2024 update: Thunderhill has always been awesome but they've added some amenities since I first reviewed it. The track is still pristine. It's well kept with lots of run-off, plenty of turn workers, and clear markings. It's the track I feel safest on. The facilities are good for camping. There are showers and clean bathrooms and outhouses everywhere. There's a drinking water dispenser in the admin building. There are now three large shade structures on the East track so you set up your stuff out of the sun. They've added more power hooks-ups among the RV spots. They are only a couple power hookups under the shade structures though. The gate person keeps the gate to the park open until late at night so if you choose not to camp, you can at least drop your stuff off the night before. They have a decent menu at the Thunderhill Grill now and they now accept credit cards. You can still get ice there for $4 a bag. There's also a gas station and a used fluid disposal station. The gift shop carries useful things like shop towels and brake pads. My short wishlist: better temperature control and water pressure in the showers, regular outlets under the shade structures, a bigger/better drinking water dispenser. read more

Thunderhill Raceway Park - tryna go fast on turn 14 - Race Tracks Near Me - Willows, California

Did my first track day at Thunderhill West doing the reverse (clockwise) orientation with SpeedSF. The temperature of the day was expected to reach as high as 110F. Luckily, there are two sections of covered areas for parking your car so I stayed relatively cool. It was definitely fantastic to get there early and feel the sort of cool breeze at 75F before temperatures escalated. This is a tight track so you don't go super fast. I spent a lot of the laps trying to focus on braking properly before turn in as my car loves to under steer. On the main straight I got up to 88 mph, but didn't time travel LOL. Overall, I had a lot of fun and wasn't ever worried I was going to hit a wall. It's a forgiving track. Food from the Thunderhill Grill truck was actually surprisingly good. The fries come out extremely hot and the burger was not dry at all. Bathrooms are really clean as well. The men's sink was a little funky though because the water pressure is too high but on a hot day that's not too big of an issue. Be sure to bring lots of water though especially if you like ice cold water. The water bottle refill station (more like one loosely tightened spout) doesn't produce cold water. There are vending machines, however that probably have cold water. read more

Thunderhill Raceway Park - Race Tracks Near Me - Willows, California

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Love this track! This is a GREAT track for the novice! There is plenty of room so that if you do make a mistake you end up in dirt. I liked the location but opted to stay in a nearby hotel due to the distance from home. Nice country! Great staff. We also participated in the club dinner event and that was delicious. Buffet style and they made sure the trays stayed full. They served a fish and beef option as well as salad, rice and dessert. It was a fun new adventure! read more

Race track just under 3 hours north of San Fracisco. 3 mile & 2 mile or combined 5 mile track plus skid pads for drifting. All good fun. This weekend. Was off track 3 times in to total. Usually carrying too much speed in to a turn. Flat or off camber. Couch had me work on the line for smoothness rather than speed. I also stayed in 4th gear the last 2 sessions (less power down low to get going again so I had to maintain momentum) Best time Sunday was 3 seconds slower than Sat but much less drama. read more

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Thunderhill Raceway Park is located outside of Willows, California in the north-central part of the state. It may be a long drive to get there, in which case you can leave early or stay at one of the many hotels n Willows. Note that the California Highway Patrol has a sizable presence in Willows focusing on the safety and well-being of motorists and citizens in the area. There are also stores and quite a few dining options in Willows. The raceway itself, despite its somewhat remote location, has quite a lot to offer including a gas station, burger stand, meeting facilities, pro shop (with helmets, gloves, snacks, drinks, and souvenirs), parking and covered parking, repair facilities, storage, skid-pads, and more. The track is clean, well-designed, well-maintained and can be configured as a 2-mile, 3-mile or 5-mile course. The track and facilities can be rented, or you can sign-up with one of the track-day outfits to enjoy a day of performance driving. I've been coming here for years and really enjoy the track. It's a challenging mix of technical combinations of corners, as well as nice straight sections and elevation changes. The team here is consistently friendly and helpful and add to the fun of visiting this top-notch track. The place is very well run. Make sure to check your tires and brakes before coming to Thunderhill because they will get a lot of work negotiating this track, especially in the heat (which is typical in the Central Valley. Please be sure to bring a cooler with bottled water and stay hydrated!!! read more

