Thunder Hills??

Reading a few earlier posts on Thunder Hill on 10-30,31 prompts me to ask if anybody is still planning on going there. I never have been there for races so guess I'm asking that Brian, Eddie, Michael or others inform us if there is a plan on meeting and doing some race watching? Anyone?

Bruce

Bruce,

Yep, the date still works.

Tentative drivers:

Michael Beaucage
Ray Armstrong
Brian Bell
Eddie Janis
Bruce Williams

Keeping an eye on the weather as we get closer to that kind of season.
Last year the weather rained out Eddie. Paul Hartford and I braved the relative cold though and had fun anyway.

As the date gets closer I'll post a departure time and possible rally point for us Sacramento area guys.

Brian.

Yea guys, weather permitting I'll be there. Kinda sounds like a song I once heard.

Eddie

Eddie, Brian, et all.

I echo what Eddie just said, this time of year I have to pay attention to the weather, especially over Sisique Pass going into CA. It is about 4500 ft and can get ugly up there. I plan on taking the Ford Escape anyway but even with 4WD, if a 18 wheeler jacknifes and blocks I-5, you sit there even with 4 WD

Bruce

I also intend on being at Thunder Hill this year.

Gclarke "The Vacaville Guy"

Hey Thunder Hill guys!

What is da plan and days and time? Rain coming in tonight here so maybe it will be gone in a couple of weeks, LOL. Also need directions to the track. Anyone?

Bruce

HI Bruce,

Thunderhill, "yes, SCCA did name it all one word, there was a big political fight over one vs two words at the time", is located on Hwy 162. Take I5 to Willows CA (North from Sacramento, South from Oregon) and go west on 162. Stay on 162 to the track. You can't miss the track on the right hand side of the highway (say 5 miles?).

Thanks William,

With the rain and stuff this week hope it blows out by next week. I'm kinda thinking after the races I may bop up to Reno for a few days, that is if the snow in the Sierra's isn't 8 feet deep. Anybody hear whats going on up on the passes into Reno?

What is the plan on Thunderhill? (one word). Is it Saturday and Sunday or just one day and which one. Looking for a little chatter on this issue!

Bruce

Group,

Saturday is my only option on this one.

Rally point will be just North of Sacramento...TBD..for us SacSouth guys.

Time at Rally point... TBD

Weather WILL be partly cloudy in the 60's....TBD

Looking forward to it!

Brian.

Brian,

Weather looks OK for the races I guess. Do the 356's run on Saturday? Do you have access to a race schedule that you could share? I am thinking of running up to Reno from the races and am checking hotels and rates. I'll be checking the weather as we get closer to the 30th to see if our pass will be driveable. It usually is but want to be certain. Eddie, sure you're watching the weather too!

Bruce

Bruce, yea been watchin the weather closely. Looks OK so far. I'm planning on saturday too, they usually run the same classes sat. and sunday. Only the guys who break down on sat. don't race on sun.

Eddie

Eddie,

Thanks for the reply. We'll wait for Brian to come up with a meeting time and maybe we can do the I-5 boogie together. I'll be driving my "other" car so hope you can tolerate that, LOL.

Bruce

Group,

As far as schedules and such..please note the following.

This event is more like a club racing day than a big time race.
The pits are informal and VERY accessible.
The grandstands are nonexistent...a few bleachers dot the course.

This is all about getting to drool over some very nice examples of race prepared vintage cars and watching/hearing/smelling them on the track.
Parts Obsolete calls this event their Fall finale. They bring their stable of 356's plus they race prepare a few private owners tubs.

Parts Obsolete just lost their founding genious Neil "Papa" Emory on 10-10-04.
Neil inspired Gary and Rod and basically started what we now know as "Outlaw".
Brian.

Brian,

Kinda sounds like SCCA in the early 60's in the Midwest. I pitcrewed for a good friend and his Sprite. The weekends were like being with extended family.

