Mini Thunder II Registration is now open. This was a great event last year and proves to be even better theis year.

http://www.motorsportreg.com/index.cfm/event/event.advert/uidEvent/...


Event website: http://www.minithunderhill.com/

 

Here is a video from last year's MINI Thunder, prepared by NIello MINI of Sacramento, one of our sponsors. This gives you a good preview of what to expect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTy-u7LiUOE&feature=youtube_gdata

 

For any of you that have not been to Thunderhill Raceway Park, here is a little video of some laps in a Lotus. This will give you an idea of what its like to drive this track....enjoy

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

 

Can I bring friends that don't own/drive a Mini?

Matt

 

We are planning on having ONLY Minis as participants, with the exception of coaches/instructors. Last year we got nearly 75 entries and we are looking/hoping to get 100-120. That being the case we want to be sure to have enough track sessions (5ea. - 20 min.) and a reasonably clear track (20-25 cars per session). As the date grows nearer and we know how many we have, we will decide if we should open it up to other cars. Guests are free to attend and will be able to take parade/demo rides at lunch. But as of now we are not accepting non-Mini entries.

 

Hotel information for MINI Thunder II
The following are the hotels and rates for MINI Thunder II

Holiday Inn Express 545 Humbolt Ave, Willows 530-934-8900 includes hot continental breakfast $99.00/nite
Go to http://bit.ly/eyLFXh to get details, maps, directions

Baymont Inn & Suites 199 Humbolt Ave, Willows 530-934-9700 includes continental breakfast $64.95/nite
Go to http://bit.ly/eaVCxn to get details, maps, directions.

Travelodge 249 Humbolt Ave, Willows 530-934-4603 includes continental breakfast $50.00/nite
Go to http://bit.ly/hPQv1l to get details, maps, directions.

Contact: Michelle or Priti and make sure you tell them you are with MINI Thunder II at Thunderhill Raceway Park to get the discounted rate.

 

Jan Brueggeman of Revolution Mini Works http://www.revolutionmini.com/ will be on hand at MINI Thunder II, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows CA Feb 20, 2011. He will be bringing Ian Stewart out from Florida to drive Revolution Mini Works 400 HP GP MINI. Ian Stewart is quite an accomplished driver with NASA National Championships (2009) Time Trial C Mini Cooper S (1st) and a long list of racing accomplishments. Ian will be doing demo rides and demonstrations for those interested in seeing what a 400HP GP MINI can do on the track with the right driver at the wheel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SapEXxUH5oY

Come out and join us and visit with Jan about things you can do with your MINI.

www.minithunderhill.com

 

Lyle Beckwith of Vinyl Styles will be at MINI Thunder II, Feb 20, 2011 doing installs of his custom vehicle wraps, custom vinyl graphics, decals, headlight and tail light tinting, and more.
Contact Lyle to set up an appointment. Check out his website to for products, photos, and testimonials.

Email: vinylstyles@gmail.com
www.vinylstyles.com
(650) 743-8034

 

Make it a 2-Day Driving Event

Hooked on Driving is a valued supporter of MINI Thunder II and offering a $40 discount if you register for both MINI Thunder II (Feb 20) and HOD on Feb 19. Hooked on Driving will providing many of their experience and qualified instructors at MINI Thunder II. Hooked on Driving is also donating a Track Day door prize to be auctioned off after Saturday night’s Casino night, using your “play” money winnings.

You can register for HOD at www.hookedondriving.com, then give promo code: MINITHUNDERII to get your discount.

Hooked On Driving -
David Ray
9000 Crow Canyon Road
Suite S #225
Danville, CA 94506
info@hookedondriving.com
Phone: 925-552-8112
Fax: 925-855-9415

 

Best quote from MINI Thunder I:

Jo Wattle:
" I'm gonna need plastic surgery to remove the smile from my face!!!"

...Please join us for MINI Thunder II

 

‎7 Time SCCA National Champion, 24 hour Daytona winner, IMSA sedan Champion and founder of Comptech Machine (builder of Juan Montoya's 2000 Indy 500 engine), and many more accomplishments, Doug Peterson will be on hand at MINI Thunder II driving the Seven Enterprises Fortech Mini. Doug will be giving demo laps and driver instructing throught the day.

