So... HPDE at Thunderhill Dec 1st.

[kid325e]

Good luck man. Have tons of fun. I'm hoping to have my car ready from some driving schools next season and hopefully a hpde or two.

[markseven]

Im doin my first @ buttonwillow in early november! So excited...

And I'm hella nervous as its my first time.

Any help? :oops:

Prepare yourselves for a new addiction ;)

[PaintPro21]

I was going to go to that event but decided to retire early for the year. I may still go up to visit and hang out as my web designer is driving at that event. at the last NCRC event I instructed for a total novice all day becauase it was a discount day. For those who don't know. this discount day does not include official instruction for novices. There will be a lead follow after there one and only instruction class in the morning, and then if available 1 of a hand full of instructors will sit in with you on one of your sessions during the day.

If you want I could instruct for you. I would HATE to be out there alone. As a novice you will be driving significantly slower which is fine. Everybody else in your group will be doing the same, so it will actually feel rather fast, since it technically is the fastest YOU are capable of going at that time. You want to spend that first day getting acclimated to this new environment and learning the line. In practice it seems harder for people to learn the line then they think as it is effected by your turn in point, how you brake, and how you press the gas on corner exit.

The novice i taught played nothing but video games and basically had no respect for how slow you actually go through turns. He would under brake for corners which made him want to early apex. I was happy to see him make significant improvements by his last session.

PM me, as I don't check this forum all too often

Watch out for those new curbs though they put in over the summer... From the pics I saw they did not look too friendly.

Erik

Erik, they shaved down all the new curbs with a chipper or something. I was driving all over them no problem at the last event. Although the very first day they were done (during the bmwcca event there) they were freakin sidewalk curbs and I stayed the hell away from them.

[devonjordan]

you're in second in turn one? that's one of the fastest turns on the track.

For one turn, not for turn one...

reading comprehension > you, LOL... jp

[hugh jass]

I only use 2nd gear for one turn. The rest are 3-4. I was running a 3.73 in my 325 though, so with your 4.10 you may not have to use it.

Take it slow at first and listen to your instructor. Make sure you tech your car. You don't want to find out something is fucked up once you are already out there.

Erik

you're in second in turn one? that's one of the fastest turns on the track.

[sumyungguy]

I didnt have a instructor when I went up there earlier this year with my ex-e30 m42 car, managed to pick up a pretty smooth line and kept it in 3rd for most of the track except the 2 straits.

Have fun!

[Jon325i]

Danny - YouTube is your friend :-D

E30 at T-hill (running the bypass instead of the Cyclone at turn 5)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8eVYgdbvvo

Another one of an E30 at T-hill.....my friend Greg's (now departed) 325is. Includes the Cyclone at turn 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY5KyClUXFk

Both videos are running the track anti-clockwise (as the F1 guys say). Its the direction most commonly used.

Watch it.....learn it.....live it.


Jon

[laz]

You'll be fine. ThunderHill is a great first track since the only wall is on the front straight. There are a few other spots to screw up your car, but screwing up in most places is relatively low impact. 2nd gear is only needed in T11, and you can go without it (focus on entering smoothly in 3rd). With a 4.10 you may not even feel like you're lugging it out through the esses.

Definitely memorize the track before you get there. It's easier to learn from your instructor when he says "turn 6" and you instantly know where it is and roughly what the line should be. I learn visually, so I watch a lot of track videos before I get to a new track.

Focus on learning and forget about going fast and you'll be fine. It's hard to not get caught up in "I passed X cars, and one of them was a loser in a Ferrari F430!", but in the long run nobody cares. Pick up smooth driving, basic technique, and the speed will come naturally and effortlessly. It sounds super easy, but trust me, it's not :)

It's addictive. Watch out.

[erik325i]

Remember, you are paying for the whole track, so use it! Outside-inside-outside.

Watch out for those new curbs though they put in over the summer... From the pics I saw they did not look too friendly.

Erik

[Danny]

Well I think I'll just take it real easy, I have good tires and they should be really sticky.

My goal is to not spin out :)

[erik325i]

Yeah I have a 4.10 and I'll try to avoid shifting to 2nd as best I can.

And I have no desire to race out there, I know this is just to learn :D

I only use 2nd gear for one turn. The rest are 3-4. I was running a 3.73 in my 325 though, so with your 4.10 you may not have to use it.

Take it slow at first and listen to your instructor. Make sure you tech your car. You don't want to find out something is fucked up once you are already out there.

Erik

[Spiff325iS]

You should be just fine. Don't panic, stay relaxed and aware of what you are doing. Don't drive your mirrors, just focus on what's in front of you; you have your instructor to keep and eye out for cars behind you.

Don't stress, just play some Forza before you go out, haha. Remember, you are paying for the whole track, so use it! Outside-inside-outside.

[devonjordan]

Im doin my first @ buttonwillow in early november! So excited...

[Danny]

Yeah I have a 4.10 and I'll try to avoid shifting to 2nd as best I can.

And I have no desire to race out there, I know this is just to learn :D

[Jon325i]

NCRC I believe.

What gear are you usually in?

Because my second gear synchros are fucked.

Also I am very bad at heel-toe-ing.

I've done T-Hill a few times for HPDEs. When I was running a 4.10 LSD, I could get away with using just 3rd and 4th gear only. Not sure what you've got in your car but seeing this is your very first time at the track, take it conservatively. You might use 2nd gear for turns 11 & 12. As for top speed achieved on the main straight? If I got a good exit speed out of turn 15 I could nudge 105-110 before braking for turn 1.

Definately heed all of Jean's advice - every bit of it is true. Oh...and one other thing. Check your ego in at the gate. You're there to learn - not earn a seat with a team for the 2009 F1 season ;-)

Jon