It was strange running Thunderhill backwards for NorCal's May 3-4 race.  It was a new track for most people and there were more vehicle carnage in all the run groups than I ever remember.  Our morning warm-up session started on a strange note as the opening lap yellow turned into a full course black as some cars trying to find the track got confused on Turn 5 and went up on the Cyclone and some cars took the Bypass. It was a good thing there were no car to car contact when the track joined up again.

Later in a HPDE or TT session a car hit the lower Turn 5 corner worker station. There were injuries as the track was closed for a couple of hours as med evac helicopters came in. 

Thunderhill backwards (clockwise) has some unusual challenges.  Turn 10 is now a right hander and tracking out and going off is not a good option because of the hill upslope on the left.  What use to be a pedal to the metal uphill climb from Turn 6 to Turn 9 is now a very fast downhill  in the opposite direction.  Turn 5 is a real steep uphill and blind, all you see is sky till you crest.  Turn 1 is a fast downhill right hander with the pit wall in fairly close proximity.  Warning was given to treat the white line for normal entry onto the track as a virtual wall.  If you cross that line you will be black flagged and brought in or if in a race you will lose a lap.

During qualifying a miata clipped me on the right rear corner of my car  as I was at mid apex at the Turn 7 right hander, spun the rear of my car out and the secondary contact from his car hit my right front wheel well and broke my front Koni strut.  I didn't realize at the time there was damage on the right front because all I felt was the rear hit.  I stayed off track waiting for the emergency crew because I didn't know if my car was leaking fluids and didn't want to oil the track.  When the tow truck came, I ask the operator if my car was leaking and if not I could drive it back to the pits.  He said no you're not and proceeded to attach his tow hook onto my cars front tow strap and ask me to get out and sit inside the tow vehicle.   He said take a look out at the right mirror and that's when I realize the right front of my car was hit.

When we return back to the paddock, our 944-SPEC crew was waiting to accessed the damage.  The rear hit pushed the rear quarter in but it did not appear to reach the frame.  Taking off the right front wheel the Koni shock/strut assembly was broken, the front sway bar clamp was bent but overall the car could be repaired and ready for the afternoon race IF I had the spare parts with me.  Another thing to add to the spare parts list!

The driver of the miata came by and said "his closing speed was too great".  What???  You ran into me and hit my car from the back because your closing speed was too great?

He did drop by again Sunday after he had a chance to think about it some more and apologized.  He offered his spare car (He has a garage space at Thunderhill) for me to to race in.  I declined  but did appreciate the offer.