 

For those of you that have never taken your MINI/Mini our on the track, we welcome you to MINI Thunder II. Admission is FREE for those that want come out and watch, take some demo rides with instructors, and time permitting we will offer parade laps at lunch. Get a chance to visit with some of the top named Mini drivers, chat with the coaches/instructors, stroll through the pit & paddock areas visiting with other Mini owners and vendors. Explore the track from several vantage points and bring a camera. MINI Thunder II proves to be more than just a track day, we hope you will enjoy the social and festive atmosphere, while learning what a track day is all about. Walk the course, where permitted, and see how the turn workers keep an eye on thing and control and advise drivers of hazards ahead, note the two trucks and emergency crews that are there “just in case”, sit in on a classroom session and see how the instructors teach the techniques and critique performance. Track Day events are a “team” effort, with registration, communication, emergency, medical, food and beverage, on track workers, pre-grid organization, and much more

We would all love to see you come out for the day and even for Saturday night’s dinner and casino night. The vendors will enjoy having a crowd of Mini enthusiasts, the coaches and staff will be happy to answer questions, other drivers will enjoy the attention, and you will see how much fun, safe, and educational this can be. The Thunderhill Grill will be open for food and beverages and we welcome you to join us for our meals. You can buy breakfast, lunch, or diner tickets at the track

Best of all is to see the smiles on the faces of the drivers as they climb out of their Minis after a track session. As Jo Wattle put it last year “It’s going to take plastic surgery to wipe this smile off my face

Remember its FREE admission, FREE parking, so climb in your Minis and take a drive to Thunderhill Raceway Park, near Willows California. Feb 19-20, 2011

 

By the way, yes MINI convertibles are allowed, since they have factory roll over protection included in them. Bring them on.

Registration is still open, I have extended until Feb 7th

Don't forget that guests are welcome FREE to attend and watch, parade laps, and time permitting demo rides. So bring out your MINI/Minis and freinds w/Minis and watch, visit with the drivers and vendors and see what it's all about.

 

MCE Racing is offering MINI Thunder II participants discounts for dyno services. MCE Racing is located at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Garage #15. Contact Kevin Murray to set up appointments 530-934-3237
For MINI Thunder II, Kevin will have his dyno shop open from 8am to 6pm Friday the 18th, Saturday 19, Sunday 20th and Monday the 21st. Prices for MINI Thunder II participants are as follows:
For three run-ups per car reading the horsepower and torque and providing a free color laminated printout the price is $50.00.
For the same as runs with Air/fuel reading using Dynojet wideband,the price is $80.00.
For tuning regardless of the time required the price is $150.00 per car.
MCE takes Visa and MasterCard, checks, or cash or Paypal for prepaid services.

http://www.mcedyno.com/MCE%20RACING%...0Services.html

 

Saturday's Dyno-tuning is completely booked up. There maybe openings for the HP/Torque and A/F runs in between Dyno Tunes. Friday, SUnday, and Monday are still open but it looks like these slots are filling fast.

 

 

Can't wait to see everyone!

 

Ian Stewart, 2009 NASA TTC National Champion and many other accomplishments will be attending MINI Thunder II to do Demo rides in Jan Brueggeman's 400 HP Revolution Motorworks GP MINI and instructing.

Here is a little background on Ian (aka MrSideways)
Mrsideways.com Ian Stewart Racing

 

Cool Vid at CMP. Fast times. I was just on that track last weekend with Phil Wicks in his race Mini. Great two days with Phil. Day one was raining and we went to slicks in the afteroon as Phil said it was "drying". I remember several laps with the wiper on lol but it did start drying. I was 5 sec. a lap faster with slicks in the wet than street tires. But when they let loose oh baby. Never spun the car but did get a big thumbs up and smile once. It was in the mid 30's so the first few lap in the rain on cold tires were interesting. Looking forward to both days next weekend and running the new JCW for the first time. Just past the break in miles.

 

Due to more requests, we have re-opened registration for two additional days. Weather for Sunday is looking clear, sunny, cool, with no rain.

Dyno time is still available - Friday has "straight dynos available" all day - three runs at $50 total. Saturday is booked and Sunday has 2-4PM open for Dyno with tuning, Monday is open for dyno or dyno w/tuning from 10AM-4PM

Call Kevin Murray at MCE to set up times 530-934-3237

 

Me and my friend will be there as spectators though for now and hopefully meet some of you guys from the community. We will be coming from OC socal on Sunday see you guys soon....

 

How about some updates!!!!

 

scary fast.............................................. ..