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For a Californian track, Thunderhill is a prime example of the terrain we have. Elevation changes that are butt-puckering produce challenges that make the sport even better. Thunderhill is wide for cars and excellent for motorcycles. With a front straight that gives drivers and riders the chance to top out their straight line speeds, and into sweeping turns that really test suspension and skill sets. The east loop is the most popular, and the additional west look makes this race track one of the longest in the nation. The facilities are very well maintained. From the meeting areas to a designated playground for the children, they really try to cater to everyone. The cafe located just in front of an outdoor seating area is nice and delivers a simple affair. Private garages are reserved for the many race teams that use them year-round and make the option of rentals difficult. There is an area that is equipped with a permanent canopy that may accommodate maybe 10 groups, but this is a first come first serve. Off-shore power hookups are available on a limited base just adjacent to the canopy area in addition. If you're bringing an RV it would be advisable to arrive a day prior to your track day. Restrooms are located centrally with a couple of single-occupant showers for male and female designation. There is another building with showers and restrooms on the other side of the pit area, but they are designated for rental use and therefore locked. My only complaint about these facilities is how limited the restrooms and showers can be if you're attending a trackday even that is crowded. Basically, you have one shower for all the men and a restroom that has two stalls and three urinals. read more

Quite a ways away...had to leave in the early morning for a track event hosted by OnGrid back in March (2020). Note: I was not the driver! but was able to ride passenger and check out the entire lot. As someone new to the track scene, and not completely participating, my experience might be different from those who do this as a hobby. I would say the track is well-maintained. We spent our time on the west side, and I got to feel what it was like to go around a few laps. The G-force is not a joke! They have a burger truck on-site that was surprisingly delicious. I spent majority of my time spectating, so if you plan to tag along as a guest/supporter, I encourage bringing a portable chair, snacks, a blanket (it can get chilly in the mornings), and something to do to pass the time. The event we attended had drivers line up by tier, so there is plenty of down time. Your furry friends are welcome, too. And there are bathrooms close by. read more

Thunderhill Raceway Park - Race Tracks Near Me - Willows, California

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Go East. East is the longer 3 mile circuit that is more fun to drive. West is a smaller circuit that is more like a tight mountain road. Good for drifting but not really fast. Sometimes, they connect both circuit into a five mile one. The facilities are nice, the burger place is decent, the fuel pump works as it should. There is also a tire shop on-site, and an Auto-X pad and a skid-pad. read more

Thunderhill Raceway Park - Just in front of Thunderhill East main building. - Race Tracks Near Me - Willows, California

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My favorite racetrack in the bay area! (Yes, I like it here more than Laguna Seca and Sonoma) I started my track day journey here at the East 3-mile track in Oct 2020 with Hooked on Driving Novice group. Every time I came here with different clubs, I met new friends and enjoyed more seat time. I was celebrating my 10th track day here a week ago back at East 3-mile w/ Cyclone. The track looked beautiful this season! I love all configurations, 2-mile CCW/CW, 3-mile cyclone/bypass, and 5-mile. Thanks all workers who work diligently at the flag stations. We'll come back soon! read more

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Cool place they have a lot of tracks cool cars all around the place. They have a place where they sell food portapotty are clean. Or at least when I went . read more

Great track, I have only been on the small on however it was a blast. I like that they had shade in the pits too. read more

Thunderhill Raceway Park - Thunderhill - Race Tracks Near Me - Willows, California

