Video 2:08 lap at Thunderhill racepark Willows California
#1
Video 2:08 lap at Thunderhill racepark Willows California
For the last 2 years I have been going to the Thunderhill, a 3 mile track in Willows Ca. I started out on Tokico Shocks and struts, racing beat sway bars and street tires. My track times were around 2:35-2:40. I added 245/40 nitto nto1's and with more seet time I got down to 2:20's. With even more seet time, progress tech sway bars, KW Vatiant 3 coilovers (corner balanced) and a MS Body Kit I finaly settled in at 2:14's.
When I put 275/35/18 hoosier koni race tires on 18X9.5 enkei rpf1 wheels I start seeing 2:10-2:11's immediately.
This video is my 3rd track day on the used set of Hoosiers and once I got my tire pressure dialed in I was clicking off 2:08's to 2:10's all day long, even with some traffic.
This is my first youtube post, not sure why it didnt post in wide screen.
In my experiance at thunderhill, only a handfull of cars/drivers run under 2:10 laps and they are usually higher horsepower cars with r comps.
And the lotus I was catching is an Exige S on r-comps.
Anyone with thunderhill experiance feel free to post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi03sW-N9DY
A new video. The track configuration is a little different (1 second faster) but its also a much cooler day and I could never get my tires hot enough. Plus they are heat cycled out. Even with that, I picked up 2 seconds. Mostly due to a custom front splitter and some suspension adjustments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBfS_eCeeoM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GP6J9RgLYs
And a link to the track map
http://thunderhill.com/html/trackmap.html
When I put 275/35/18 hoosier koni race tires on 18X9.5 enkei rpf1 wheels I start seeing 2:10-2:11's immediately.
This video is my 3rd track day on the used set of Hoosiers and once I got my tire pressure dialed in I was clicking off 2:08's to 2:10's all day long, even with some traffic.
This is my first youtube post, not sure why it didnt post in wide screen.
In my experiance at thunderhill, only a handfull of cars/drivers run under 2:10 laps and they are usually higher horsepower cars with r comps.
And the lotus I was catching is an Exige S on r-comps.
Anyone with thunderhill experiance feel free to post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi03sW-N9DY
A new video. The track configuration is a little different (1 second faster) but its also a much cooler day and I could never get my tires hot enough. Plus they are heat cycled out. Even with that, I picked up 2 seconds. Mostly due to a custom front splitter and some suspension adjustments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBfS_eCeeoM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GP6J9RgLYs
And a link to the track map
http://thunderhill.com/html/trackmap.html
Last edited by Highway8; 11-16-2010 at 12:04 PM.
#4
I got passed the exige, it took another half lap. He pulled me too much on the straights, I get them in the turns.
I had a supercharger for about a month. Blew the motor because I didnt spend enough time making sure the MAF set up was correct and the tunning was dialed in. I plan on putting the supercharger back over the summer. I hope to take 3-4 seconds off my lap times.
I had a supercharger for about a month. Blew the motor because I didnt spend enough time making sure the MAF set up was correct and the tunning was dialed in. I plan on putting the supercharger back over the summer. I hope to take 3-4 seconds off my lap times.
#5
nice...I like the exhaust note.
#8
how is it tracking your daily? I would be scared to.
#10
I'm mentally retarded.
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I did Thunderhill back in August 2009
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...d&id=670082752
Are you going to Buttonwillow on June?
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...d&id=670082752
Are you going to Buttonwillow on June?
#11
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That's about where I left it last time I was there and I was struggling for those times.
<2:10 is a real accomplishment for a street car.
Some of us do it all the time - It just takes work.
As long as you don't stuff it (which is actually difficult to do a many road courses), it really isn't that big of a deal.
I DD my car (130k miles) and I do 1 or 2 track events every month (until it gets too hot).
<2:10 is a real accomplishment for a street car.
Some of us do it all the time - It just takes work.
As long as you don't stuff it (which is actually difficult to do a many road courses), it really isn't that big of a deal.
I DD my car (130k miles) and I do 1 or 2 track events every month (until it gets too hot).
#12
Momentum Keeps Me Going
Great story Highway8. It's pretty amazing what a tricked out 8 with a good driver can do against all odds!
