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View Full Version : Tracking at the new Thunderhill Raceway 5-mile Course , June 7 and 8



VENOM V
04-15-2014, 12:29 AM
Have you been toying the idea of experiencing your Viper on the road course? Now would be a great time, as we are heading to the new 5-mile course of Thunderhill Raceway at 5250 California 162, Willows, CA. We are teaming with Hooked on Driving (HOD), which has a superb safety record for their High Performance Driver Education (HPDE) events. You can track with us Saturday, Sunday, or both days. Or just join us for the dinners and enjoy the show!

Why should I track my Viper?
• Viper owners have absolutely no idea what it is they own until they've experienced their car at speed.
• Speed for speed, track driving is much safer and easier on the Viper than street driving
• "Open Tracking" is not a race; "wheel-to-wheel" driving is prohibited and will get you sent home.
• Every Viper participant will be paired with an experienced, Viper driving, track rat to help them safely enjoy the experience (ensure participants are in the right place at the right time, coach, lead-follow, Etc...).

Viper Dinner and Tracking Presentation, Friday June 6:
We will be having our dinner meeting at Old Highway 99 Steakhouse, 610 S Tehama St, Willows, CA, on Friday June 6 at 7:30pm, in a private room. HOD has graciously offered to give us an Introduction to Tracking presentation that eve. And they will also present the layout of new 5-mile track, to familiarize us with the driving line. I highly recommend planning to leave for Willows around lunchtime Friday so that you can join us for this informative dinner.

Coaches included at no extra charge:
Whether you are new to tracking or a veteran, coaches will be available to you at no additional charge. Every driver in Beginner Group A will be paired with a coach. Intermediate B Group and Advanced C/D Group drivers may also request a coach, to learn the new course or get the rust off. In addition, HOD will be taking us on parade laps around the course to learn the line. And we also have the “Buddy System,” where newer drivers will have the option of being paired with an experienced Viper buddy that will show them the ropes - everything from where to park, to where to line up, Etc.

Viper Snake Pit!
HOD is giving the Vipers the royal treatment- we will have our own dedicated Viper parking area, and Maurice is working on getting us a banner to mark our snakes’ domain.

Trackside BBQ, Saturday Eve:
In addition, we will join HOD for a trackside BBQ Saturday. Price for the BBQ is typically around $10 to $12, which includes food, soft drinks and beer. There’s nothing like unwinding and sharing stories after a fun day at the track!

What do I need to bring?
• Helmet, Snell SA 2005 or 2010. Available for rental for $25, when you register. Or buy one from Wine Country Motorsports at the Hooked on Driving 10% discount: www.winecountrymotorsports.com
• Self-check Car Inspection Checklist: http://www.hookedondriving.com/downloads/Techical_Inspection.pdf
• Here’s a useful link with a wealth of info for first-time trackers: http://www.hookedondriving.com/first-timers

Optional Track Day Insurance:
Most auto insurance policies don’t cover damage at a HPDE event, so I highly recommend purchasing track-day insurance to protect your snake. It’s easy to sign up online, you pay per event, and we get the Hooked on Driving 10% discount:
http://www.locktonmotorsports.com/event/hooked-driving-38/

Where to stay:
• Holiday Inn Express in Willows (800-315-2621) = about $114/night
• Baymont Inn in Willows (530-934-7026) = about $70 to $90/night
• Motel 6 in Willows (530-934-7026) = about $60/night

If you plan to join us, PLEASE REGISTER VERY SOON. HOD says that the A Group may be sold out within a couple of weeks, as the new 5-mile Thunderhill course has proven extremely popular. Price is $335 for a single day, or $595 for both days.

Registration for the Tracking Event at Hooked on Driving’s website:

Saturday and Sunday: http://www.hookedondriving.com/event-details/Thunderhill,_NEW_5_MILE_COURSE_-_FULL_WEEKEND,_June_7_and_8

Saturday only: http://www.hookedondriving.com/event-details/Thunderhill_-_FULL_5_MILE_COURSE_-_SATURDAY_ONLY,_June_7

Sunday only: http://www.hookedondriving.com/event-details/Thunderhill_-_FULL_5_MILE_COURSE_-_SUNDAY_ONLY,_June_8

Note that this is not an official NorCal Viper Club event, as HOD has taken care of all of the logistics such as renting the track, hiring coaches and safety workers, liability insurance, Etc. So all we have to do is show up and drive!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Hope to see you out there!

-Todd

Caution regarding 1996 factory wheels (have been known to break when run with sticky tires).

VENOM V
04-15-2014, 01:15 AM
Update: Beginner Group A is already sold out on Saturday, but available on Sunday. Intermediate Group B and Advanced Group C/D are available both days. Sign up ASAP!

jrkermode
04-15-2014, 12:25 PM
I'm signed up.

Also ready, willing and able to help any newcomers.

72hemi
04-15-2014, 10:34 PM
I will be there! Can't wait to see the new layout.

rw99
04-16-2014, 02:03 AM
Both days for me, absolutely!

72hemi
06-09-2014, 10:01 AM
What a great weekend! Thunderhill's new layout is incredible! Unfortunately Saturday at lunch they discovered some issues with the pavement as a result of the driving on it during the morning, so the afternoon sessions were held just on the original layout. NorCal was well represented with 6 Vipers on Saturday (not sure how many on Sunday as I wasn't there).

There was an incident early on Saturday involving a C6 Corvette catching fire, the car did not burn to the ground, but there was significant damage under the hood.

Temperature on Saturday reached 106 degrees!

I will post some pictures later today.

72hemi
06-10-2014, 04:26 PM
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72hemi
06-10-2014, 04:28 PM
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VENOM V
06-10-2014, 05:05 PM
Great shots John! I was thinking about springing for the CD from the track photographer, but I see there's no reason to.

VENOM V
06-10-2014, 05:11 PM
Ok, I just can't wait any longer. I'll make a quick post now, and fill in the details of the story later.

Just awesome time with a bunch of great Viper guys. Here's a vid of one of my laps on the 3.2 mile track. This is one of the later sessions when it was about 100 degrees, so probably not my fastest lap, but I was happy to turn a 2:02.5 in that scorching weather. My car is 100% stock except for Dot 4 brake fluid and slicks:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWK6B-xTDUo

Thanks to all that attended!

NEXT EVENT: We'll be tracking again in Sonoma on Thursday Oct 9. Vipers and McClarens on track together! This will be with Hooked on Driving. Please make sure to sign up early, as only about half of the Vipers that tried to attend registered before the event was sold out.

100
06-10-2014, 06:04 PM
TIGHT, TIGHT, TIGHT.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPUHdUMc5Zo

72hemi
06-10-2014, 08:01 PM
Todd I will put together a CD for you with pictures from Saturday.

rw99
06-11-2014, 04:31 PM
Here's one lap (Sunday) of the combined course from my "snake's eye view" cam...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llpTib59JiU

On our first session (Saturday), I experimented with a shortcut on the east-west bridging section, having quickly forgotten how TIGHT the blind lefty is... I recommend the standard, paved line instead :D

Glen97
06-11-2014, 08:58 PM
Looking good guys!
Glen