What time you all going to be there? Hope the weather is decent. We are talking about Oct 30-31, right?

Brian, I am thinking about taking RT 20 from I-5 over to where it meets I-80 around Blue Canon. Know they got some big time snow over there the past couple of days. Would it be better to go down to SAC and pick up 80 into Reno? Maybe in the next 10 days or so the snow will melt and I don't have to worry.

Didn't know about the senior Emory, too bad, his kids have really picked up his banner haven't they?

Bruce

Group!

OK, the weather is looking good for Saturday at Thunderhills, (one word), and I have made motel reservations for Saturday night. Guess that means I'm going, LOL. It looks like a 4 hour or so drive for me so Brian when do you want to meet there at the track? Got directions now so can't go wrong!
Should we bring Halloween costumes?

West Coast Bruce

Bruce and Group,

The C.S.R.G. site states that gates open at 7am with tech inspection starting at 7:30..that's it.

My guess would be that practice starts around 9 ish??

I believe that there is a break for lunch at 12 so the track workers can get some chow.

The plan would be for us Northbound folks is to be at the I-5 rest stop 8 or 9 miles North of Williams (20 miles south of Willows)before 9:00 a.m. and leave there about 9:15 to arrive at the raceway at 9:45 or so...

I'll be leaving my house in Rancho Murieta around 7:15am

I have to leave Thunderhill no later than 3:00pm for an evening function back in Sacramento.

It will be a cold drive.... a very cold drive... maybe a later start??

If ya'll would like to modify these times... answer back with a target time or two.

Brian.

Brian,

I figure I'll leave here, (Eagle Point) about 6 am on Saturday morning, that should put there about 10:00 to 10:30 or so. I'm sure I'll find you guys. I'll be driving a forest green Ford Escape. I'm staying overnight Saturday in Williamss, got to check out all my kin there,LOL. Then Sunday morning heading up to Reno for a few days.

Bruce

I will be driving some back roads, however I will check the map and see if I can be at the rest stop at 9.

BTW the weather projection is SUNSHINE and DRY!

All,

Hope the weather forecast holds! So far so good, kind of gloomy today but the weekend forecast doesn't look too bad. I assume I can get over the pass into California, LOL.

Eddie, you going? Let me know and maybe we can meet when I get gas in Redding on Saturday morning., time and place!

Bruce

I just viewed the local weather for cast for satuday and sunday they are predicting sun and in the seventies. I hope that holds true. i'm driving up anyway. It will be good to see Bruce and Eddie again. see ya

I want to point out a nice off the freeway ride.

Exit I-5 onto County Road 102 just before Woodland and head east to Knights Landing. There is a junction turn to the left onto State Hwy 45 north, which goes to Colusa.

This is a really nice 26 mile road, wide open fields and farms. There is an old dead oak tree that embraces the road, a small stand of trees on the right and then a long tunnel of trees. Fantastic view of Sutter Buttes, then a turn and about the time you are thinking how beautiful the view was, bam, you get to see it again, only closer.There are several nice long straight stretches for opening up and some really nice curves, one can see far enough ahead to see oncoming traffic and use the whole road. Not much traffic, smooth surface, views not as good on a return trip.

From Colusa cut over to I-5 for Williams or stay on 45 to 162 which goes west through Willows to Thunderhill.

Micheal; I drove that strech for about 15 years and only recently sold my property in the town of Grimes. I know just about every bump and turn up that road and you are absolutly right about the views while you head north. I could meet you there on the way up and show you the road north of Colusa,Princeton along the sacramento river the turn west to willows . We can meet up in Knights Landing across from the school, there a little store and a couple of gas pumps and a small resteraunt. It should be a great drive.

Sounds like an 8 am coffee in Knights Landing.

youbetcha

Michael and Ray,

Since it looks like it's just the three of us coming in from the South....and..you guys keep talking about a cool road out in the sticks....
I will meet you guys in Knights Landing at 8am..looking forward to a cool road vs. I-5.