Thunderhill Raceway is my favorite "Local Track" of the three in our area (Sonoma Raceway and Laguna Seca filling out the trifecta). It's a perfect combination of safe beginner and advanced driving circuit all rolled into one. For newbies there is ample run off space, limited walls and easy to see flag stations; typically the only thing that will be seriously damaged in an "Oh Shit" moment is your pride. For advanced drivers the track provides endless nuance, fast and slow sections, off-camber & blind turns, varying configurations like Turn 5 Cyclone or Bypass and now the new 2 mile track. Facilities are well maintained including a Cafe, Club House, Pro Shop and Fuel Station with high octane options. There are independent shops on-site as well including an Aim Tire shop. Paddock parking includes two large covered areas and garages for rent. There is also a Skid Pad for rent on-site. Did I mention fast/free wifi that covers the entire paddock?! Two thumbs up to the track workers; especially the Corner Workers...much Love to you Guys and Gals! Spectator events have also discovered our humble Thunderhill with big ones including 25 Hours of Thunderhill and Lemons plus many SCCA events. If you are considering getting into tracking your car at HPDE events, Thunderhill Raceway is an awesome place! Cheers! read more

Thunderhill Raceway Park - Turn 10 - Race Tracks Near Me - Willows, California

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One of my most favorite places in the world. Been driving here since 1997 when it was a 1.5 mile loop. Now its an absolute world class motorsports park. Awesome memories! read more

Thunderhill Raceway Park - 1967.5 Datsun 2000 Roadster. Photo taken in 1998. - Race Tracks Near Me - Willows, California

This is a great track, there are some slow technical corners, some very fast sweepers and two long straights. There are plenty of "run off" space so a driving error does not necessary mean a visit to the body shop. The paddock area is well maintained and the restroom are clean. They have free wifi, air-conditioned meeting rooms, on-site grill and a pro shop. They also sell racing gas (100 octane)! read more

For a racetrack, this place ain't too shabby! Skid pad, motorcycle and car racetrack and can be used as an event center! The very first time I came out to this track was for an event called "Mini Thunder". I tore up the track with a bunch of friends in our mini coopers and had s good old time. I've since come out with my other cars for track days and had fun! They have a large staging area to prepare your cars which is partially shaded. Additionally, in the main office area they have rooms you can use to teach and talk about the track and safety amongst other things. They also have food here which is fair. The track itself is very well maintained and has recently gone over having an expansion which is beautifully paved. The top of the hill can be scary with a blind turn, but once you learn the track, you can really enjoy all it has to offer. I have also been here recently for "the lights" event which was held at the southwest part of the track. It was set up very well and accommodated all the people beautifully. Overall: as a track or a place to hold events, Thunderhill is a pretty cool hub for it all. Bring a helmet and hit the pavement! read more

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Fun, and probably the safest track(s) I've seen. 3mile East track is the most popular but the 2mile West track is super fun and technical. When combined into a 5 mile course...magic. The only downside to the 5 mile track is that in a 20-25 min. session, it can be a challenge to learn. Autox pad is smooth and sticky asphalt especially when temps are in the mid 80's. They also have a rallycross area and the chef is capable of some amazing lunches if asked to do so. read more

