turbofan

iTrader: (1)

Lol @ PIR

I'm sure it's a great track for training and probably fine for racing but just not a fan of track days there.

matrussell122

iTrader: (1)

ORP would be fun. The Ridge has 300ft elevation gain and looks cool but i have no DPE there.

Scaxx

It's a good track, but yeah, a bit too far for some of the California guys I think

codrus

Yeah, that's 1100 miles from Orange County. Thunderhill splits the difference between Irvine and Seattle pretty well.

--Ian

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

It just occurred to me that I might not have a car to drive in the spring XD

Could always track the wagen I guess

codrus

Think of it as motivation to finish the car faster.

--Ian

Scaxx

I'd let you steal a session in my car if you don't have one

Wait, since it's not Miatas@Thunderhill, does that mean Ian's bringing the M3?

codrus

Absolutely.

--Ian

nigelt

iTrader: (10)

Speed SF is a good club and they typically have a Thunderhill day in September. I also wonder if we could be a big enough group that we could serve as an anchor for an enterprising club to build an open weekend around. For example if Speed SF was going to do a day at T Hill, they could make it a weekend open to their whole club, but x spaces reserved for us ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

icantlearn

+1 for speed SF. Every event ive been to has been flawless (on their end). They also offer group discounts. Im part of a "driving club" i guess. Called TrackDriven. When we go to an event, they usually knock some money off our entry.

GGLC is probably better for seat time/$ ratio tho.

codrus

SpeedSF is on my very short list of "never again" track organizations.

--Ian

nigelt

iTrader: (10)

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

I'm happy to sign up for some "special event". But in my experience, I'm never organizing one of those again.

I think we should just pick a day, show up, and have a good time.

codrus

2020 track day calendars are starting to get posted, here's a few candidates for Thunderhill:

- Monday March 30 -- GGLC 5-mile. This will probably be 3 run groups, lots of track time, and relatively inexpensive. Downside is that it's a bit risky for rain and the 5 mile track (IMHO) isn't the best Thunderhill config.

- Sat/Sun April 11-12 -- NCRC. They're doing the 3 mile on Saturday and running it backwards (llihrednuhT!) on Sunday. I've never run it backwards -- supposedly it's a bit iffy in a few corners due to runoff that isn't there. Also, NCRC is 4 run groups, so you get less track time than GGLC.

- Thurs/Fri April 30 - May 1 -- Hooked On Driving. 3 mile on Thursday, 5 mile on Friday. 4 run groups and more expensive than NCRC, but higher quality track time (less traffic).

- Sat/Sun May 2 - May 3 -- NorCal Shelby Club. 3 mile both days. Also 4 run groups, and they don't allow passing in corners even in the advanced group. They do typically have a formal driver's school at this event though, which is good if there are folks who want to come who don't have much track experience.

- Thu May 14 -- GGLC. This is Thunderhill West (the new 2 mile track). Should be the same 3 group, cheap format as the March event. Mid May starting to get warm in Willows.

- Sat/Sun June 6 - 7 -- HoD again. I think it's 3 mile both days (probably one bypass, one cyclone). June will be warm, likely in the 90s.

I'm going to skip July and August because those months are brutal in Willows -- 100+ is normal, 110 is not unusual.

- Sat/Sun Sep 12-13 -- more HoD. Same as June event.

- Friday Sep 18 -- NCRC. (There seems to be some disagreement about the date on this, it's listed on the Thunderhill site as Sep 18, but on the NCRC site as Sep 25 a week later)

- Thursday Sep 24 -- GGLC. The only GGLC 3 mile event, I think.

- Sat/Sun Oct 2 - 3 -- Shelby Club again. No driver's school at this one, otherwise same as April event.

- Thurs/Fri Oct 8 - 9 -- HoD. Another 3 mile / 5 mile combo.

So this points out a couple of other considerations. Do people have a preference for which config to use? IMHO the best one is the 3 mile (cyclone or bypass). The 2 mile is fun as well, but slower and tighter. The 5 mile tends to be expensive and can be a bit much all at once if you haven't been there before. llihrednuhT is kind of off-the-wall.

Also, are folks looking for just a single day event, or is there interest in amortizing the towing cost by doing 2 days in a row? I like to do this, and I'm only towing 380 miles round trip, not 2000! There's even the option to do 4 days in a row in April/May if you go nuts. Personally my preference would be one of the HoD weekends or the September GGLC date.

--Ian

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

Subscribed.

Also two day events mean camping and parties and cookouts Saturday night. Probably 75% of the reason I like towing to "away" events to be honest.

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

Great info Ian. +1 on Aarons point. Weekend is the way to go.

I think we should put the Sept 12-13 weekend in our calendars as a tentative plan. Seems like the best weather, and the best opportunity. Driving the 3 mile both ways is something everyone should experience.

nigelt

iTrader: (10)

I love the idea of doing a weekend with two track configs. I could probably suffer through the parties and all that carrying on for the chance to drive what could feel like two tracks in a row.

Scaxx

I like that. Plus it's far enough away from sema that no one at work will have an aneurysm when I leave.

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

That is NASA Nationals weekend at Miller in Utah. Might be a conflict for some.

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

I'm supposed to work with speed ventures that weekend but can work around that. Beyond that, the fact that's nationals may possibly make it difficult.

The HoD May event would be the same price (right?) and runs the 3 mile and 5 mile configs, perhaps that'd be another option?