San Francisco SHOdown!
The 12th Annual SHO Club Convention
July 12-15, 2002

ThunderHill Motorsports Park RULES AND TIPS
For the convention TRACK event, Wednesday July 14, 2004

And info about why we kept and expanded the "NOVICE" class.

First:  This is NOT a race!  We conduct lapping sessions and drivers training.  This means you will be given a chalk talk about driving on the ThunderHill Park track.  There will be experienced drivers available to go with inexperienced drivers to help them learn the track.  Passing is allowed in most classes but only in designated areas.  Racing and extreme close tailgating are reasons for being asked to leave the event without a refund.  This should be fun and educational.  If you want to bang fenders and prove your are the fastest person in a SHO, then there are lots of SCCA and other events you can enter to get that experience.  Please come to have fun and learn more about car control and increase your own personal skills.  This is an event that ANYONE can do with a well maintained SHO.  If you are worried about tearing up your car go in Intermediate class or new NOVICE class.

Second:  We try to put drivers in classes based on driver skill and car preparation.  The classes are designed to meet the needs of most drivers from pure novice to highly skilled and experienced drivers with well prepared and modified cars.

Third:  There is NO way we can guarantee that you won't ever be held up by a car in front of you.  We expect classes of about 15 -20 cars maximum on  the track at the same time.  This is about 1/2 what you would have at a typical open lapping day at most tracks.  Thus there should be room for everyone to have fun.  BUT, no matter how we try, there will be cars of different speed/skill within the same class.  Thus you WILL at some point have a car in front that is going to slow you up.  NOTE that passing is allowed in most classes WHEN the driver in front of you points you around.  Why the point?  So that both you and the driver you are passing know what is happening.  You must wait for the point before passing.  On the other side, if you are holding up someone, let them around.  If you are in a group and just feel like you can't wait to pass everyone, then the solution is to pull into the pits, reduce speed to the pit limit or less, and then go to the pit-out point and wait for the person at that point to let you back out in traffic.  These people will naturally try to put you back out on the track in a gap in traffic, where you can run at your top skill level till you catch up.  You might lose a 1/2 a lap that way but you might get one or two full laps before catching up to the pack.  Relax, nobody will WIN and we want everyone to have a fun and safe experience.

CLASSES

NOTE: After you register and before the event, we will mail you a form to fill out with full rules for this event.  At this point we need to know your previous SHO Convention track experience, and any other driver training or race experience you have.  You will also be asked to list major modifications to your car and the tires you will be running at the track (brand, speed rating, traction rating, size and tread depth).

Advanced

This class is for experienced drivers.  Those that have done more than one previous convention event, or have a professional license, or those that have taken other track events.  This class is also where we usually put highly modified SHO's.  This can mean a mostly stock SHO with racing tires and suspension mods, but mostly, those SHO's that have major motor AND suspension modifications for track use.  We try to put everyone in this class that requests it, but we reserve the right to move any driver/car to any class.  Passing will be allowed on the main straights only.

Intermediate

This is the class for those with some experience, and possibly some modifications.  Again, we will try to put drivers in this class based on your forms returned to us, and based on your requests.  We may split this class into two groups of mostly equal skill, or we may make two classes of slightly different skill based on those that register.  Again, we reserve the right to move drivers/cars to a different class at any time.  Passing will be allowed on the two main straights on the track only.

Novice/Touring

This class was VERY successful last year, and many of the drivers from that class may advance to Intermediate this year.  We added this class at the request of those that did not feel confident in going all-out till they got a chance to learn the track, or those that prefer to just "tour".  This class should be for for pure novice drivers in stock or mostly stock cars.  There will be a pace car for at least the first session.  Passing will not be allowed in the morning, but may be allowed in the afternoon, based on how the class feels.  We will talk to the entire class before AND after each session to get an idea of how the group feels.  Speeds will be increased and passing allowed as the group votes. . There will be a minimum gap set between cars so close following will NOT be looked upon kindly.

Everyone that was in this class in 2003 had a great deal of fun by being allowed to get used to the track experience without pressure.  We encourage those that have not done track events in the past to consider this class. 

A basic rule of track events is that you can NOT get better and faster unless you are allowed to raise your own personal level of comfort without fear of getting run over, or worrying about ruining the experience of others that are faster.  The Novice/Touring class will emphasize making laps and the group getting faster as a GROUP.  Speeds will be fast enough that people will get a true track experience, but in a more comfortable setting.  Again, we reserve the right to move drivers up a group or two if needed.

TECH INSPECTION

 All cars must pass a minimal safety tech.  We may check torque on lug nuts.  Any cars missing lug nuts will be disqualified till the problem is fixed, and then you must re-tech.  We Recommend a minimum torque spec of 100 ft lbs for aluminum wheels.  125 ft lbs for steel wheels.  It is a good idea to bring a torque wrench with you.  It is also a good idea to re-check your lug nuts after each run.

Make sure your brakes are in good shape and that they don't pull to one side.  Make sure your battery is held down securely with the factory bracket or something equal.  Bungee cords won't do it.  Make sure your car isn't leaking anything very serious.  All older SHO's will have some oil leaks, but they should not be running in a stream or VERY fast drip, or you may not be allowed to run.  Same with coolant leaks.  If you leave drips in the pit lane, you may not be allowed to go on the track again or until the problem is fixed.  Cars that fail to pass inspection, or that are disqualified for leaks do NOT earn a refund if you don't get to run again that day.