Thunderhill Raceway Park - Race Tracks Near Me - Willows, California

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SRT EXPERIENCE if you purchased a brand new or used SRT model you possibly have a free pass for the SRT Experience, regular cost for this event is about $700 per person even if you are just a passenger. I was impressed by the expertise of the gentlemen and ladies on the track that day, full day event begins promptly at 8:30am and ends at 4'ish. The day consist of auto cross, time trail, head to head, and hot laps lunch and breakfast is included as well as a trophy for 1st, 2nd and 3rd competitors for best times in the time trials, depending on the amount of people groups are divided into two pairs. you are also partnered up with one other person during the auto cross portion of the day. You do not use your own car for this event, they provide you with several cars that you get to choose from all in the SRT family. For the Auto Cross session you had the option to try 4 different cars, all lined up in sets of 3's 1st for the instructor, 2nd & 3rd for students. Cars you get to choose from are 2015 Challengers SRT8, 2015 Chargers SRT8, 2015 Chrysler 300 SRT8, 2015 Jeep Cherokee SRT Let me break down how our day was set up: First session: Auto Cross, Charger SRT8 2 laps, 1st lap more or less a feel for the course, 2nd lap slightly sped up, you are instructed to keep 3 car distance during this session, I did notice if you were falling behind the lead car would slow down accordingly, if you were able to keep up with the lead car, and keep a constant 1 car distance the lead car would speed up accordingly Second session: Auto Cross, Chrysler 300 SRT8 2laps, same process get feel for car, noticed that the Chrysler 300 SRT8 was a tad more rigid drive then the Charger, in all still very good handling, hitting that gas during a turn it gets squirly more so in this car I noticed then the Charger haha Third Session time trial Challenger SRT8, coned off session, more a test of handling, stay in the lines, don't hit cones, per cone hit -2sec end point you must remain in the box until the car comes to a complete stop, if you stop past the box -5 sec per axle over the line, time to beat was 32.5 seconds with no penalities, keep the car in 1st gear no need to shift in this course! Fourth Session time trail Grand Jeep Cherokee SRT8 the handling on this car is amazing, all wheel drive, I believe it is the only all wheel drive vehicle on their line up, you are higher off the ground with this vehicle, looks and feels a bit difficult to handle, once you step on that gas completely different story, this midsized SUV can handle and hug the course mind you your doing this in 1st gear only! Fifth Session: Auto Cross, Grand Jeep Cherokee SRT8, Going at the speeds on this track I am surprised none of us spun out, mind you it was raining, going in and out of turns at 60-80mph was fun, all wheel drive traction makes a big difference, of all the cars out on the track this was surprisingly my favorite, mid sized SUV literally hugs those corners, on some parts you feel the car will lean bit more due to weight but surprisingly the SUV sticks to those corners and hauls ass out, you can literally hear this SUV roaring for more gas when you straighten out your wheels hahahaha, mind you this was in the rain!! Sixth Session: Auto Cross, Charger SRT8, unleashing the gas this time around, car gets squirly on turns if you gas during the turn, you can feel the car edging out if you punch that gas, note to self feather the gas in the turn when wheels are all straight you should then punch it hahha, but so addicting punching it 1/4 way in the turn just to feel the car edge out a bit, traction control will not help you if you are gassing in the turn hahhaha Seventh Session: Auto Cross, Challenger SRT8 oddly the lead car seemed to be taking his time during this session, could be that it was raining buckets but myself and the partner I had behind me were about car lengths during this session Eighth Session: no recorded- technical difficulties on this video for me haha Ninth Session: Hot lap, Charger SRT8 head to head challenge, same model car, basically a labyrinth of twist and turns, same rules apply do not hit the cones, -2 seconds per cone, come to a full complete stop in the box, if you do not stop -5sec continue to the second portion of the race and complete the course again hitting no cones, and stopping in your box Tenth Session: Hot Lap, Challenger SRT8 let the back end whip; DO IT!! hahaha Eleventh Session: Hot Lap, Challenger SRT8 "if your not first your last" Twelveth Session: Hot Lap, Challenger SRT8 I hate cones... hahhahaha Thirteenth Session: Auto Cross, you sit in passenger seat as one of their professional drivers takes you on a ride showing you what the car or SUV can do on the track, even in the rain all these cars/SUV have handling and they show you just how fast they can go in the rain read more

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Burning rubber, burning up 100 octane gasoline, burning up in general in the heat of the October sun, what could be better? Thunderhill has definitely become my favorite track after having been to Laguna Seca and seen some Infineon races. The wide open-ness is perfect for newbies to practice and take their skills to the edge without worrying about smashing into a wall and coming home in pieces. NASA is a great organization that runs many times a year on Thunderhill. Another benefit of Thunderhill is that you can sometimes do it BACKWARDS! I actually did it backwards and found it to be challenging and extremely fun! I am definitely anticipating going back this year. read more

