Thunder Hill just got 2" of high tech tarmac over the entire 3 mile track. I was only able to drive the front half of the track ( t1 to t7 ) and it is smoooooth! spooky smooth. It is also a little slick, but I'm sure It will improve quickly as it cures and some rubber gets ground in. The new berms at the turn exits are very nice with a slight bank to them and, in most cases much longer. The new apex berms are "different", take a look at the pictures

I did walk the back side (t8 to t15) and took a few pictures

T9 to T10 Brand new and smooth



The apex of T8. The berm is about 2.5" high going up at a 45 deg angle and then ground flat on top.






T9 Same kind of berm, and a little higher.




Exit of T9 looking backwards. Very nice track out.



T10




T13 looking backwards the concrete is flat at the apex of 13



T14 The 'gutter" has been replaced. This is maybe 1.5" deep and very smooth.



T15 The concrete at the exit is way longer and the hole that used to be there is GONE!

 

It's nice to see some of the older US tracks getting resurfaced these days.

 

Oh man! I'm really looking forward to getting on this track!

 

Wow freshly resurfaced looks amazing. Wish I could get out there and drive it.

 

How long will it take for the track to get "sticky"? The turn 14 gutter is gone... I usually aim for that gutter for that turn...

 

i think the track just got a little narrower, i dont think we can drive off those burms quite like before.
thanks for the pix......

 

Don't know.... Ya just work with the traction you have. I wish I had turned my camera on, in the few lap I got there was a spec Miata in front of me that looked like he was on ice.

It's not gone, but it has been replaced. I'm seeing some right side tires in the dirt.

Paul

 

Is anyone else going to be at the 23 / 24 August NASA event here?

On the subject of FBs and lack of traction: I don't know this from firsthand experience, but last event I was at, I was told by a guy that used to run Pro7 that the way those cars were fast was to turn in and let the rear slide out and take a set before getting back hard on the throttle. I don't know if this works with a regular FB, but it might be interesting to find out.

 

Very smooth and nice, can't wait to break it in. I heard that the dirt just off track is VERY soft and you have to be careful about dropping wheels.

I'd like to get a closer look at T8, looks a lot slower than before with that big apex curb and less trackout tarmac.

 

Cool. Thanks for posting the pics! I'm looking forward to trying it out with NASA later this month. Anyone have comparative lap times yet?

 

Hey Josh, I ran it yesterday. Times are a little slower but I think it's only temporary. The track is really smooth, but tire wear is increased. There is a big berm on the inside of 1 and inside of 8. And the little curbing on the right before you turn in to 8 is gone. Those are two fast turns that are taking a little adjustment and account for a couple of seconds probably, but it will come back with practice. The dirt is soft around the track so there was constantly loose dirt in turns. All in all, the track is nice and I'm sure you'll have a blast on it next week.

AJ

 

Hey! Same AJ I met at Buttonwillow with Dennis? Will you be there next week?

 

Yes and Yes, see you then.
AJ

 

Here's some video from the NASA ST-2 races last month. Loved the new surface. I managed a personal best in qualifying on Sunday that was nearly 2 seconds faster than my last visit there in March... so I think we'll see some track records on the new pavement.

Sunday
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...10424618&hl=en
(reverse grid race for ST-2)

Saturday
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...47573851&hl=en
(Check out the parked car on the blind side of the bypass a few laps into the race. YIKES!)

 

Looks awesome. I'm definitely going to have to come down at least once next year.

 

we went a couple weeks ago too.

friday was slow, but by sunday people were running about the same times as usual

this also might be a fluke, but there was only one crash all weekend, which is really good for 300ish people.

also everyone was going off in the dirt in 3, but its kind of ok, cause theres nothing to hit there...

 

Most of the new apex "curbs" have been ground down and are berms again you can run right over the apex berm in 8.

Here's short video, you can see most of the berms.

 

Those were very fun to watch! In the second video, it looked like you are the blue car split the white car that had spun just over the top of the bypass. That's one way to make a pass!

Paul

 

VERY NICE!!!

That p port tube seven must be incredibly fun to drive

 

Great news about the berms! The curbs they had were spinning folks left and right.

Thanks for the comments on the videos. The guy in that blue car is a fantastic driver. Super consistent and aggressive without being dangerous. That pass in T5 was a bit questionable. I was lined up to pass him on the inside so when the white car showed itself I didn't have much choice but to split it. Looking back though, I probably should have given the blue car his position back on the 6-8 straight.

 

What happened at 12:45? You oversped?

 

Which video?

 

First link you posted. You were about to take the blue car but you went straight instead of turning, went off track, then lost the blue car forever. It was just getting exciting too.

 

Oh yeah... rookie mistake. Got excited and waited too long to brake. The fronts started to lock so I took the safe way out. If he weren't on the inside line I would have turned in and let the car slide a little to scrub speed. Not sure what I was thinking trying to pass him on the outside anyway. Guess that's why they put that orange sticker on my car. I did something similar the day before...

 

Slow in fast out