Thunderhill Weekend Coming Up Soon!

[Bonster]

Yeah, it will be fun for you all. My checkbook on the other hand is in tears. Lol. If we still don't have any sign ups for Sunday in novice, we'll obviously get more run time. Maybe have a half hour intermediate, then a half hour advanced, giving everyone three and a half hours of track time. Donations gladly accepted, lol.

[LarryB]

Plan on putting on fresh brake pads before this event. Sounds like I may need them.

Seems like most track groups are having trouble filling spots. Guess the economy is starting to hit hard on that type of thing. Plus think you've got a double whammy being the weekend right before the long one for Thanksgiving.

Our autocross series, had no problem selling out in 1.5-2 weeks all season long, with a decent waitlist. Then again with a member price of under $50 its "cheap" track time.

Bonni- my hats off to you for putting this on in the face of some stiff loses. My offer still stand to drop down to the novice group on Sunday. How much of a donation would it take to have my own "private" run group?

[Bonster]

Originally Posted by LarryB

How much of a donation would it take to have my own "private" run group?

***Well, we usually cap the novice group at twenty drivers . . . so let's see . . . twenty times the $265 fee comes to . . . $5300.

[loki]

Originally Posted by Bonster

***Well, we usually cap the novice group at twenty drivers . . . so let's see . . . twenty times the $265 fee comes to . . . $5300.

I'm bringing one novice Lotus for Sunday and trying for more. Getting out new drivers for this event since small run groups make for great! learning days.

[Bonster]

Bwahahaha . . . Loki ruined it for ya Larry. I won't make any promises just yet, but if this keeps up, we're likely going to adjust the format so that the track workers don't get too lonely. On the bright side, at least I won't be running around so much like I do with crowded events. The novice group downloads are sure gonna be quiet.

[MontinolaRacing]

to make your track time more beneficial... utilize a pro driver coach to get you up to speed!

i have a few pro coaches available for sat, sun or both days of this event! for more details please PM me.

[Bonster]

You GUYS!!! You MUST take Montinola up on this, even if you are a seasoned veteran!!! WOAH. Can I borrow your car, Alan? I need some serious coaching. If nobody else takes him up on it, I just might. I don't think my rental car will do the trick, so HIDE YOUR KEYS. THANKS Robbie!!!

[JonOrangeElise]

Originally Posted by Bonster

You GUYS!!! You MUST take Montinola up on this, even if you are a seasoned veteran!!! WOAH. Can I borrow your car, Alan? I need some serious coaching. If nobody else takes him up on it, I just might. I don't think my rental car will do the trick, so HIDE YOUR KEYS. THANKS Robbie!!!

Still not sure if i can even make the event! But if I can, I'll let Robbie know.

[JonOrangeElise]

OK, I am signed up for both days now. see everyone there! BTW, yesterday with HOD was a great day for Loti... I think there were at least seven of us total, and we had some great runs in C group, with me, Deddie, and Tim (don't know his handle) pacing each other within seconds of each other, if not closer. Truly fabulous. Deddie and I had a wide open track for at least 6-7 laps for the last session.

[CountTracula]

I am there on Saturday Looking forward to being at Thill. I've only been once since the repave.

[loki]

Originally Posted by CountTracula

I am there on Saturday Looking forward to being at Thill. I've only been once since the repave.

I'm there Sunday Count, hope to see you there! Repave is good but they removed the berm on the outside of 8 (booo) and shaved the high berms down to something reasonable. Sticks nice.

[Bonster]

Looks like another wonderful turn-out of Lotus cars!!!

[deddie]

Originally Posted by JonOrangeElise

OK, I am signed up for both days now. see everyone there! BTW, yesterday with HOD was a great day for Loti... I think there were at least seven of us total, and we had some great runs in C group, with me, Deddie, and Tim (don't know his handle) pacing each other within seconds of each other, if not closer. Truly fabulous. Deddie and I had a wide open track for at least 6-7 laps for the last session.

I signed up for Saturday. Can't pass up another great day of weather at THill. See everyone there.

