TireSmoke.org

They posted on their FB page that they would be open for their first Wednesday on June 8th! I'm definitely going to go. I'll probably just take the Mustang. I cant wait to see all the changes.

-Dave

Is this their first event? Expect a lot of cars. Might also be some learning curve unless they have the old staff to run it .

They do have the old staff, I think. Some, at least. I'm expecting there to be a TON of cars. Kind of a Grand Re-Opening is what I'm thinking.

-Dave

Made it out to Thompson for the season opener. They've really made some big changes. 17 staging lanes!! They are far from done out there, too. The return road feels like an interstate. WIDE and straight. Actually, the exit from the track onto the return road feels a lot like the keyhole exit at MidOhio.

I took the 5.0 out tonight and it ran great. First pass was a 12.95 @ 110 and it got quicker with each pass. I managed to get 3 time runs in, 12.95, 12.77 and 12.71. I dialed in a 12.75 for the first round and got a fantastic launch, 1.89 60-ft, a full tenth better than previous pass. I caught the other guy (pickup, dialed 14.4x i think) right around the traps and STOOD on the brakes, knocking off 21mph. 12.74 @ 89 MPH. Broke out. Im guessing that could've been a 12.50 pass. The rain drops started falling very shortly after that and it was probably called another 15 minutes later.

-Dave

It was cool to be back there and see all the changes they've already made, and plenty more to come. Being able to race while they upgrade is really smart too. I got three passes in the Ranger last night. My first pass was probably my best, but I didn't get a time as the timing system only got the first couple seconds of the run. I tatood this 10 sec Mustang on the tree and was almost ahead of him at the 8th, but then he blew by me as expected. So then my 2nd time run netted me a 14.29 at 96.92mph. This it .15 quicker and .3mph faster than my best before I did the exhaust and intake work. I'll take it! Plus an almost 2mpg increase in fuel economy.
My 3rd time run somehow ended up against Dad in the Canyon. Technically he won since I redlit. I was pushing hard into the boost and went real deep into the beams, then spun a little to a 14.37.
I got into a six vehicle truck class, but we never got a chance to make a pass due to the rain. By the luck of the draw, I still got a runner up trophy when they pulled my card. Not the ideal way to win a trophy, but I'm glad to be out there for sure.

-BP

It's great to get some news from Kuhnnle?? Kunnle, Kunelli, what? (I can't even pronounce it) Motorsports Park. It will always be Thompson to me.

Haha, nobody can pronounce it. Basically it's coon-lee.

-BP

It was Thompson Raceway Park (TRP), now it's Kuhnle Motorsport Park (KMP). KMP works for me!
I echo 'Smoke's and BP's comments on the huge improvements. The finish product will be amazing.
There were a lot of cars and I arrived late and was still able to make two passes.
Time trials went very smoothly.
My first pass had a -.0125 red, 2.2670 60' 15.0351 @ 92.36 mph,
the 2nd pass had a .3652 green 2.2751 60' 15.0350 @ 92.49 mph.
Since I was up against BP, I didn't want a red, but I over did it.

There were only 6 trucks in our class, with a better light, the Canyon was consistent,
I could envision BP and I in the final. Rain changed that, fun to hear he got the runner-up trophy.

As it had always been at TRP, KMP continues to be Great Fun!

Let's not forget it was originally Thompson Drag Raceway!

Yep!

Fred, what car did you earn that trophy with? What was your winning et?

A 1958 Impala convertible. It had a 283 with duel exhaust and a 4 bbl.