Pointers for 1st D/E at Thunderhill

[lookin]

Hey Everyone-

I'm getting my stock 75 911s tech'd on Monday and will be doing my first D/E event at Thunderhill next weekend.

Any tips and is there camping at Thunderhill?

Thanks

Dale

[pgeorgeson]

Not clear from your post whether this is your first DE event, or just your first time at Thunderhill.

If it is your first DE event, Thunderhill is a great track for the first outing and was recommended to me as the place to get started on the track. There is lots of open space and very few intimidating concrete walls lurking just of the track. I presume you will have an instructor, so my advice would be just to: (1) plan on having fun; (2) listen to your instructor; and (3) focus on learning the line, without worrying about how fast (or slow) you are getting around the track.

There is some good video on the Thunderhill web site that you can use to familiarize yourself with the track, so at least you will have some idea of where the turns are.

I haven't camped there myself, but there are usually people camping. Most of the campers (unless they are in big motorhomes) head down to the far end of the paddock on the right side (pit side).

[lookin]

It's my first D/E and I thought it would be cool to camp if there are campsites like laguna. Thanks for the tips.

[emcon5]

No campsites, but there are a lot of electrical hookups. You just need to be creative:

[lookin]

Cool, and thanks for the pic.

[Jack Olsen]

Thunderhill is a great learning track, but instruction is essential if you're going to learn it. The 'driving line' is kind of an abstract concept, before you're on a track, but if you're patient with learning the new ways to position, accelerate and brake your car, you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly.

If you just 'drive around it, fast,' like it's a country road, you'll be frustrated and not very quick.

[lookin]

Jack-

There seems to be a lot to remember and/or learn, so I'll be all ears with one big smile in the middle.

thanks for the tips.

Dale

[juanbenae]

bring your own shade, as in an easy up. if you dont get under the overhang you will be a rasin by noon.

oh, and have fun.

T$

[Jack Olsen]

Oh yeah, the best tip: Get their when the gates open, and get a place under the cover in the parking lot.

And watch my Thunderhill video in my signature -- it rawks!

[jrdavid68]

Originally Posted by Jack Olsen

Thunderhill is a great learning track, but instruction is essential if you're going to learn it....

This is a GGR PCA DE/TT, you will have access to some of the best instruction around!

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by Jack Olsen

And watch my Thunderhill video in my signature -- it rawks!

like,,,, no duh!

T$

[ZOA NOM]

Watch out for turn 8!!!

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I dunno about a 75 911, but I would consider having new (or used for a few days or a week) and fresh fresh fresh brake fluid! It's a Very Good Thing to not have to worry about your brakes at the end of a session...

--DD

[lookin]

Just purchased an ez up sunshade to keep my pale skin away from mr. sun. will watch jack's video. will look at zoanas avatar a couple million more times and will change da brake fluid. also dropping the car off at a friend's shop for the tech inspection on monday so he can make sure everthing is OK. This will give them time to do the fixes if problems are found.

I feel like a kid waiting for christmas.

[emcon5]

It shouldn't be as bad in mid September as it can be in July/August, but Hydrate, sunscreen, hydrate, wear a hat, hydrate.

The covered area is nice, but if you need electrical power it is limited to the very north end, and depending on who you are running with, that area may not be available. NASA uses it for impound, for that very reason (Shade and electricity)

I prefer electricy to shade, as we always bring shade with us.

Tom

[ZOA NOM]

Originally Posted by lookin

will look at zoanas avatar a couple million more times...

What?

[juanbenae]

rix, repost the link to your save in 8 as your link above is no bueno. that clip rawks too!

T$

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by emcon5

I prefer electricy to shade, as we always bring shade with us and see that we get as close to the cement pond as we cans.

Tom

tom, shout out! is this the "hill-billy delux" creito above? cement pond, keep killin me......

not seen or heard much from you as of late. things good i hope? is being a papa takin all yer spare time?

T$

[emcon5]

Hi Toby, been a quiet year in the motorsports front. I haven't turned a wheel on track since the 25 hour race last year. Not planning on racing it this year either, the team I drove for the last 2 years is putting on a major effort, with sponsors and such, and the level of prep and effort going in has priced it out of my budget. Dean, Laura and Juan are doing it though, and I will most likely be there to help out, and fuel if needed.

Ron rolled the car last August, we slapped it back together for the final event, and the engine failed.

To further aggrevate things, NASA eliminated our race class, I changed jobs and my wife quit her job to take care of the Man-Child, so the racing budget took a hard hit. The good news is that we found a parts car and replaced the damaged section of the roof. We are making good progress on the body work, and have all the engine pieces ready to go to the machine shop next week. We are rebuilding to the Performance Touring rules, and hope to run some enduros next year.

I am kind of irritated the car isn't ready, NASA is running Thunderhill bass-ackwards next month, and I have never driven it the wrong way.

When you giving up on this nancy-boy track day BS and going racing? I know of a fully sorted car with NASA log book with spares and a fresh engine you could get into for cheap (~$2K, much less than you spent on your transmission, methinks). Setup advice is free.

Tom

[jerryw]

If you bring an easy up to Thunderhill make sure you have weights and straps to hold it down. Last DE with GGR at least 2 blew away and hit things.