Pictures from Mini Thunder II in Willows CA Feb. 19th and 20th. Drove down for 2 track days and 660 miles each way. Snowed heavy from Salem to Roseburg. Pass was drya nd cold. Summer tires were tricky under 30 degrees. Unpredictable woudl soem it up. Had a Mustang GT was not into the MINI passing him. Another group of left lane hangers victim to the quick passing MINI. Well GT boy was all decked out in NASCAR. Complete with racing hat, jacket and DE Intimator glasses. I could see him trying to push his way through traffic to get at the MINI. The sun was now out and it was dry and here he comes hard. I let him get to my door and down shifted to 4th and stood on it. He did also and got to my front bumber before the MINI walked away. I was not expecting that but was willing to give it a shot, LOL. very impressive. GT boy was gone at the next exit in the middle of nowhere. Got a Jan tunewhiched added another 30 HP while at the event. WOW what a difference on and off the track. Trip home I did in 9.5 hours without every getting out of the car. They pumped the gas in OR and I hit the drive through at Taco Hell. I did chat with an offercier in OR for 15 Minutes. 66 in a 55 on dry down hill pass. Slowest I went all day as I was in N and coasting. I got off with a warning- Sweet!
Averaged 72 MPH over 9 hours with the 2 stops. Yes I was pressing a bit.
Got 29 MPG which was +2 from the slower trip down. Leaner burning is more efficent. More pics to follow.

 

MINI did great. Ran Int group both days as this was the first time on a track with this car and the first time at this track. Very technical with lots of elevation changes. Not as safe as CMP. Lots of places for potential trouble and with all the rain lots of mud and soft turf. Catcha wheel and you are rolling. Everyone kept the shiny side up but a Z06 on cold tires spun in turn 4 hitting a small ditch. Ripped the front spoiler off and took out the radiators. Lots of other spins with just minor damage. After day one the advanced group tried to recruit me but I need to make it 660 miles back home. I ran up front with the fast Int. group. By the last session I could get start at the back of the fast group and get to the front and catch the back markers. MINI will be in the advanced groups next time. Was holding it flat out on every corner possible and using all the track. Met my 2 goals for the trip. 1. Improve my times and get to run with fast guys in my group. 2. Stay on the track. I never put a wheel off the track but had some good drifts and a few saves. Burned a tank of fuel each day almost running out on the last. Run Flat Dunlops did great with the cool weather. They are broke in now. Brakes were great and never faded with the stock pads. They will need replacing before the next event. great people and a great track. If the new track in Shelton is anywhere close to as cool I will be hooked. I am trying to get back to Thunder Hill later this year.

 

Wow Tom, great pics. Looks like it was a blast.

 

I miss posts like this - thank you
this is a breath of fresh air on 6sp IMHO

awesome trip

 

If you like the look of my MINI it was all done at Metropolitian Detail. Murdered out all the chrome except for the door handles and side scuttles. Flat Black stripes with red outside pin striping. Tinted windows and full clear bra. Car was a bit dirty in the pics from the trip down. I stopped in red Bluff to spray it off but it started raining again before I hit willows. It was clean enough for the track . Car turned out exactly like I was looking for. Great job John and Ben. The MINI crowd loved the look.