NASA Thunderhill Vids 4/16 and 4/17
04-19-2011, 12:23 AM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
NASA Thunderhill Vids 4/16 and 4/17
I barely made it due to an engine swap and dry sump failure within a week of the races, but my car finished both days with no problems. NASA Norcal does not have many corvettes. In fact I think JRL and myself were the only 2 corvettes out there in TT and racing (although maybe I saw a C4 in TT also?). John managed to win TTS both days and I took 3rd in SU on Saturday and 1st on Sunday so we represented the vettes the best we could 
. My car is ST2 but when I saw I was the only one there and there were 7 SU cars I decided to switch groups.
I'll post up the vids as I get them loaded. Saturday I was mostly concerned with how my car was going to run since the last time out it overheated twice and blew a head gasket on the built LS1 that came with the car. I had a stock LS6 swapped in and then had to do a dry sump pump rebuild in my garage the day before the race with very little hope of that actually working. I didn't drive very well on Saturday, but after being insulted by another racer that day I became motivated to prove myself on Sunday
.
Here is Sunday's qualifying lap:
Here is Sunday's race from Dean Thomas' view in his LS1 miata, which he intends to race in ST2. Dean is a former spec miata national champ (or at least close to it, not sure if he ever actually won 1st). He's a great driver and is trying to get his car dialed in and get used to racing with horsepower. This race was interrupted by a long full course yellow which was disappointing.
http://vimeo.com/22579328
My vid from Sunday:
. My car is ST2 but when I saw I was the only one there and there were 7 SU cars I decided to switch groups. I'll post up the vids as I get them loaded. Saturday I was mostly concerned with how my car was going to run since the last time out it overheated twice and blew a head gasket on the built LS1 that came with the car. I had a stock LS6 swapped in and then had to do a dry sump pump rebuild in my garage the day before the race with very little hope of that actually working. I didn't drive very well on Saturday, but after being insulted by another racer that day I became motivated to prove myself on Sunday
. Here is Sunday's qualifying lap:
Here is Sunday's race from Dean Thomas' view in his LS1 miata, which he intends to race in ST2. Dean is a former spec miata national champ (or at least close to it, not sure if he ever actually won 1st). He's a great driver and is trying to get his car dialed in and get used to racing with horsepower. This race was interrupted by a long full course yellow which was disappointing.
http://vimeo.com/22579328
My vid from Sunday:
Last edited by redtopz; 04-19-2011 at 10:57 AM.
04-19-2011, 11:00 AM
#4
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Thanks guys. I agree Bill. The cyclone is a unique feature of Thunderhill and it's kind of strange how nasa never runs it. Maybe it's just to be different from SCCA? The bypass is kind of fun to drive though because the car gets really light and it feels like you're flying for a second.
04-19-2011, 07:52 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
So how were you insulted by another racer?
I don't want to do that to you if it makes you go even faster!
Oli
I don't want to do that to you if it makes you go even faster!
Oli
04-20-2011, 10:05 AM
#8
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
04-20-2011, 08:36 PM
#9
Drifting
04-20-2011, 08:59 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
04-20-2011, 10:14 PM
#11
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
I'm sure there are a couple fast ones around
I was the only ST2 car there that weekend, but yeah I finished first in our race group. This car has more in it and I think it can do a 1:51 or faster with the bypass. It's a matter of figuring out how fast I can take the turns with aero. I want to go back to T-hill in the T1 car next and see what it can do. It will be faster down the straights, but won't match the cornering grip of the ST2 car with full aero. Plus the ST2 car can brake really fast and I'm just starting to explore that advantage.
I was the only ST2 car there that weekend, but yeah I finished first in our race group. This car has more in it and I think it can do a 1:51 or faster with the bypass. It's a matter of figuring out how fast I can take the turns with aero. I want to go back to T-hill in the T1 car next and see what it can do. It will be faster down the straights, but won't match the cornering grip of the ST2 car with full aero. Plus the ST2 car can brake really fast and I'm just starting to explore that advantage.
04-21-2011, 12:07 AM
#12
Drifting
That was a neat split pass going into 14 on the last lap. sure were a lot of moving chicanes on the track. Was surprised to see some open wheel cars mixed in?? Great video!!
Last edited by Joy of 6; 04-21-2011 at 06:44 PM.
04-21-2011, 01:18 AM
#13
Le Mans Master
That is crazy. I don't know why they do that. I personally would never drive an open wheel or sports racer on track with cars that weigh two to three times the weight of my car. The cages and other protections are just not adequate for that kind of mixing.