Being a tiny bit scared is good....and natural...beforehand. I've seen people stuff their BMWs, their Audis, and their Porsche's. Not pretty. So yea you do consider the possibilities.......then when it's your turn... you put that **** in the back of your mind and drive it like it wants to be driven
In the zone, there is no fear... just your car and your abilities.
Being a tiny bit scared is good....and natural...beforehand. I've seen people stuff their BMWs, their Audis, and their Porsche's. Not pretty. So yea you do consider the possibilities.......then when it's your turn... you put that **** in the back of your mind and drive it like it wants to be driven
In the zone, there is no fear... just your car and your abilities.
Last edited by Spin9k; 05-20-2010 at 05:33 AM.
#14
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Congrats, really nice story of progress, both with the car and driver.
what I love the most - probably only ~200rwhp and he is FLYING. People are so stuck on horsepower figures but that means so much less on a road course.... I like how you'd expect to get 3-4 seconds with an Fing supercharger, when you pick up that same amount just with Rcomp tires. And clearly lots of practice and experience is the biggest factor above all. Very nice....
what I love the most - probably only ~200rwhp and he is FLYING. People are so stuck on horsepower figures but that means so much less on a road course.... I like how you'd expect to get 3-4 seconds with an Fing supercharger, when you pick up that same amount just with Rcomp tires. And clearly lots of practice and experience is the biggest factor above all. Very nice....
#16
Congrats, really nice story of progress, both with the car and driver.
what I love the most - probably only ~200rwhp and he is FLYING. People are so stuck on horsepower figures but that means so much less on a road course.... I like how you'd expect to get 3-4 seconds with an Fing supercharger, when you pick up that same amount just with Rcomp tires. And clearly lots of practice and experience is the biggest factor above all. Very nice....
what I love the most - probably only ~200rwhp and he is FLYING. People are so stuck on horsepower figures but that means so much less on a road course.... I like how you'd expect to get 3-4 seconds with an Fing supercharger, when you pick up that same amount just with Rcomp tires. And clearly lots of practice and experience is the biggest factor above all. Very nice....
200HP in a 3K LB car gets the job done but horsepower helps a alot.
Taking off 3-4 second shouldnt be that hard with an extra 50-60% increase in power. There are miata's that have taken 10+ seconds off with FI. In my experiance the exige is 2-3+ seconds faster then the elise and it has may 20% more power.
Obviously more power will help on the straights, but even in the twisties, extra power helps between the turns. However, the extra power will change my driving style. I might actualy have to ease into the throttle, select different gears and obviously the brakes will take more abuse.
Yes practice practice practice. I found lots of time by braking later when entering the turns. Its amazing how much time you can pick up when you stay on the gas a half second longer. To do it takes practice, good equipment and trusting the equipment.
#19
I can get passed in turn 5A, its a long negitive camber turn. Again I stay outside but I make the pass on the inside coming up to turn 6. It kills my speed in the turn but I can still get out ok. Thats basicly how I got passed the blk/ylw M3. He pointed me by but I would have made it around him anyways.
#20
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That's alright, the video isn't necessary. It was a good day with lots of track time so I got some a lot of miles to test out the new coilovers. I'm getting a little more corner entry understeer than I'd like (compared to my old Miata). Hopefully I can cure most of this with another alignment.
#21
That's alright, the video isn't necessary. It was a good day with lots of track time so I got some a lot of miles to test out the new coilovers. I'm getting a little more corner entry understeer than I'd like (compared to my old Miata). Hopefully I can cure most of this with another alignment.
Or my approach is go in neutral but a little too fast. I let it push a little and once it stops pushing I get on the gas and aim for the apex and track out.
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Try steering with the throttle. If you are deceleraing while entering the turn it usually pushes. Get neutral or slight acceleration and you can maximize your corner speed. Its the slow in fast out approach.
Or my approach is go in neutral but a little too fast. I let it push a little and once it stops pushing I get on the gas and aim for the apex and track out.
Or my approach is go in neutral but a little too fast. I let it push a little and once it stops pushing I get on the gas and aim for the apex and track out.
#24
#25
Here you go. When the video starts I am about 7 seconds behind the blue rx8 R3 (KSTER). Forgive my comments to my passenger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYWm1GgSTwI