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Thunder Hill or Sonoma track day

Omega Ninja

Omega Ninja

New member
Joined
Nov 8, 2014
Location
Sac
Moto(s)
2014 zx6r
Hello everyone,

I am planning my next set of track days for the fall. I have enough $$ for 2 more track days until my ultimate goal of Laguna Seca in November. I was wondering if I should focus on Thunder hill or get some experience at Sonoma?

I have done one track day at Thunder hill east (my 1st track day) and I fell in love.

I guess I am asking should I diversify my track days before I hit up Laguna Seca? And is Sonoma worth the extra $$$?

I went to a NASCAR event in Sonoma and it looks like a very fun track (more technical than TH?). Would it be good for a newb to try all the tracks or get good at one track and really learning myself and the bike?

Again, MY ultimate goal is to hit up Laguna Seca in November :D

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!
 
Yes, diversify your track experience if you can, and yes, Sonoma is well worth the extra $$$. It's actually my favorite out of the local three.
 
To add on to what Spec said. If you have Thill under your belt and comfortable riding on track, I would suggest doing Sonoma as well.

Thunderhill is good for higher speeds and great site lines so you can negotiate the track well because you can see more of the track.

Sonoma has a lot of elevations and turns so your site lines are not as good. But it's a bit more technical so you get to learn to use your throttle/brake a bit more effectively/efficiently as there are not many long straights.

Laguna is a blend of both tracks so both tracks give you the tools to enjoy Laguna a bit more than if you just went there.

At any of the tracks, identify where the slow parts are and go slow, and vice versa. :teeth

Welcome to track life :laughing
 
I'll throw in a different opinion. Sears Point (otherwise known as Sonoma Raceway) is very technical riders track. I love it. It is my favorite by far.

That given, it's a very difficult track for first time riders. I've seen AMA guys crash there twice in one day learning the track. You probably can use Thunderhill to build on your expertise a bit better than doing so many tracks. And Sears is tricky at T1,T2,T3,T4,T6,T7,T9,and T10 and T11. Thunderhill is much easier to ride, and so is Laguna.
 
afm199 said:
I'll throw in a different opinion. Sears Point (otherwise known as Sonoma Raceway) is very technical riders track. I love it. It is my favorite by far.

That given, it's a very difficult track for first time riders. I've seen AMA guys crash there twice in one day learning the track. You probably can use Thunderhill to build on your expertise a bit better than doing so many tracks. And Sears is tricky at T1,T2,T3,T4,T6,T7,T9,and T10 and T11. Thunderhill is much easier to ride, and so is Laguna.
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It was maybe my third, if not second trackday under my belt when I first did Sonoma. Actually, pretty certain it was my second trackday.

I rode it just fine going at a learning pace.
 
Congrats on joining our beloved sport; I'm with the geezer on this one. Since you're limited to seat time, I'd recommend sticking with Thill just to get more comfortable. If you go to Sonoma, you'll spend the entirety of the day just learning the track (this actually never changes), but you won't be that comfortable as it's Substantially more technical than Thill.

Whereas, you're already familiar with Thill, go out there do a few warmup laps and gradually pick up the pace. You'll learn the same skills but in a more comfortable environment. After some time, you can take those skills and apply it to any track, Laguna included (BTW, your slipon exhaust will probably not pass sound limit at Laguna).
 
Well, my opinion lands somewhere in the middle of this conversation - if you are comfortable on your bike, have a lot of twisties riding under your belt on this bike and are just new to the track, then go ahead and give Sonoma a shot. It's a very different experience, that's for sure!

If, however, you have limited experience on the bike and in new/challenging situations, then I'd suggest getting a little more time where you're familiar and work on your general riding skills before tackling Sonoma.
 
I did my first track day at Sonoma and that too on a liter bike. I wasn't fast or anything but I was hooked on to the track scene. You'll be fine as long as you are not out there to break any records :)

I am really looking forward to doing Sonoma this year again on my 250.
 
If Laguna is your ultimate goal and you don't foresee yourself doing track days regularly, I'd say go to thill again to refine what you've already developed. I think that Laguna has more in common (lots of straights preceding and following sweepers) with thill than it does Sears.

Like the others in this thread, Sears is my favorite track as well. I feel like if I can get good at Sears, that other tracks would be less intimidating in comparison. The pavement seems to be the worst of the three though.. lots of bumps and seams that can become a distraction.

-Raymond
 
Thanks guys and ladies! After reading your posts I think I will stick with Thunder Hill for these last two track days. Also since TH is cheaper than Sonoma I might be able to squeeze out a 3rd track day at TH before I hit BIG Daddy Laguna in Nov!

Also by the end of the day at TH my buddy who is an A group rider said I should be in B group. I told him it wasn't my riding.....the ZX-6R makes me look better than I really am lol But I will give B group a shot next track day at TH. ;)

Also Yes, I already got the stock pipe ready to go back on my bike for Laguna Seca. My bike is wayyyyy too loud for Laguna right now. lol

I will hit up Sonoma 1st thing next session.

Again, thank you so much for the advice and honest options!! Best forum ever!! I need to get a BARF sticker on my bike ASAP!
 
Lots of instructors had advised me to spend some more time in C group even if I was able to do B group lap times. Reason: to get more passing experience.

Try sticking to C group for the 1st half and then move to B :)

Have fun.

EDIT: If you do decide to ride in C, be nice to those in C even if you are faster than them :thumbup:twofinger
 
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vaibhavdesai137 said:
Lots of instructors had advised me to spend some more time in C group even if I was able to do B group lap times. Reason: to get more passing experience.

Try sticking to C group for the 1st half and then move to B :)

Have fun.

EDIT: If you do decide to ride in C, be nice to those in C even if you are faster than them :thumbup:twofinger
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:teeth Listen to this guy! :thumbup
 
had a blast at my first track day at Sears Point, which was my very first track day. I was also tired as a puppy and slept like a cat by 7pm :laughing
 
Sounds like you are on your way. Good call on tHill

Enjoy.
 
Let us(me) know when you are thinking about going, I am new around here and would like to go with someone that might be able to take my bike and I. I sold my truck before moving here last week. I have done many track weekends in the past 10 years at Jennings, PBIR in Florida. Jennings is a 2 mile technical Moto only track, PBIR well, it is fast and great curves...just all are flat.
 
afm199 said:
Hah. I seem to remember telling Abhijit ( remember him?) to stop beating up the literbikes with his 250 at Sears Point in the B group.
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Abhijit was right behind me when I crashed. And was nice enough to not run over me :) He came back on the track after a year and is already doing 2:17 on his 250 :wow
 
If you can make one of the THill 5 Mile days do that. There aren't too many unfortunately. THill is still one of the lowest consequence tracks we have access to. Plenty of run off and very few rigid barriers.
 
Pjones said:
If you can make one of the THill 5 Mile days do that. There aren't too many unfortunately. THill is still one of the lowest consequence tracks we have access to. Plenty of run off and very few rigid barriers.
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August 22nd, Z2 Track Days will be running a new version of the full 5 mile track.
 
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