TRACK RULES

You will get a mailing on this, but here are the basics for now:

Helmet: Driver and passengers MUST wear an approved safety helmet at all times when on the track, properly secured.  Snell 95 stickers are the minimum.  IF you have a question about this, use the link at the bottom of the page to send your questions.

Clothing:  Long cotton pants and cotton long-sleeve shirts are required for all drivers/passengers.  Jeans and a cotton shirt are OK.  Shorts and short sleeve shirts will get you disqualified till you get the proper clothing on.

Seat Belts:  Factory three-point safety belts are adequate for this event.  If you use an aftermarket safety belt system, make sure it is new enough and properly installed to pass an SCCA style safety inspection for both date AND how it is secured to the car.  A typical Autocross add-on belt may be more dangerous than the stock belt, so be prepared to have those type of installations questioned.

Tires:  Typical top speeds at Thunderhill can approach 120 mph for mostly stock SHO's.  Modified SHO's may see more.  You must run appropriate speed rated tires.  Usually we require H speed rating or higher (H is 130 mph).  If you are running a highly modified SHO, we may require V ratings.  Tread must be legal depth of 2/32 inch or more at any point on the tread for street tires.  Racing tires must meet minimum dept requirements at the check holes.  Any tire showing bald spots or cord will of course be refused tech or entry to the track.  No bulges in the sidewalls or cracks or tears.  Tires with patches or plugs on the sidewalls will be eliminated.

We recommend that you run at least 42 psi at all four tires if running street tires.  Bring a tire gauge to the track with you.  There WILL be air available at the track

Fuel:  Plan on filling up right before you get to the track.  We will be driving about 100 miles to the track, but there will be fuel available in several towns before we arrive.  You can go through almost an entire tank in a track day.  Plan on it being hot, and run premium fuel to prevent dangerous spark knock.

Brakes:  This is about the most critical part of your car during a track day.  Make sure you have a new set of good pads in the front and at least 1/2 pads in the back.  We highly recommend OEM Ford brake pads for their ability to stop well, last a decent time and not fade under most circumstances.  Quite a few low price parts store pads just will NOT survive a track day.  Carbon metallic pads are usually a good choice, but not all of them are equal.  If in doubt check with someone that has experience well BEFORE the convention event and get your brakes in top shape.

Brake fluid should be flushed and filled right before coming to the event.  Old brake fluid can have moisture in it that can boil and cause brake fade/failure!  OEM Ford brake fluid is just fine for most street cars without major modifications.  You may need better fluid with a higher boiling point if you have modifications and are a good driver.  

IF your brakes pulse or vibrate, you probably have a warped brake disk.  If in doubt, put new disks on all around or at least in the front, and check the back disks/pads closely.  A way to check for rear disk warp is to find a safe wide open place, like a deserted parking lot, and at maybe 20-25 mph slowly apply the rear parking brake with the car in neutral.  BE sure to have your hand on the parking brake release at the same time (if only Ford had put a proper HAND brake in our SHO's!) so you can release it if necessary.  If you feel a pulsing, then you have a warped rear disk.  Rear brakes can also easily hang up.  Make sure your emergency brake fully releases each time, and NEVER go on track if you have a dragging brake.  They can catch fire!

Also, when leaving the track after a session, NEVER apply your parking brake.  The super hot disks could catch fire or warp if you do.  After a track session, use the "cool down" lap for just that, it is NOT a chance to get a few more hot turns in, you MUST slow down and make that last lap at speeds slow enough that you don't have to apply the brakes, much, if at all.  Once off the track, continue to drive slowly to your pit space and if you can still smell the brakes, then drive around the pits SLOWLY till they cool down.  As soon as you exit your car, walk around it looking for brake smoke (a smell is OK, but smoke is not) or leaks, low tires etc.

Track Rules:  Follow posted speed limits (or go slower) at ALL TIMES while on the ThunderHill Park property, this includes the entry road.  No speeding, or burnouts will be tolerated.  No bicycles or mopeds/ATV's allowed in the pits.  No walking across the track at any time.  No alcohol.  Save it for the hotel afterwards.  Be a good guest.  Clean up your area of the pits before you leave.  Even pick up any trash that others might have left.  IF the track is in a mess, the convention will be charged extra, so lets leave it cleaner than we found it!  The decision of the track or event or safety officials is final.  You will be evicted from the property for improper or unsafe behavior, and you will NOT get a refund!

NOTE: we had a car two years ago with emergency strobe lights installed.  These are NOT allowed to be on, when on the track!  You may run with your low beams or fog/driving lights on if you wish, but do NOT flash your high beams to pass, or turn on your emergency flashers.  If your car has a problem, pull as far off the track as possible, NEVER stop on the track itself if at all possible.  Corner workers will wave you to a safe spot if you have a problem but can still move.  Drive to a corner worker station if smoking or on fire.  If you think  you are leaking something, SLOW DOWN to avoid a spin in your own fluids and get OFF THE TRACK if at all possible.  Any time spent cleaning up your leaks will cut into everyone's track time.   Learn and follow the corner workers directions and flags.  Visit the ThunderHill Park site (Link also on main convention page) to learn more.

This page is not meant to give you all the answers, so contact us if you have other questions.

Have a safe and fun time at the event this year.