Did a track day at Thunderhill

[clill]

This was a couple weeks ago. It was a NCRC open track event and I took my 65 Mustang. Here is in car camera view around the track for those that have never been to Thunderhill in Willows Ca.

Video

[68protouring454]

great video
what are your lap times

[clill]

I have no idea. I'm just a dope trying to stay on the track and get more experience.

[68protouring454]

cool, man i can't wait for the day to do a track day in my car..... nice video clill, i stop watched you and it was around 2 19, which sounds about right for thunderhill and how you were driving, killer. any more vids of the mule or other cars on the track?

[L8ONBRAKE]

How often do cars run through the cyclone, I thought that they usually took the bypass?

BTW, if you don't mind me asking, how many TD's have you done at T-hill? Looking to go faster or just enjoying the fun?

[L8ONBRAKE]

haha check this guy out, watch him catch air on the bypass following the porshed, its not really PT related but still a cool video I came across, looks like he's running just under 2:00.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=P8OpT-e0zmc

[clill]

Not sure on how many times there. A couple times with a 993 Porsche, Once with SL65, maybe 3 times with the Thrasher, Once with the Mule,probably 3 times with a Mustang...Maybe 10 times ? Yes I wanna go faster. I am amazed that I can notice when tires are going away. The Mustang has Hoosier R6's that I worship. My neighbor races and she says their nickname is Crack tires. You get hooked on them. I had started with a new set at a Shelby event in Utah and the car was on rails. Same set at Thunderhill and they had lost the rails feel. Spun out once. Still rubber left but apparently after about 6 heat cycles they are done.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Originally Posted by clill

Not sure on how many times there. A couple times with a 993 Porsche, Once with SL65, maybe 3 times with the Thrasher, Once with the Mule,probably 3 times with a Mustang...Maybe 10 times ? Yes I wanna go faster. I am amazed that I can notice when tires are going away. The Mustang has Hoosier R6's that I worship. My neighbor races and she says their nickname is Crack tires. You get hooked on them. I had started with a new set at a Shelby event in Utah and the car was on rails. Same set at Thunderhill and they had lost the rails feel. Spun out once. Still rubber left but apparently after about 6 heat cycles they are done.

Looks like fun C. Did I hear a giggle when you went up turn 5? Nice friendly group too.

I need to get out there. My cars ready to go...thats why i keep it in Woodland.

[L8ONBRAKE]

Originally Posted by clill

Not sure on how many times there. A couple times with a 993 Porsche, Once with SL65, maybe 3 times with the Thrasher, Once with the Mule,probably 3 times with a Mustang...Maybe 10 times ? Yes I wanna go faster. I am amazed that I can notice when tires are going away. The Mustang has Hoosier R6's that I worship. My neighbor races and she says their nickname is Crack tires. You get hooked on them. I had started with a new set at a Shelby event in Utah and the car was on rails. Same set at Thunderhill and they had lost the rails feel. Spun out once. Still rubber left but apparently after about 6 heat cycles they are done.

Cool, judging by your lines and driving, I could tell that you know the track fairly well. First thing that struck me when watching the video is that you setup nice and wide and square the turn off which is great. The thing about apexing late and squaring off the turn is that it allows you to run a straighter line which allows you to open the throttle sooner. You spend less time in the turn. You are running the correct lines but I noticed that you don't seem to be taking full advantage of these lines. You could be getting on the gas harder but more importantly earlier on corner exit. Of course opening the throttle harder is the key to going fast but obviously its easier said than done

Try turn 2, you can open the throttle sooner and come wide out of the turn. Let the throttle pull the car out of the corner and let it float a little wide. You don't have to stay in the turn so long. Yes, once you exit T2 you will be on the right, and will have to jump back over the the left to take turn 3(although some people enter T3 tight and hug the line all the way through) but the time you drop by getting on the gas will make up for the extra effort.

Have you started using or picking up on reference points? For example on the back straight before T14, most people use the bridge as a reference point to let off the gas and start getting on the brakes.

On the front straight right before turn 1, start using the flagman tower as a point to start letting off of the gas. Using these points will help you keep a consistent entry speed into the turns off of the straights. It will also help you later down the road by sometimes maybe going even deeper. By using a reference point, you can judge how much longer you are holding on the gas or waiting to get on the brakes than usual. Once you get comfy with the flagman tower, start holding off until the checkered flag across the track on the ground, you'll be able to tell just how much deeper you went. (did that make sense?)

Also the fact that those other drivers were really slow and were all waving you by, I think shows that maybe its time to jump up to the next group. I'm guessing that was the novice group. You definetly need to make the jump to intermediate, it was pretty obvious they were holding you up. (nice of them to wave you by rather than corner park you) Nothings worse than being stuck behind somebody running their slower pace, just because they are just quick enough to make it hard for a pass. I think you can learn much more being surrounded by faster drivers rather than slower

Signed,
"slower in reality"

[L8ONBRAKE]

Oh and I'm shocked that a set of race tires only lasted 2 trackdays. 6 Heat cycles is nothing, apples to oranges but you should see the punishment that bike tires get on the track and those usually will last 4 trackdays on average. With about 6-8 heat cycles a day.