Thunderhill is a fantastic track for many reasons... Great beginner track as well as challenging to experienced racers. Thunderhill was one of the first tracks I drove and I think this was a benefit to me. Since the track is so wide and has so much flat runoff room, that transpires into confidence, which is something ALL newbies need when trying to control their vehicle at 100+ m.p.h.!!! Now that I have more experience, I can push my kart to the limits now, all while still trying to knock off another second or two. Track surface - They just redid the surface of the whole 3 mile track and I must admit, they did a hell of a job. The new asphalt is as smooth as a babies butt! Not only this, but they also added even more run off room. I raced there about a month after they completed the new overlay and it was eating up my tires more than normal. Some people have said the track is slick, but I found it to be the opposite with the new surface. I was battling too much grip... They also offer race fuel, both leaded and unleaded as well as food, ranging from breakfast to lunch. On the downside, the track is WAY up Highway 5. It's off 162 about 3 hours north of where I live, so getting there is not very fun, especially when our registration opens at 7-8am. This means, we have to drive up the night before and stay at Motel 6 for the night. Not that this is really a bad thing, it just adds another expense that I don't really need. Also, it gets hotter than hell at Thunderhill! Decked out in a racing suite, rib vest and helmet in 100+ degree weather really takes it's toll on you. be sure to bring lots of water, a pop up form of shade and plenty of sunscreen. Aside from that, Thunderhill is a great facility with a very fun, fast track. read more

Best track in California? Hell yeah! This was made for racing. And the town is made for racing. Gas Stations, Hotels, Restaurant(s... LOL). Thill has it all for beginners, drifters, autoxers, track day goers, and semi-pro amateur racing drivers, and the occasional professional driver. With the addition of the West track, dirt track, and skid pad, there are so many options, variations, and fun to be had. See you at the track! read more

Don't touch the perimeter fencing wire, they are electrified!!! Asked me how I know?! ...Short version, greedy with the throttle into turn 8 on an old front tire...Dirt-tracked all the way to turn 9's perimeter fence...Option 1, run into the fencing wires and risk loosing life and/or limbs, option 2, abandon the fast moving bike and leap over the fast approaching fencing wires, option 3, slow down as much as possible to the fence and lay it down...Let just say one of these options worked out in the end with minimal damage to rider and equipment. This was one of the fastest off-road excursions I had but with far less damage and pain. The last time I crashed at 130mph was when I caught a false neutral going into Spring Mountain Motorsport Ranch's notoriously fast turn 8. I was told when I finally came to a stop, I was out there in the middle of the desert BFE, under a mushroom cloud of dust and on top of a large rock. Thanks God for the back protector!!! Kids, don't leave home without it! Given the circumstance, I came away appreciating how safe Thunderhill really is! It's time for a new Dunlop front and some time with Mr. Moss of Catalyst to make the bike holds its line better under acceleration. (Oh, I take that back, I was way too greedy with the throttle.) =) read more

Well run; clean; showers + bathrooms. Safety first concern. Dangerous place; an see trauma helicopters coming/leaving depending on accidents. Motocross events have high injury rate. Fatalities exist. read more

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This is my first time at a race track and i have to say... This is a very unorganized facility with ghetto drivers.Unfortunately, I came on a super stormy rainy day. Rain or shine... They're still open for the event. This made the event more dangerous. I was hoping that they would set the rules a little stricter, but they didn't. Stupid wannabe cool drivers disobeyed the rules and almost caused multiple accidents. Did they get banned from the event that day? No. Instead, the host just laughed it off and Gave them loads of warnings. How many warnings do you need until someone gets send to the hospital? Anyway... Other than the stupid unauthorized rules, the track was nice and fun! Some difficult optical turns and some straight areas.Everyone knows turn 5 is scary, so they're all careful there. People forget that 11 and 12 will kick your butt too! About 6-8 guys launched themselves into orbit wicking on the throttle too fast on those corners! *ahem* GTR....yes you. Overall it is a pretty fun track. There were 4 groups. Beginners, Advanced, Intermediate, and Drifters. We went into the Beginners and I had a blast. Although there were 31 cars in that group, it was still fun. read more

