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Author
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Topic: ThunderHill Park
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Greenandsilver
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Member # 1371
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posted
 
 
I was looking into that racing school as well, and was going to cruise up this weekend to watch and check it out, but I turned up to have to work. Hopefully next month I'd like to try it!
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1995 GT 5.0
Posts: 91 | From: San Jose CA | Registered: Jun 2002
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SteveL
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Member # 1241
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posted
I have and here's a few recommendations:
- Go to http://www.norcal-saac.org/ and find the Newsletter section. In there are track layouts and a very good description of the track. It's unlikely they will use the full track for that class but the info is very good.
- Fill up the car in the morning. My MPG for the day was half what I usually get. Gas is available at the track but it is expensive. Super octane is also available.
- Do not set the parking brake after a run, It might warp the rotors. Shut the car off and leave it in gear.
- There's no advantage to being first in line at arrival but you don't want to be late either.
- Helmet rental is available for $25 at the registration booth, first building on the left when entering.
- If you get a helpful instructor who provides some good advice, try to seek him out again. Some guys knew how to teach and I learned most from them.
It's a fun day and you'll learn a lot. Enjoy it.
Posts: 578 | From: San Jose, CA | Registered: May 2002
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SteveL
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Member # 1241
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posted
Sorry - make that the Open Track section of SAAC.
Posts: 578 | From: San Jose, CA | Registered: May 2002
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94sssnake aka svt5150
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Member # 1237
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posted
I've been there. It is a fun track and you will learn a lot about your car. Roush #92 has some good points and info.
Posts: 341 | From: nor*cal | Registered: May 2002
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Greenandsilver
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Member # 1371
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posted
Anybody going up on July 27th? I'm probably going to go up to watch the school and check it out.
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1995 GT 5.0
Posts: 91 | From: San Jose CA | Registered: Jun 2002
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WingnuT
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Member # 430
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by TRY2PAZ:
Oh yeah, don't get black flagged.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Hahahah!!! No Sheet!!
The track is great for beginners and experienced drivers as well. Just take your time and don't try to drive too fast too soon. Most guys think they will go faster if they floor it in every straight-away. Smooth and controlled will be faster than jerky and spaztic.
[ July 08, 2002, 04:27 PM: Message edited by: WingnuT ]
Posts: 136 | From: Scotts Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2001
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Cobra 427
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Member # 755
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by WingnuT:
...Just take your time and don't try to drive too fast too soon. Most guys think they will go faster if they floor it in every straight-away. Smooth and controlled will be faster than jerky and spaztic...
The first and third sentence of advice makes sense, however, in reality, I don't know anyone who doesn't "floor it" in every straight-away. The only time I lift in a straight-away is at the beginning of the braking zone (or when pointing a faster driver by). Other than that, flooring it in the straight-away is a bit safer than flooring it in the corners
Have Fun,
Randy R...
Posts: 95 | From: Fremont, CA | Registered: Jan 2002
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Bullitt208
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Member # 441
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by WingnuT:
quote:
Originally posted by TRY2PAZ:
Oh yeah, don't get black flagged.
Hahahah!!! No Sheet!!
The track is great for beginners and experienced drivers as well. Just take your time and don't try to drive too fast too soon. Most guys think they will go faster if they floor it in every straight-away. Smooth and controlled will be faster than jerky and spaztic.
Do I count a total of three Black Flags between these two posters?
Posts: 297 | From: San Jose, CA | Registered: Sep 2001
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Darren99Cobra
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Member # 1083
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posted
My motto for any track day is ...Drive Smooth, Drive Fast, Drive Home. Have fun but don't let the little head think for the big head. Otherwise you'll be going home on the back of a flatbed tow truck.
Couple of other recommendations:
- check your lug nuts before you run. Keep them at 90 ft-lbs.
- Check your brake fluid if you're running the stock stuff as it might have boiled.
- Keep monitoring tire pressure especially if it's really hot.
- Drink lots of fluids.
- Don't get too confident at the end of the day. That's when people think they're really fast and they get tired and stack their ride.
Have fun.
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Darren
www.tacos3.com
Posts: 21 | From: Sacramento | Registered: Mar 2002
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Drift-GT
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Member # 762
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posted
Hey speaking of Thunder Hill I just got back from it today ![[Smile]](smile.gif) It is a fun track but I would say one of the hardest tracks to test how stable your car is. It is open wasteland of asphalt, so the track gets hot like hot as hell. So a couple of things to look out for make sure your cooling system is up to the challenge, check all your suspension, and exhaust bolts, and check your breaks. This track has been known to kill cars due to the heat. Just a warning. Also have fun out there and if you get to tense loosen up and have fun "You got to go slow to be fast"
Posts: 552 | From: Freakmont, CA U.S. of A | Registered: Jan 2002
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bobh
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Member # 1495
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posted
THill is definitely best in the Spring or Fall.
Summertime is real tough on the driver and the car.
I'm going again Sept 21st with Green Flag. Hopefully, it'll stay below 90 degs.
Posts: 59 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jul 2002
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mavs99
New Member
Member # 1696
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posted
Thunderhill was my first track (ever)!!!!
Once you get a taste of open-track you will never go back to drag-racing. Yeehaaa.
Thunderhill is very fast. I have a few vids on my web site:
www.mavarner.com/cobra
See ya!
MAV
Think open-track, not straight line....
Posts: 2 | From: Campbell, CA | Registered: Aug 2002
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