 

Had a blast. Great event, great people and a great time. Sunday was sunny and cool. Had to get heat into the tires. The session before lunch was extra long I think I did about 20 laps. They were hot and I was ready to pit. I burned more gas on Sunday then I did on Sat. Almost ran out on the last run. Put 2 gals in at the track to make it back to town. Nothing like burning a full tank of gas at the track.

Sat. I took a instructor with me for the first run to teach me the track. It is pretty technical with lots of elevation change. The track was wet from the night before it rained late. 5A the hill in intimating and fun. It is very steep! 9 when you hit it right it looks like you are about to launch off the track to the big green fields(Mud today and wet grass) but the track swings back and appears under you. Lots of off camber corners. Turns 11,12 and 13 leading the back straight were also technical to get right. Slower was faster here as you then could straighten the corner leading to the back straight with a greater exit speed. Lots of Minis, Porches, Vettes,a few mustangs and a Yellow Lambo, a wide variety of fun. Spent the day just trying to find the lines that worked for me an the MINI. The debriefing by the instructors after the runs provide great tips. The talked about patch on the inside of turn 2 and you need to have you butt right on it to have the right line. Once I found said patch that turn was dialed in. In the MINI you may need to adjust your line as the instructor may own a 911. Burned almost a tank of gas. A Z06 spun out on turn 4 on the first lap on cold tires. Caught a ditch with the lip spoiler on exit and messed up the front. Was twisted and the front radiator was toast plus much more when you get under it im sure. He took it well as that is pushing the edge. I was two cars behind him and I would not push past 80% for the first lap to get some tire heat. I saw sod flying as he tried to drive out but then turn up the hill. I was thinking he is going to need to lock the hubs. It got stuck in the mud and needed a tow. Lot of mud out there and lots of places to get into trouble with just a minor mishap. My goal was to learn the track and not drop a wheel off. Excellent day and my the end it was warmer and dry and I was using the curbs and run outs they were designed. The MINI ran good but even with the traction control off it was still popping up at times and cutting the power back. If you now hold the button for a few sec. it will kill it all the way. Tach will read DSC OFF- Not Traction Off. If you hold it too long it shut off the ABS too. I like that safty net when I over cook a corner or brake a bit to late. The brakes held up fine and even the dunlops RF's did not take much of a beating. Stickier tires are needed for the track but they did keep me up in the pack.

After the day I went by Jan's shop to talk about a tune for my car. He rented a Dyno there but he had a download he had been working on he loaded in two minutes and said take it down the road and tell me what you think. head out to the country road near the track and went the opposite way from town for a shake down run. I came back with a big smile. He sold the same set up to another 2011 JCW owner with Chili Red Roof and mirrors. He loved his test run too. I said it felt like 30HP increase. Jan said it should rear wheel about 240. Wheel spin is becoming a bigger issue now with the rf's. Turbo comes on hard now and faster. When you shift fast now the boost does not drop and you are in the next gear in the meat of the turbo. MINI Thunder II day I will test it on the track. Jan and his team are great people and he was busy all day. I was bummed Lyle didn't have any Carbon Fiber door handles to Install for me. I hook up with him ahead of time befroe another event this year to do it.

Sunday was clear and cold to start. A couple of the MINI guys running the advanced/race prep tried to talk be into stepping up from intermediate. I debated running in advance and just running in the back. They said I wouldn't
stay back there long and I was running good times the day before in a bone stock JCW. I was my 2 day in my new JCW so I stayed in the intermediate class mainly so I wouldn't be pushing to hard. Goal is to stay on the track but still find the edge. All MINI's today and the instructors were giving rides there personal race cars. I took a laps in a Ferrari F430 that was all stock except for the racing seat, harness and racing slicks. He drove it on street tires. It was smooth and fast. He was just as smooth behind the wheel. No jerking around just smooth except for the slam the F1 tranny gives you when he pops of another full throttle up shift. The exhaust was stock but still wailed pretty good. I did heard he got passed by Ian in the race MINI during a session they mixed it up in.