Best track ever! Hubby rides with a track company here called Carters@thetrack! One big family! The facility is always clean, very kid friendly! We love the staff here! Gate keepers are great guys! Nancy at the pro shop is the sweetest ever! Stacey at the grill is amazing and super sweet as well! read more

Great place to go and watch some action. From motorcycles to cars. The food here is awesome. They have a snack bar that serves breakfast and lunch great choices on the menu for both. They also do catering on and off location. read more

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T-Hill - hot as hell, fast and fun. Don't come if you have a fear of turning left! I feel like Thunderhill and I go way back. I've been doing trackdays here since - well, since I had a Honda F3. Many things have changed since then - most for the better. Back in the day, they only had a big, ugly green tent for sitting under. Now they have an air conditioned building with a cool observation area. Way back when, port-a-shitters was the only bathroom facility, now they have big spacious bathrooms along with indoor showers. They even have cool new garages along with a metal canopied central pit area for those lacking an eazy-up tent (get there early cuz it fills up fast). The track itself is great for newer riders. There's plenty of space to run off if you blow a turn (excluding the back straight before turn 14 of course). This track is mostly left handers, so you can get a bit rusty on your right hand skills if you spend too much time here. It's not TOO far from the city - but far enough. Major complaints: Hot Hot Hot and occasionally WINDY Make sure you drink plenty of fluid here in the heat of the summer, you will roast like a thanksgiving turkey under your leathers and gear. Also, be sure to tie down your eazy-up with some good sturdy crap, or it will blow away in the afternoon when the wind picks up. Finally, watch out for suicidal wild turkeys. See you at the track! read more

I visited the West side of the track for our Reno Region's SCCA event and had a great time! The West is technical and not as fast as the east but still a blast to drive on. The instruction was very professional and the event staff were awesome! The track is very smooth since it is nearly new (I think the west was finished last year) and the facilities were well kept. They also had a few RV power hookups if you stay overnight. At the end of the paddock there were some garages that said they were for rent, no prices were posted but that would be great in the middle of summer so you could have some shade. There aren't any carport type shade structures on the west course like there are on the east. A nice option, although expensive, is that there is fuel available at the track if you are in need. They also offer 100 octane racing fuel. The track is very convenient to access from Willows, which has your standard amenities of fast food, motels, gas stations, a couple decent restaurants, auto parts stores that close early and a "WM" store I'd rather not mention. Come here, have a great time and leave with a huge smile on your face just like I did!! read more

I love this track!!!! I did a motorcycle track weekend in August of 2012 with zoomzoom. The track is in great shape and it's really flipping fun! The facilities are good and I love them for the giant canopies - those really make a difference when it's hot out because they provide a good place to relax after your round on the track. I think my favorite turn here is #9 - or maybe #3. ({}) Cootz OUT! read more

"Two... one... Sidewaaaaaaaaaaaaays... GREEN FLAG! GO GO GO!" My second favorite among the AFM circuit, I love the track design and speediness. it's also very dangerous because of that, in addition to the +100 degree heat during race season. Luckily there's lots of runoff if you do find yourself going over the candy striped berm. Walking nearly every ped-accessible section of the raceway I scoped out what I felt to be the best vantage point (between turn 13 and 14) to take pictures of my man as he raced on a ribbon of hellishly hot asphalt. The pictures are more for techical improvement than vanity (gotbluemilk.com has a WAY better vantagepoint than I do anyway for that) and what if anything needs to be improved. I make a great armchair racer/pit manager if I do say so myself :-P! The paddock is large but maybe that's because not many people made it up to this particular race weekend. I liked the covered paddock area and the garage rates are $125 on weekends, which doesn't seem unreasonable for shade, powered outlets and closer distance to the bathrooms. This track doesn't have all the fancy schmancy amenities like Sears Point does but none of that matters anyway because you didn't drive 2 1/2 hours north to enjoy their air conditioned bathrooms, did ya? The folks who work the racetrack- from the person who signs you in to the corner workers are extra nice and compassionate. If you race here don't forget to thank them every chance you get. They may be the ones to help you out of danger's way if you end up with the shiny side down, and their job is rather lacking in gratitude. One weird side note- flag station # 15 seems completely useless. Everyone that passed the one station when there was a yellow flag waving didn't seem to notice it and kept exiting Turn 14 at race speed. it wouldn't hurt to move it down a few feet since it's not on the side of the turn that's detrimental. If a crash occured there, 98% of the time the flag station wouldn't be in the path of travel. Bring plenty of hydration and sunblock. Easy-ups, umbrellas, and hats are recommended! read more