Dave

[loki]

I'll be there with Team Yellow, sort of, a 500 HP Fiero, a 60 HP MG Midget, a 1960 VW BUG, and, of course, a yellow Lotus. See ya.

[JonOrangeElise]

FYI: Pretty much every session had a a 2:14, but I couldn't break 2:14! One was a 2:14:17. Best theoretical was 2:11. Damn! Oh well, I think I only had 7-8, maybe 9 or 10 clear laps the whole weekend, so maybe next time. A 2:13 is imminent!

[MontinolaRacing]

Originally Posted by JonOrangeElise

FYI: Pretty much every session had a a 2:14, but I couldn't break 2:14! One was a 2:14:17. Best theoretical was 2:11. Damn! Oh well, I think I only had 7-8, maybe 9 or 10 clear laps the whole weekend, so maybe next time. A 2:13 is imminent!

couple days in dec coming up.. we can work to get you a 2:12 instead!

[Mr. Know]

Pssst...I'm told the mysterious 2:13 and below is achievable easily in an Exige S...maybe you need to upgrade Jon...

Or just get some tips from Robbie. Those are worth 5 seconds easy!

[CountTracula]

Originally Posted by JonOrangeElise

FYI: Pretty much every session had a a 2:14, but I couldn't break 2:14! One was a 2:14:17. Best theoretical was 2:11. Damn! Oh well, I think I only had 7-8, maybe 9 or 10 clear laps the whole weekend, so maybe next time. A 2:13 is imminent!

That's really good. I thought you were moving a bit faster but that might be because you were more consistent.

I did my personal best (on street tires) this weekend as well.

One thing that I did different this weekend was to work the rebound on my shocks. Ohlins recommendation coupled w/ my street tires was yielding slight understeer on corner entry and moderate on corner exit. I kept stiffening the front rebound and ended up w/ a much less exit understeer.

[JonOrangeElise]

Originally Posted by MontinolaRacing

couple days in dec coming up.. we can work to get you a 2:12 instead!

Dude: I am sure of it. I pretty much know where I was finding time, and giving up time, and I think if I had many more clean laps to work with, I would've had a 2:12. But, hey, I basically reduced my "average best" times by 3 seconds in the last three events (insomuch I was doing consistent 2:17s with clean laps three events ago, and this weekend I did consistent low 2:14s).

And all of that came from my own self-discipline in applying a lot I picked up at Robbie's Thill coaching event, and to be honest, simply charging harder than before. Little secret: I started trying something new this event and the event before: Go all out on my first session to set the tone for the day. I think in previous track days, I always followed the maxim "I'll work up to my comfort limits over the first few sessions, and then use the afternoon for pushing harder." Sounds good on paper, but for me at least, I think I only set the tone for going slower than I'm capable of -- committing to muscle/brain memory "bad habits" that would slow me down. So, long story short, by making an effort to push more during my first session, I've been setting faster foundations for the rest of the day.

Now, this approach is actually not what they teach at many schools, and I understand why (they don't want people over-driving and spinning). But everyone has a different learning style, and for me, the "anti-establishment" style might be best. And, hey, I still kept the car on the track at all times, and save for Margaret, Juan, and the Edge Motorworks M3, I don't think a single person passed me.

(Though Nick would've by the end of the second day if we ever got to run closer!)

Anyhow, I definitely reached a new plateau this month, and it's time to start climbing the next one. Jon Morley, one of Robbie's coaching friends, drove my car, and said it's probably a 2:08 car, so I obviously still have some work to do!

[JonOrangeElise]

Originally Posted by CountTracula

That's really good. I thought you were moving a bit faster but that might be because you were more consistent.

I did my personal best (on street tires) this weekend as well.

One thing that I did different this weekend was to work the rebound on my shocks. Ohlins recommendation coupled w/ my street tires was yielding slight understeer on corner entry and moderate on corner exit. I kept stiffening the front rebound and ended up w/ a much less exit understeer.

I thought I was moving faster too. I know Margaret was doing 2:11-2:12s, and whenever I was behind her, I basically kept up with her. Can the DL1 "lie"??? Hahahaha -- probably not.