Session 1 was a cluster F. I think there were a few that needed the beginner class that bit off a bit more than they could chew. The first lap was no passing and a yellow to warm up the tires. We never went fasty enough to warm up anything. I was tempted to set teh cruise control and turn on some tunes. Even at the slow pace there were still several spins on the first lap. Some because of some very strange lines other because they pushed to hard before the tires got warm. Many were not looking behind and signaling fast cars to pass. The worst were ones with instructors. I think they thought the instructors would be telling them but they do not have the mirrors. Was thinking for jumping to advanced. Did the down load session with lots of opinions and things to talk about. I passing to be done with signal. Fast cars
will line up first for the next runs. Perfect. That spread it out and made things flow a lot better. Next session was much better and a good run. I got the 430 ride in the demo class and then the schedule said we would have lunch. I guess the power in the club house went out so they were sending my group out now before lunch hoping the power would come back on. I ran and got into my and got on the track back in the pack. Wow they let us run almost twice as long. I swear I did 20 laps. The tires were hot and I was starting to make mistakes pushing to hard on now greasy tires. Wow that was and assume run. I love running with the classics. Man are they fast through the corners. If they have momentum going in just say good bye. Jan's tune rocked. Way more ussable power but also had to work the throttle to adjust the new found torque and wheel spin. The big issue for me is in Sport Mode you have that short throttle pull which sucked with all the power. I would prefer the standard throttle feel with all the other Sport benefits. just gives you more to play with and less of the on off feel which is slower on the track.
I believe "SMOOTH IS FAST". The last two sessions I had the track dialed in.
I was finding faster laps with faster smoother turns. I could gain lots of ground on the cars ahead of me taking turn 2 at a much faster speed and getting carried all the way to curb. The same with 3. 7 wide open than just a brake tap for 8 was huge also. 5A and 11,12,13 I struggled with until I slowed down. I was faster using just 3rd and 4th gears. Shifting to 5th on the front straight just to down shift 2 seconds later was a waste of time. I just backed off a bit in 4th at redline at set up for turn 2 and you would get the perfect line as you had much less to do setting up for the turn. Shifting to second was not need on 5 the hill because I could pull 3rd going down the hill because it was so steep and 2 had to much torque for the section anyway.
I was closely matched with a couple of the cars in my group and we had a blast pushing each other. I would pressure nad get the wave by only the heat my tires up and make a stupid mistake and have to wave them back by to see if they could pull away or not. It not wheel to wheel racing or a timed event but it sure is fun. Balck Jack did great for his first track outing. Brakes took a beating but held up fine along with the tires. Tires liked the cool temperatures. 100 degree day might have been ugly on them.

Casino night was fun. the meals good and the highlight was the classic Mini's
and the girls in there 60's outfits. I took some pictures for my wife as she would enjoy that part. Thanks Norm and everyone for hosting sucha rocking event. Met some great people I hope to see again soon and at other events. Denise rocked it in the red vert MINI with the devils tail.

Had more snow on the trip home. Didn't slow me down at all. I didn't get out of the car for 9.5 hours and 660 miles. Got Taco Hell drive in and the pumped my gas in OR. I did spent a few minutes in southern OR talking to a trooper after coming down the one of the passes at 66 in 55. I told him I was in n and just coasting and didn't want to ride the brake. Being green. He was a Rookie and had his female boss riding shot gun. I figured give me the ticket fast so I can move on. He had the book and ran me through the system. Tic toc. He came back with-slow it down and have a nice day. Thats about as slow as I get. Thank you and you have a great dayofficer. Cool. He ran to his car and hit the light and peeled out. I thought he had a call and that why he bailed. Nope his boss was working the radar while he was chatting with me.
She had another victim. Good information to know. Averaged 72 MPH over the trip so I ran pretty hard. Of what kind of MPG with the new tune. More power and more effcient use of fuel air should lead to better mileage. I picked up 2 MPG running harder and over the mountains than onthe way down. 29 MPG on the return trip running hard. My butt felt pretty good after 9.5 hours of non stop. The 1600 miles in 4 days will break you butt in well. Did over 250 track miles and 2 tanks of gas at race speed. PS- do not run out of gas. I went out to the last session( 20 Min) with 3 corn showing. I about ran out. I put 2 in at the track to get me to town and it still read 3 mile to E. Guy with
2011 JCW like mine did run out and it was messed up. High pressure fuel pump was about to go. Missing and running rough. Hope you made PDX as he left after the track runs. I didn't see it DOA on I-5 so he must of made it.

How is that for an update. I few MINI's went off on Sunday but no real damage. Thought there was a bent trailing arm but a bolt actually fell out and was and easy fix. Great time with new friends. Thanks all and I will be there next year.

 

Sounds like you had a great time and took advantage of all there was too...