Best managed track in all of California. From the gate staff, to the store, to the food concessions folks. Always friendly, always professional, always fun. read more

Staff here is super nice. Even from the greeters to the staffing working around the track everyone greets you with a hello and smile. Track is well maintained and bathrooms are clean. There are port o pottys near the skid pad but the walk to the cafe/command center is not that far of a walk should you want a regular toilet. Food wise it is pricey since it is convenient and it is standard fast food fare. But it is not bad if you are hungry and too lazy to drive into town. Def a great place for the car enthusiast because of the track and awesome weather. Look forward to coming back here for another drift and / or track day. read more

There's no Turn Two. Turn One is sharp swoopin craziness after a long straight, and Turn Three is an eternity, but Turn Two is a fiction that I ignore, and use my rear brake to set up for Turn Three. It takes genuine artistry to crash on Turn Two at T-Hill. Anyway, T-Hill is a great learning track, especially if you're new to track days. It's a long track, and you have almost too much time between turns to figure out what you're going to do next. That's a good thing if you're new, but a little like racing on the freeway if you have a bit more experience. But by the time you understand what the above means, you're ready for Laguna Seca or Sear Point.. So it's good to start out at T-Hill. read more

Thunderhill is a great racetrack that is challenging, safe and fun. It has a little bit of everything- drift pad, high speed and low speed turns, and great pit facilities. The crew at Thunderhill is always cheerful, and keep the place in great condition. We take for granted sometimes that in the USA we have a race scene where almost anyone can afford to race on some level. Racing is a privilege that in so many places in the world only the rich can afford. I will continue to test my race cars and race at Thunderhill even if it is a 3 hour drive to get too. I know when I show up the track staff will be professional and kind but still on guard for my safety. Great Crew- especially Turbo in the flag stand at start finish. It does get hot in the summer- take advantage of the showers and the shade. The West course is slower and shorter but better for testing slow speed handling and brakes. The original 3 mile track is great with the exception of the stupid Cyclone turn- I alway hope they are running the by pass to avoid it. The Cyclone has a tendency to make people drive off the track, then there is always dirt etc on the line exiting. ( Yes I have done this too ) read more

This place is really fun for HPDEs and such, but for the LeMons event the track hits its limitations pretty hard. Most of the staff are very nice people, and the track itself is very fun but there are some serious problems lurking here - 1 - Bathrooms were overloaded, the one portable looked like an elephant took some exlax and used it half way into the first day. 2 - Guilt trips. The guy who runs the track (I believe it's him) is always on the PA telling the guests that they need to buy things at the track for it to stay in business "another week" as though they're going under. This is bullshit according to the employees I talked to, the track is doing great. Which leads me to the most important one: 3 - Price gouging. -Tracks like Infineon/Sears and Laguna Seca are reasonable at the pump and the stands. Thunderhill charges $4.60/g for 91 octane, and almost 8 bucks for 100. -In the store they routinely charge double for average items like oil and such, and the concession stand doesn't even take credit cards. The one ATM has a high fee and shortly into the first day, broke. -The wifi is 10 bucks a day and is terrible when more than a few people are on it. After coming here a few times I'm sort of done with it. I love the track but it's a long haul to the middle of nowhere, they charge too much for everything on-site and they're sanctimonious about it to boot. read more

