NoCal Track Trip: 3/19-3/22 (Infineon AND T'hill)

[Evil Twin]

With snow on the horizon for this weekend, I’m thinking ahead to the spring and getting back to the track. I am tentatively planning to do both the TrackMasters event at Infineon in Sonoma (on Thursday and Friday, 3/19 and 3/20) and the Northern California Racing Club event at Thunderhill in Willows (on Saturday and Sunday, 3/21 and 3/22). Getting four days of track-time on two different NoCal tracks really makes the trek worthwhile. I would encourage you to consider coming along.

About the Sponsors:

I have instructed for TrackMasters and NCRC before, and I am impressed with both sponsors. They run a great show. For information on them see:

TrackMasters Racing
Northern California Racing Club

About the Tracks:

Infineon Raceway (formerly known as Sears Point and still referred to by that name by many of us) is located at the northern tip of San Pablo bay (just north of San Francisco bay) south of the town of Sonoma. It’s my favorite west coast track. It’s got reasonable runoff, great rhythm (no long straights), lots of elevation gain/loss, interesting and varied corners, and a famous set of increasing radius linked s-turns. It’s challenging for drivers of all levels but approachable enough for folks with only a few events under their belts. For track information go to Infineon Raceway. The “fan guide” section of the site contains a lot of useful information including directions to the track, recommendations for places to stay, things to see and do in the area, and a virtual tour of the facility.

Thunderhill is located west of the town of Willows, just off I-5 roughly 100 miles north of Sacramento. It’s also a gem, some 3 miles long (50% longer than PR and PIR) with some 15 technical and interesting corners -- including the famous Cyclone which feels a bit like driving over a cliff -- with lots of elevation gain and loss, terrific variety, and good rhythm. Designed by the SCCA, it’s perfect for DE events, with lots of runoff, very little to hit, a couple low-speed corners and lots of medium/higher speed corners. The track’s URL is: Home

Registration:

You’re on your own in terms of signing up, but neither club has opened the events for registration yet. See their websites for registration information. If you’re interested in attending this event, I’d encourage you to sign up by mid-February or thereabouts, as it will probably sell out.

Hope to see some of you there.

Best,
Twin

[plastique999]

Hey there,
I'll see if this is a viable option for me...a bit far from me, but I have driven to Norcal in the Elise before...
(I'm still looking to see when a good time for us to meet up at BW would be...)

[Noizemaker]

Want to go so badly. Ask Eddie what happened when he and I went last time though. It's a damned soap opera! I'll think on the T-hill date. I might be in.

[Evil Twin]

Originally Posted by plastique999

I'm still looking to see when a good time for us to meet up at BW would be...

Sounds good. How's the progress on your car?

[Bleu Omdurman]

Very interested Chris. I have a class on the 19th but I get out mid-morning. I could head down on the 19th and drive on 20,21,22.

I'll keep my eye on it. I assume you'd head down the 18th?

[Evil Twin]

Originally Posted by Bleu Omdurman

I'll keep my eye on it. I assume you'd head down the 18th?

I'll be driving down on the 17th or 18th, depending upon what else I need to cram into my time in NoCal. But I will likely make my own way down, rather than caravan, as I find playing Pied Piper modestly burdensome.

[Bleu Omdurman]

lol. That's wasn't what I was thinking, but it is funny. I figured you'd have a personal recommendation on a place to stay that is convenient to the track(s).

I know your not the weather man, but what are the pass conditions about that time of year?

I am hoping to do an event at T-hill in January. I want to have that chance before I make my final decision on the opportunity we talked about.

[Evil Twin]

I've done track events in NoCal in early March, and the weather can be iffy (so I wouldn't recommend it). I've also done a trip in early April and gotten hit by a freak snowstorm (on worn race tires!). In my view, mid-march is generally okay and a good bet, but you need to be sure you time your trip such that you clear the Siskiyou passes in mid-day to avoid ice, and there is some risk that you'll get hit by a storm that will force you to cancel your trip -- or force you to drive down the coast, which works more easily for an event at Sears Point than one at T'hill. In short, there's always some risk, but I've done enough early spring trips to feel comfortable committing to do this one.

As for places to stay, when I'm at Sears, I generally stay with friends, either in the city (although driving in the Lotus in SanFran is not a great idea), in Berkeley, or in Marin, so I don't have great recommendations. I've stayed once at the Marin Inn on Highway 101, and it was pretty decent, actually. I can recommend it. As for Willows, well, welcome to the Central Valley. It ain't got no culture, as Dylan once said. The best of the lot is the Best Western Golden Pheasant. For both places, mention that you'll be at the track, and you can generally get a discount.

[pfanning]

This looks like a great opportunity to learn a couple new tracks. Surprisingly I haven't driven any CA tracks except buttonwillow.

Do these groups provide some in-car instruction for a session or two to help learn the track? Any idea on cost for TrackMasters (NCRC lists $125 per day, cheap!). I'm fairly experienced but would like time with an instructor each morning to help with the learning process.

Thanks for the notice.

[Mr. Know]

I will most likely do the NCRC event at Thunderhill (3/21-3/22).

[Bleu Omdurman]

Looks like my wife will be on a project in SF, so this trip is becoming more likely. Right now I'm a go. I might even hang out in the area for a couple of days after the events.

[Evil Twin]

Both clubs offer instructors -- I will probably be teaching for both events -- but you'll have to check their sites about their procedures and whether they charge for it.

[Evil Twin]

BUMP, just to keep this on the radar. Now's the time to register, as early spring dates tend to be popular and can fill up more than a month out.

[robains]

Be sure to post your vids folks

I'll be doing Infineon either with NASA (3/21-3/22) or SpeedVentures (3/19-3/20) -- most likely SpeedVentures as I'm pretty turned off on the NASA TT rules.

Gonna enter my car in Time Attack at ButtonWillow also 3/28-3/29.

After that, I have a few LCS events I hope to make.

Rob

[Evil Twin]

BUMP, just to keep this on the radar. Based on the number of folks who've already registered, the PacNW should have a relatively strong showing at both events.

[Bleu Omdurman]

I'm signed up now for all four days.

Pfanning, FYI the cost on the infineon set was $600 for both days. I don't remember the cost per day, but there was a slight discount for doing both.

I'll be heading down on the 18th such that I go over the mountains mid day.

[Evil Twin]

BUMP, just to keep this on the radar and -- based on the feedback I've gotten from the organizers -- to suggest that you register soon if you're planning on going. Both events seem to have attracted a good sized group.

[LarryB]

Doing both tracks, back to back is tempting. Thanks for the heads up, guess I better decide soon.

[Evil Twin]

If you wanna go "bump, bump, bump" just jump on the hump of the wump of Gump.

[Bleu Omdurman]

Just in case anyone else in the Seattle area is heading down. I'll be towing the car down on the 18th. I'll probably pass through Seattle around 6:30am so as to avoid the traffic.