Thunderhill West

[NevadaWolf]

Ok, this new track is looking epic. Still under construction but when finished and combined with the existing course, there will be 5 miles of track!

Link to original page on YouTube.

For those who don't know where Willows, CA is

[csmith12]

Look at that drop!!!!

[tfkrocks]

I really want to go check it out, but I'm still debating on doing a track day on my 300. I don't want anything to happen to my commuting vehicle...

[Sirref]

Something about this track reminds me of NJMP, must be the drop. Looks like a sick track, Where is it? Nevada?

[Boosted139]

Originally Posted by Sirref

Something about this track reminds me of NJMP, must be the drop. Looks like a sick track, Where is it? Nevada?

California.

I rode TH this summer while they were still moving dirt for THW. Got a nice tour on a 4 wheeler. Pretty sweet.

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by Sirref

Something about this track reminds me of NJMP, must be the drop. Looks like a sick track, Where is it? Nevada?

Far up north in California.

Edit: boo too slow.

Hey maybe we should have a Ninjette track day at T-Hill!

[Alex]

Originally Posted by tfkrocks

I really want to go check it out, but I'm still debating on doing a track day on my 300. I don't want anything to happen to my commuting vehicle...

It's not like the fairing could fall off *again*.

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by Alex

It's not like the fairing could fall off *again*.

The fairings are the least of my worries lol

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by Alex

It's not like the fairing could fall off *again*.

zing.....

[NevadaWolf]

I wish i could go this year, but the cost of the trackday, plus a means to carry my bike, plus room and board just takes it right out of my available budget.

Yeah that drop via the chopper got my stomach doing *oh ***** thinking about being on the ground

[csmith12]

Don't make me come out there sooner....

[NevadaWolf]

Added a map to the OP so you can see where things are.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by NevadaWolf

Yeah that drop via the chopper got my stomach doing *oh ***** thinking about being on the ground

I was talkin' bout dis one.

[tfkrocks]

I definitely won't have money to go before the summer. Maybe after the summer depending on how it goes. I also really want to check out Sonoma too.

[NevadaWolf]

Oh, I was looking at the hill with the frontloader in the middle, connecting the two courses. Starting at 4:30 on the vid.

[Zombiphone]

I haven't even gotten to try regular t-hill yet, but that layout looks sick! I guess I'm gonna have to make at least two trips up there this year

[CC Cowboy]

I like it!

Great camera work, or were flying the helicopter?

[NevadaWolf]

The very first MOTORCYCLE lap of Thunderschleife

Link to original page on YouTube.


Later

Link to original page on YouTube.

Later

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Sirref]

nice, that looks like a fun track. Tons of blind corners due to the hills

[Worldtraveller]

Cool videos. I didn't think they were done with the paving yet.

I just had Dave Moss tune my CBR this last weekend. Great guy, and very knowledgeable. I'm only a couple hours from T-Hill, so I want to do at least one track day out there this year.

[NevadaWolf]

I've met him once, but with the 250 he didn't need to do much so just adjusted my shock and was done. He did give me advice to get my fork oil changed and got that done afterwards.

T-Hill never looked fun to me since it was mostly straights. Now however with that twisted mess of a new track, I think I may be figuring out how to get over there next year.

This year I'm probably just going to do one day at RFR.

[algs26]

I'm going this Sunday 6/15 which is (ironically?) women's VIP day. Looks like A/C groups still aren't full on both days (6/14-6/15) but Sunday is a little cheaper.

https://z2trackdays.com/ti/z2/catgro...ll&id=ZPmcNLBt

I need to memorize that video for the new west section so I don't go shooting off the track.

[Worldtraveller]

Just got an email from the track. Their official grand opening celebration is this weekend.

I wish I could go, but I got plans. Going to have to do a trackday, though.

[algs26]

Was a lot of fun. Since the track is so long (and I'm not fast), only got 4 laps per session basically. There are some seriously tight turns. It took a while to get used to the new half. I have video but the file size is massive and my upload speed is laughable (where's my Google fiber).