Love it!!! I've gone to 4 track days so far (more to come!) and love it here! It's a fast track w/ plenty of road to spread out the run group and not get in trouble if you make some mistakes. They have some good blind turns, elevation changes, and some very fast to very slow transitions. They repaved the course last year (?) so the track is supersmooth to drive on and lots of runoff space. They also have nice, clean bathrooms, large, covered paddock areas, and pretty good lunches as well as a hot snack bar. They even have a little playground if you bring your family along. I've driven this track with HOD (hooked on driving) and they've got some amaaazing coaches. I'd recommend them if it's your first time out here. I haven't been out here on a hot day yet, but that should be coming up later this year. I actually like this track more than Laguna Seca, but I had a less than stellar experience there, so it wasn't a fair comparison. Laguna is a lot more technical with very little room for error. Can't wait for my next trip up here! :D I've done both a drive up in the morning (leave at 4:30am) and drive up the evening before. Maybe I'm getting old, but I'd rather pay ~$70 and spend the night in Willows and get some extra ZZZs. It forces me to prep the car a day earlier too, which is good in case you need to fix something or buy extra parts. read more

Love it! It's a nice track, challenging enough even after coming here for many events. I ran it in the dry and wet, 5-bypass and regular, even the "wrong" way round. It never gets old. This track is also very very safe, with a lot of run-off for those "Oops" moments. Very few walls to hit, mostly you can just drive it straight off. If you are new to track driving, start here. It is a very forgiving track. The track is run as a non-profit organization, so all the "overpriced" items you buy there end up helping improve the track. Such as the recent repaving, and upcoming expansion. To respond to another reviewer criticism of the announcer asking to support the track over the PA -- usually the organization running the event (24hrs of LeMons in that case) would be on the PA with all the announcements. Same goes for facilities. If the organizers expect a certain turnout, they should rent more porta-potties and such. read more

Thunderhill Raceway Park - Race Tracks Near Me - Willows, California

First time here. Tagged along with the guys for the Z2 track days. Novices to pros are on the track. It's a really clean place. Location is practically in the middle of nowhere. Passed up a live cornfield and a dead cornfield. Also a dead sunflower field. Weird. Everyone had their areas set up. 2 large shade structures were sufficient. The track was in good shape. One rider said the track was surprisingly challenging. I suppose that's a great thing. I really had fun watching the things that go on during a track day. No one is above anyone. Makes for a fun time and great learning experience! I didn't get to visit the pro shop (they customize track suits as needed), but the bathrooms are super clean!!! read more

Thunderhill is a good track to bring your motorcycle (or car) to if you want to go fast. However, Willows is over 3.5 hours from San Jose, so it is definitely a trek to get to and from here. It's also SUPER hot, so make sure you hydrate the day before you ride here and also bring enough water/coconut water/Gatorade for the day that you ride. It's pretty boring being a spectator, but they have free Wi-Fi that's a good speed, and you can also hang out in the club house as well. At least the bathrooms are clean and they also have a grill onsite. Parking is no problem, but make sure you keep an eye out for the turnout and sign since you can overlook them easily. read more

My second favorite track. Reno Fernley is a lot more fun (and dangerous) but Thunderhill is definitely one of the best. And though the average person off the street might think the accomodations are sparse--THill is a Ritz Carlton compared to Laguna Seca. My best time in my Honda is a 1:59....shows what you can do when you come here a lot and fuel up in the morning at the Black Bear. read more

First time at this track, second LeMons event. This was by far the best event. The track is amazing, the owners of the track are really nice, the paddock area is great, and there are great vantage points to see all the action. Plus, there is a lot of shops surrounding the area so you don't feel stranded. I will be back with a real car soon. :D read more