ThunderDrift NorCal

Any of you folks in the NorCal area planning to hit ThunderDrift at Thunderhill this weekend?

If you need to pre-register, PM me and I can give you the e-mail of the event organizer.

I'm planning to take the Miata up there on Saturday and flog it hard. My girlfriend will be joining but not driving. She wants to save money.

maybe.

watch for the cops when arriving or leaving. they basically stake the place out and pull over as many cars as they can.

The cops will be looking for illegal mods or missing CARB stickers. I would make sure my stuff is legit and all my CARB sticker's are in order or I wouldn't bother.

Wow, really? I've never seen cops on the road to/from THill.

ThunderDrift is a great time.

Due to the "remote" location at THill, you may be safer.

I can tell you, the Motoring J Style show and the most recent HIN at the Pleasanton fairgrounds were both staked out pretty heavily by the local PD. At the "Motoring J Style" show the cops mostly focused on the kids that were driving stupid and making a nuisance of themselves.

However, at the HIN show, they were nabbing anybody that was coming in or out of the public parking lot regardless of their driving style.

It doesn't look like I am going to be able to make it. I managed to hoodwink a friend into helping me test-n-tune at the next autoX which happens to be on the same day...

Capt Slow, sorry you won't be able to make it. I was looking forward to seeing you there. Have fun test-n-tune-ing the auto-xer.

I have never seen or heard of anyone having problems from the cops related to ThunderDrift. The only thing I've heard about is a general rule about T-Hill: the road out to it has a 55mph limit, and the cops can be very strict about enforcing that limit. So, drive 55. I think they patrol more on big HPDE days, since that's when you get rich guys with expensive sports cars who are convinced their last name is "Andretti" on their first track day.

ThunderDrift is a great event. I have also not seen much hooliganism from people going to/from the event. It's an established event and does not attract a lot of spectators. So the people who go to it care about it and don't want it to develop a bad reputation and get ruined. Most people are driving below the speed limit down I-5.

For me, my car passed smog, has all the registration and such, and is perfectly legal. I also know the law that a cop can't legally search my car without probable cause or consent.

laz wrote: Wow, really? I've never seen cops on the road to/from THill. ThunderDrift is a great time.

Hey Iaz, your car looks familiar. I think I've seen you at a few HPDEs. I think I met you at a Lotus Club day earlier this year. I was the young guy with the white Miata.

laz wrote: Wow, really? I've never seen cops on the road to/from THill. ThunderDrift is a great time.

D'oh. YOu're right. I was thinking Infineon.

I'm heading to Thill on Friday with HookedOnDriving

amg_rx7 wrote: D'oh. YOu're right. I was thinking Infineon. I'm heading to Thill on Friday with HookedOnDriving

Hey! Have fun with that. I haven't run with them yet. They're a bit more expensive than other groups. Let us know how that goes. If you've run with other groups, please let us know how they compare.

If you get the chance, try to find Geoff. I believe he instructs at some of the HOD events. Otherwise, he frequently mans the gift shop. He's the organizer for TD.

I'm gonna be there with my friends on Sunday. I was hoping to go on Saturday to see you swinging that Miata, but my friend/co-driver could only get Sunday off. We're trailering our '84 Starion out there for it's first event.

Have fun! I really wanted to see your Starion with the back end hanging out. We'll have to swap pictures.

I'm brewing beer on Sunday, so the drifting has to be Saturday. Gee, life sure is tough.

How'd you do? Our car ended up blowing the diff and the clutch. We have some work to do before our next event.

Ouch! As always, the Miata performed admirably. My own skills are pretty meager, but I definitely made some significant improvements and learned some new skills this time out.

I got some tips from another Miata guy (the one with the camo paint job), and started working on my e-brake initiations, and clutch kicking to aid transitions.

Things are starting to flow a bit more naturally for me. I suspect the biggest thing I need to do is pick my eyes up more.

Is this your car?

No, that's our friend Trevor's car. There probably wasn't any pictures of our car posted up on NCD.

That's our car.

Muahahaha! That's awesome.

There haven't been any pictures from Saturday posted up on NCD yet.

Edit: I gather three of you picked that up for $400. Very nice, aside from the whole 'sploding thing.

Yeah we picked it up pretty cheap. The engine runs super strongly but the clutch was almost gone and now is completely gone. Interior is completely stripped and is soon to be painted pink instead of the white it is now. It's going to be getting hard pipes and an intercooler within the next couple of weeks too.

more pics as they come available, please!

Since I didn't make it up to this event I need to experience it through the pics you guys post.

I will make it out there eventually....

Is your Miata camo now? Looks awesome!

No, that's a different guy. He's a regular at these things and a better driver than me. I did some ride-alongs with him and got some tips from him on drifting my Miata. I really like his car.

My Miata is plain white. It'll get some sort of two-tone job once it gets its first major dent.

Edit: Bah! No pics of me yet.

...Man, I wish someone would introduce the concept of "grammar" to the NCD board.

Salanis wrote: No, that's a different guy. He's a regular at these things and a better driver than me. I did some ride-alongs with him and got some tips from him on drifting my Miata. I really like his car. My Miata is plain white. It'll get some sort of two-tone job once it gets its first major dent. Edit: Bah! No pics of me yet. ...Man, I wish someone would introduce the concept of "grammar" to the NCD board.

Ahh I see. His car turbo or anything?

Most of the people on NCD are redneck or super JDM yo so the concept of grammar is lost on them.

jpod999 wrote: Ahh I see. His car turbo or anything?

No, it's a mostly stock 1.6. He's got a 2-way locking diff, and some suspension work. It's just a solid car, and he's a good driver. His alignment is set up more for drift, whereas mine is biased for open track and street.

Most of the people on NCD are redneck or super JDM yo so the concept of grammar is lost on them.

4 rEElz y0!