Now how to memorize this...


Which one's mine? I rented the Feel Like a Pro bike. Not super different than my stock 300. The exhaust sounded nice. The fueling felt smoother. The brakes felt way better though. My 300's front brake is not confidence inspiring.


Got a two up ride on an FZ-09.


Helloo there


I thought I was leaning more and was closer to the curb. Next time...


Never really got comfortable with the double apex turn.

[algs26]

Here's a full lap. Unfortunately, my camera came off so I only got footage from early in the day. I was lucky enough to find my SD card in the middle of the track.

Link to original page on YouTube.

[AlanDog]

Had a great time. Was scraping pegs on a regular basis, even when I tried to really get off the bike (the photos don't reflect that, taken during early sessions). Sorry, no cool music or editing, I trimmed it and uploaded before I went to work today...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAf17WXAkxw

track photos (...and you were embarrassed to be on a ninja 250?): http://www.keokephotography.com/p99630247

It just goes to show how little of the capabilities of supersport bikes are being used in novice group. I was generally only accelerating to 50mph to let the faster bikes pass on the straights, and I was catching almost everyone by the end of the lap (with some exceptions...). I decided to go out first on one session and even with going slow on the front straight, I was only passed by a few people.

[Worldtraveller]

Originally Posted by AlanDog

Had a great time. Was scraping pegs on a regular basis, even when I tried to really get off the bike (the photos don't reflect that, taken during early sessions). Sorry, no cool music or editing, I trimmed it and uploaded before I went to work today...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAf17WXAkxw

track photos (...and you were embarrassed to be on a ninja 250?): http://www.keokephotography.com/p99630247

It just goes to show how little of the capabilities of supersport bikes are being used in novice group. I was generally only accelerating to 50mph to let the faster bikes pass on the straights, and I was catching almost everyone by the end of the lap (with some exceptions...). I decided to go out first on one session and even with going slow on the front straight, I was only passed by a few people.

It's all about cornerspeed.

I gotta get down there soon. It's only about two hours from here, but I don't think it will happen this year.

[algs26]

Originally Posted by AlanDog

Had a great time. Was scraping pegs on a regular basis, even when I tried to really get off the bike (the photos don't reflect that, taken during early sessions). Sorry, no cool music or editing, I trimmed it and uploaded before I went to work today...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAf17WXAkxw

track photos (...and you were embarrassed to be on a ninja 250?): http://www.keokephotography.com/p99630247

It just goes to show how little of the capabilities of supersport bikes are being used in novice group. I was generally only accelerating to 50mph to let the faster bikes pass on the straights, and I was catching almost everyone by the end of the lap (with some exceptions...). I decided to go out first on one session and even with going slow on the front straight, I was only passed by a few people.

Who needs music? Embedded your video.

Link to original page on YouTube.

It looked rather crowded. Was it hard to find clear track?

I did a track day at Sonoma/Infineon/Sears Point/whatever and it was a lot of fun too. My 250 rental was smoking so I got a chance to ride a 300. No complaints from me.

[AlanDog]

I did sonoma novice group Oct 13th, and that was much more crowded.

At thunderhill, it was the 2nd day for most of the Novice group, so the saturday people were keeping a decent pace on sunday. For whatever reason, the overall pace was quicker than sonoma, even though the tracks are similarly technical. Thunderhill west does end with a few hairpins and those were getting backed up, but in some sense if I wanted to I could have given others a bigger lead if I wanted. I was watching my other video last night and yeah, most of the laps were like a supersport yo-yo--there they go down the straight.... here I come.... there they go... here I come...

At Sonoma, on the otherhand, the first-timers were really backing up the corners and not wanting to slow down on the straights, leading to huge pileups... I estimate and spent 60-70% of the time 'in traffic' and I was pretty unhappy about it... it finally cleared out in the late afternoon sessions and that pretty much made up for the lame morning sessions. I was pulling off into the pits when stuck in really bad pileups, but the track was a rolling group of 2-3 pileups that were easy to catch up to... ahhh!!!

