Wow. That pretty much sums up 25hrs of Thunderhill today. My first time.

If you are into grassroots motorsports you owe it to yourself to go to the yearly 25hrs of Thunderhill. Go there and spectate, volunteer to help a team, take photos, whatever. Get yourself out there and experience it, but make sure to at least stay there a couple hours after dark as motorsports takes itself into a whole other level once the sun goes down and the headlights go on.

I was there this weekend to photograph the GOTO racing / GST Motorsports / Grassroots motorsports 199X year Impreza. The car qualified in 4th place overall (3rd in class) on Friday with a 2:00. This car was built from scratch over the last 1.5 months, and only had it's first shake down test 5 days ago at buttonwillow. 330whp and 2500lbs = fast car which will only get much much much faster once it gets fully developed. Watching and photographing the team today got me really energized about grassroots motorsports that we all love. These guys are just like you and I, totally in love with making cars go fast, they aren't factory backed or loaded with money and their passion for the sport just pours over onto everyone that comes in contact with them.

The 1st place qualifer was a 996 Porsche GT3 that was turning smoking 1:48 laps today and pretty much annihilating every car it came up upon. I wouldn't be suprised if it takes a win on sunday at 12 noon when the race is over. It was just smoking fast.

I'm a bit tired so I'll try to write more later but here are some photos from today!

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_01.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_02.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_03.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_04.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_05.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_06.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_07.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_08.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_09.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_10.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_11.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_12.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_13.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_14.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_15.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_16.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_17.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_18.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_19.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_20.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_21_5.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_22.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_23.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_24.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_25.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_26.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_27.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_28.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_29.jpg

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_30.jpg

Just awesome. Thanks for sharing!

yah thanks! awesome photos

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_14.jpg

Uhm.... Two of those dampers are not struts. Did I miss something in the build-up pictures? Or are those for another car?

-Mike

Looks like fun!

Mmmm... Grassroots goodness :)

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_19.jpg
What caused this?

Did they get another wheel bearing or what ever was needed to make the car cross the finish line?

Nice pictures btw

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_19.jpg
What caused this?
I'm gonna go with heat. :p

nice pics! :D

looks like goood fun

I'm gonna go with heat. :p

heat?? That's crazy if that is true.

Sure he didn't hit something or it was already damaged???

Matt

Heat. It melted then the exhaust flow blew the hole out.

Wow thats pretty hot, but obviously it was not the right metal for the job

Thats whats cool about endurance racing you really get to test everything to the max, and see what can and cant take the stress

Man, I wanted to go this weekend and see the race-preped L in person :( Had to work on my computer all weekend and do some x-mas shopping though... Sucks.

I really wanted to see a race-L in action!!! Its just so awesome :D

What were the final results of the race?

was it just one GT3 team there? last year there were 3?

was it just one GT3 team there? last year there were 3?

Just one GT3 this year came to own everyone. With a year of development on the "L" though, we are going to have something for them next year.

-Brian

http://www.bryanmedway.com/thelightneverforgets/albums/thunderhill_25hrs_2006/thill_2006_14.jpg

Uhm.... Two of those dampers are not struts. Did I miss something in the build-up pictures? Or are those for another car?

-Mike
Hello,

Those are DMSs for another car, not the KW struts that were on the L :P

Joel

too cool... thanks for sharing!

Man! That's one tremendously awesome GC (edit: I meant L).:)

Thanks for the pics!

I felt like I was part of the action, kind of.