher up so I figured I'd come down here and do the trackday.

 

Where were all these trackday MINIs earlier in the year? Come on guys, lets get organized and get out to the track together!!!

I hear Lagunas going to be tight for events due to repaving in 07, lets hit it in Jan?

 

What's available at Laguna in Jan?, I'd be up for that.

 

in mid december. www.norcal-saac.org. It's on the 23rd, in conjunction with Green Flag Racing.

Matt

 

January 7, 2007 (Sunday) Laguna Seca (HPDE only) NASA
March 21, Laguna Seca (HPDE 2-4 Only) NASA