NCM/HOD Thunderhill HPDE
Update 7/26/10:
Thanks for signing up to run at Thunderhill this week! Plan on having your car ready, empty of unnecessary “stuff” and full of gas when you arrive at Thunderhill. The track gate opens at 6:30am and registration begins at 7:00am. Mandatory driver’s meeting is at 7:50am sharp in the Clubhouse building. A catered lunch is provided, as is water to keep you cool and hydrated. The forecast is for low to mid nineties with a breeze which is always our goal for the California valley in the summertime….we’ll have a blast! Thursday drivers note: we have decided to stand down on the parade to town and BBQ in the park. The car count is a bit modest (but thank YOU for signing up), and it’s a huge effort to close streets for a parade and we decided against using all those resources for a smallish group. Instead, plan on a steak or salmon dinner at the track, if you paid for the BBQ that is, with an open “Track Walk” out on this spectacular road course. You’ll be able to sign up for this at the track if you didn’t in advance.
For those brand new to Thunderhill, it is 7 miles west of Highway 5 on Highway 162. Highway 162 is also the exit you take at Willows. We’ll see you at the track!!
David Ray and the NorCal HOD Team
We are pleased to announce that the NCM is returning Thunderhill as part of our expanded and successful HPDE program with a partnership with the Hooked on Driving and WSCC in a joint event on July 28-30, 2010. This is our second annual Thunderhill school and represents a commitment to bring the Museum's highly regarded Performance Driving program to locations around the country. Thunderhill is an exciting and challenging track with excellent facilities and we are looking forward to this addition to our schedule.
This event is even more unique with an optional road tour incorporated into the event prior to registration check-in at the track on July 28th. Interested participants can register for the road tour, cost $20 pp only or along with their driving group registration. For this year it will be a Mystery Tour and registrants will receive prior notice for the staging point and time which will be approximately 12:30pm on Wednesday the 28th. Following lunch the group will depart on a mystery trip through some areas of Northern California that we bet most have never seen – a fascinating drive through some cool backroads. The tour will end at the Thunderhill track where there will be light refreshments, a tour of the facilities and a parade lap. Pre-registered participants will be able to check in at registration and get their package. This welcome event is being hosted by Hooked On Driving and WSCC.
Thursday and Friday will feature our full 2-day school, with one day option, on Thunderhill’s 3 mile course. Student coaching will be provided by HOD, WSCC and NCM coaches. Run groups will be on course at 8:30am, with driver’s meeting on the first day at 7:45. On site registration will be open at 7:00am (gates open at 6:30am). Beginners and low intermediates will receive excellent coaching. For more advanced drivers, we will also provide expert driving tips for those who want to continue to improve. The event registration includes an event T-shirt, hot catered lunches for drivers on both days, and all the water you can drink. Facility note: Thunderhill Raceway is a fully developed facility with air conditioned clubhouse, indoor observation deck, exterior paddock canopies that can cover at least 70 cars, on-site gas fill-ups with 91, 101 unleaded, and 110 leaded, as well as compressed air. Roseville, CA-based Corvette specialty shop MSI, Motorsport Image and Performance (www.motorsportimage.com), will be on site offering technical tips, mechanical support and parts supply for those in need. The student registration fee for the entire 2-day school is $565 for run groups: A-Beginner, B-Low Intermediate, C-High Intermediate, D Advanced/Race-prepped. Coaches/Instructors are in run group X. Students must drive either a coupe or FRC Corvette; convertibles are only permitted if they have an SCCA roll cage.
Just added – Thunderhill Thursday - Corvette 1 Day Driving School Option! Same features as the above 2-day school. The student registration fee for the 1-day school is $285 for run groups: A-Beginner, B-Low Intermediate, C-High Intermediate, D Advanced/Race-prepped. Coaches/Instructors are in run group X. Students must drive either a coupe or FRC Corvette; convertibles are only permitted if they have an SCCA roll cage.
Just added – Friday Only – 1 Day Driving School! Open to all makes and models. To register for Friday Only school – you must register through the Hooked On Driving website. www.hookedondriving.com. Registration fee for the Friday 1-day school is $285 for run groups: A-Beginner, B-Low Intermediate, C-High Intermediate, D Advanced/Race-prepped. Coaches/Instructors are in run group X. This day will be shared with HOD drivers with cars of a variety of makes.
On Thursday evening, July 29th, after a great day at the track we’ll gather all who chose to join in by pre-registration and parade into Willows. Led by the local peace officers, the group will circulate the downtown, and be greeted at beautiful Sycamore Park near the County Seat buildings. In this town square shaded by ancient Eucalyptus trees, our Corvettes will be organized in a park and shine (just for fun) as we display to the Willows community a vast array of Corvettes. The Willows Rotary Club will serve a special home made catered dinner with non-alcoholic beverages (no alcohol in the park) open to event participants only at $17 per person (to non-profit).
The addition of Thunderhill brings a West Coast event back to our schedule for 2010. We are tremendously excited by our partnership with Hooked On Driving and look forward to additional events in the future. Make sure you are signed up on the NCM eNews to receive the latest news on this and all NCM events.