[AlanDog]

Originally Posted by Worldtraveller

I gotta get down there soon. It's only about two hours from here, but I don't think it will happen this year.

It's not even on their website, but they (Precision trackdays) announced during the riders meeting that they would be doing another trackday during thanksgiving weekend at thunderhill west... it's a real gamble with the weather, I'd wait until a few days before paying (if you were interested).

Yeah, I stayed at motel 6 with my roommate and got about 4 hours sleep. I felt okay yesterday but feeling like crap right now...

[algs26]

Originally Posted by AlanDog

I did sonoma novice group Oct 13th, and that was much more crowded.

I was at Sonoma Oct13, too. Found this pic but it looks like it was early and I hadn't put my camera on yet. Is that you?
http://www.gotbluemilk.com/web141013...es/image8.html

I might have you on camera. Do you remember me passing you or vice-versa later that day? I was #701 (250) in the morning and #215 (300) in the afternoon.


Morning was crowded but the afternoon wasn't too bad. I was figuring out the lines in the morning so it didn't bother me too much.

[AlanDog]

That's me. That's hilarious. On my other crappy bike. I actually got passed by two guys on 'feels like a pro' ninjettes (250? 300?) and was only pulling even with them on the straights (cx500 has 50 HP but weighs over 500 lbs). I think they got bumped up to B group because they were passing way too close.

[AlanDog]

Yeah, if you have any video, I'd love to see it!

My camera was not positioned correctly at Sonoma, and the battery died after 3 sessions. I was too busy to worry about it, so I have a video of the back of my boot... have to remember to not bother using it until after lunch next time.

[algs26]

I'll scrub through the videos to see if I have any footage of you.

I didn't pass a whole lot of people and I definitely didn't get bumped up to A/B group. I'm still not too comfortable passing people.

[NevadaWolf]

Next trackday just posted:

Nov 28th (Friday)
West Course! Holiday Troop Support Effort

"Operation Holiday"

This holiday, join us and support our military troops!
We will be collecting items to donate,taking group pictures and sending post cards, love and appreciation to deployed service men and women. Let's help make their holiday season a little brighter.

Riding or not, please come and enjoy helping us support those who are away from their families, protecting, serving and fighting for our freedom.


SPECIAL PRICING!!!
$120 Today through Nov 9th! Use discount code: "FREEDOM"

Advanced Pricing:
$144/day(ends Nov 14th)
Regular price:
$160/day

[AlanDog]

Cool. This is through precision trackdays, btw: http://www.precisiontrackdays.com/Event-Schedule.php

Originally Posted by NevadaWolf

Next trackday just posted:

Nov 28th (Friday)
West Course! Holiday Troop Support Effort

"Operation Holiday"

This holiday, join us and support our military troops!
We will be collecting items to donate,taking group pictures and sending post cards, love and appreciation to deployed service men and women. Let's help make their holiday season a little brighter.

Riding or not, please come and enjoy helping us support those who are away from their families, protecting, serving and fighting for our freedom.


SPECIAL PRICING!!!
$120 Today through Nov 9th! Use discount code: "FREEDOM"

Advanced Pricing:
$144/day(ends Nov 14th)
Regular price:
$160/day

[AlanDog]

Not the most exciting video, but gives you an idea of the course...

Link to original page on YouTube.

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by AlanDog

Cool. This is through precision trackdays, btw: http://www.precisiontrackdays.com/Event-Schedule.php

Oh, yeah, opps. That is important info I left out.

[AlanDog]

So who is gonna make this? I might wait until a few days before (to see what the weather will be like), but I got my roommate hooked, and may want to go.

Come one, ninjettes, I need someone I can pass *on the straights*

I think there was only one ninja 250 there on sunday.

[Gurk]

I had fun at Twest last month but if I think about it honestly, I'm not too in love with the new track. There's some cool stuff for sure but there's 2 corners where everyone bunches up regardless of skill level. You go like 30mph whether you're a racer or a beginner...... That's not fun to me. Should flow a bit better IMO..

But yeah a different flavor.