I spoke with Eddie Janis today and he will meet us at the races as planned.

Eddie also guilted me into going top-down for the drive up...

Damn peer pressure is gonna get me frost bit, I know it!

Brian.

Well brian; Its just a drive through the rice belt farming area of yolo,colusa counties north on 45 to 162 west and there is very little traffic . There is a lot of open country some nice straight sections. a little longer but no trucks passing trucks pulling out in front of you as you come up on them as you find on I-5 . flatlanders back roads . They can be fun . Once in colusa the traffic may pick up north to 162, but its a nice change of scenery. see you in Knights Landing. We will buzz the locale farming comunities and show off our speedsters.

I hope Troy and Gary will show up!

I'm coming from the north and will see you guys at the track around 10:00-10:30 or so. I may be even able to meet up with Eddie on I-5. Eddie, What time you leaving Redding? I'll probably be coming thru there and stopping for gas about 8:30-9:00 AM.

Bruce, weather still looking good!

Hey Guys,

There have been some interesting cars being trailered East on Hwy 80 the past couple of days! I've seen some on open trailers and a number in enclosed trailers, painted with vintage racing stuff on them! One was a yellow 356 judging by the characture on the side of the trailer...wish I was gonna' be there 8(

Haven't heard from Dale Bates.

I saw a Lotus 11 this morning.

I have it on good authority that Dale Bates will be having birthday lunch (hers) with his daughter in Santa Cruz on Saturday. Safe travels guys.

Bruce and guys,
the weather man says showers in the foothills east of Redding on Sat. morning. But he ain't gonna rain on my parade this time. I've got the perfect plan, I'm gonna leave tonight and beat the rain. I'll stay in Willows tonight, and see you guys at the track in the morning. Us Polocks are smartter than wee look.

Eddie Janiszewski

Theron where's my smile?

Well I just got back from a day at he track at Thunder Hills and what a day. The weather couldn't have been better a lot of eye candy. Will Post my pics in a few days. Bruce, Eddie, Gary, Brain, and myself shared a beautiful day at the races. ne hell of a collection of fine old race cars . I will plan on attending this event again ,It will take you back when these cars were new. I could recomend this outing to anyone who can appreciate the old sport crs races of the late fifties and sixties.

Ray, and Eddie, it was nice to meet you guys. Bruce always good to see you again. Yeah Thunderhill was great, quite a few vintage 356's racing, and that was really cool....But it looked like the lotus's were kicking serious butt. Ray should have some great pictures, he was shooting some beautiful cars. We missed some of the guys.....Wha happened ????


Gclarke "The vacaville Guy"

A beautiful day at the races, with Bruce , Brian, Eddie, Gary,and Ray

Ray, Eddie, Gary, and Bruce,

Had a great time at the event. A few more cars than last years date.

Gary,
GREAAT sounding exhaust...even at idle it has a great "note" to it. I will be in touch soon for all of the details. Oh, and for the care and the balls to do the necessary relief cuts into the rear valence... nicely done.

Eddie,
Thanks for all of the history and information behind all of the CanAm and other classes of cars. It's great to be around all of that rumble and thrashing, quite a new dimension when you get a taste of the history. Thanks again for the test ride in your Tub. NOW I have a benchmark for a smooth running, cleanly executed speedster.

Ray,
Thanks for the backroads tour of the valley North. Always fun to follow a nice Beck speedster and catch all of the passers-by drooling over your tub. I've included a pic of you at sunrise North on I-5.

Bruce!,
Great to see you again, although I know you wish you were driving a tub there. Your effort to be there at the event was quite impressive. I had a great time talking with you and I'll see you at the next one soon.

I didn't get to spend nearly enough time talking to everybody, but how often do you get see all of that history tearing around the track just inches from you?

Here's acouple of pics I grabbed. Sorry 'bout the focus, damn digitals...

Brian.

Pics2

more pics from thunder hill