Thompson Motorsports - first outing

[cmm3]

Just returned from 2 days of instructing at Thompson with the Boston Chapter - BMW Club.
Talking to others the reactions were strong, people either loved it or hated it.
I fall into the later, the course to me felt like a bunch of real tight turns strung together with some short straights and it had no real flow to it.
Aside from the back section leading onto the straight it felt more like an autocross than a roadcourse.
There are three 180 degree turns, The clubhouse turn is super tight at 30 mph and the other two under the bridge and in the stock car oval are more open but still relatively slow. It's really a very slow track until you get into the chute which leads onto the front straight.

I had planned to attend the COM 2 day event there but now I'm thinking about maybe just heading down for the TT and I may even pass on it.

It's worth the visit to drive a new track but after two days it gets pretty boring.

The lower power Miata crowd might like it more than the high powered corvette crowd who will be lucky to see 3rd gear for a brief period on the straight.

A lap in my mind

Coming down the front straight. (although not really straight)
Really hard on the brakes, turn real hard to Right, track out some, hard on the throttle
No so hard on the brakes, turn not so hard to left, track out some, hard on the throttle
Really hard on the brakes, turn real hard to right, try not to track out too much, hard on the throttle
Not so hard on the brakes, turn not so hard left into short oval, track out some, hard on the throttle
Not so hard on the brakes, turn not so hard right into a shitty stock car short oval with no real grove, track out some, hard on the throttle
Not so hard on the brakes, turn left into the chute, OK this is fun for a few turns that flow together, now full throttle down the straight.

Oh no not the front 3/4's of the track again.
Repeat above over and over and over and........................

Not trying to be a wet blanket, but IMO Thompson gets two thumbs down, and is at the very bottom of the list of tracks that I like.

[breakaway500]

Say it aint so!

[brucesallen]

I am still trying to decide if I like it better than NHMS. But NHMS has showers for all and electricity for RVs. But then Thompson has a nice bar and restaurant and ice cream shack!

[breakaway500]

"NHMS has showers for all and electricity for RVs. But then Thompson has a nice bar and restaurant and ice cream shack!" Hmm..I think your priorities have changed...

[StephanAlfa]

I have been at Thompson recently to and had full access of the track before the SCCA event so I could gather materials for COM.
I could not attend the BMW-Boston event because I injured my ankle (I was slated to help out in a few instruction activities)
It's an exciting track no doubt and close to many of our members. Offers new choices for a track nearby and I think it is a good track and great management.
I disagree with this track being "boring". I think it offers several opportunities for new lines and there's much to be learned about this track as we evolved with it. Some of your descriptions differ from others I have talked (Jeff W, Mig) and there's room for discussion which is always a great opportunity to learn.
I always thought Lime Rock is boring and NJMP-Lightning will outgrow you, but not TMS.
One thing about the facilities that is something to be debated is the price of the garages (this has been a well discussed recent topic).
Finding suitable sleeping accommodations nearby is something of a quest as well. Given you cannot camp at the track, I am just over 1 hour's drive from the track so it's a debate to sleep well vs. sleep not-so-well but close to the track.
HTH

[brucesallen]

I DID camp at the Thompson track for the SCCA opener. They expect you to be self-contained although they have a bathroom-without the bath. I did, however steal a little electricity from the outlet at the timing tower. I spent half the track in second gear (of five). I agree with the review.

[cmm3]

It is close and that's a plus for sure.
And there are certainly new lines to be found but IMO they have little impact on lap times and the overall feel or experience in driving the track.
I tried driving every different way I could imagine, the only place it seemed to make a real difference was heading into the chute.
So I don't think it's that good of a teaching track because there isn't much variety to it.

Running a 3.64 diff I spent all of my time in 3rd except for the ridiculously tight clubhouse turn that required 2nd and the up-shift to 4th & 5th down the front straight.

$100 a day for a garage rental with no bench is a joke.
And expect the paddock to get crowded if COM shows up in force, with more trailers per event than the BMW Club space will be at a premium unless you want to fork over $200 for garage. Since no one was buying at the BMW event cars were parking in front of all the empty bays.

No showers, would have been nice after a day in the sun to take a quick cold one.
The line for the food shack took forever, I think they make 1 burger at a time.
The clubhouse was fine for lunch nice, and the AC was welcome on a hot day and the food was priced OK.

I stayed over at the Kings Inn down the street, kind of shabby but cheap and close bye.

Being an optimist I try to look at the bright side but I'm not planning a return trip to THMP anytime in the near future.
It just doesn't have anything really compelling about it to me. I'd rather travel further and enjoy a better venue.

[brucesallen]

There is enough paddock space if you use Paddock B. Bad news is that it is a quarter mile away from Paddock A.

[jeffw]

There is enough paddock space if you use Paddock B. Bad news is that it is a quarter mile away from Paddock A.

Our rental does not include Paddock B. It's rented separately.

[962porsche]

I don't care what track it is good or bad . when ever there is a new track you will have some that like it and others that hate it .
personally I like technical tracks and not momentum tracks .
but at the end of the day any track is good and better then a day at work .
whats the saying ?
a good day at work is still better then a bad day at the track .
no matter how bad this track is it has to be better then LRP ! talk about a boring track and they bend you over to drive on it . LRP is the only track I have ever been to were I want the run session to be over because I'm so board after the 1st 5 minutes on the track .
they put in some chicanes and I was hoping it would make it a little less boring but no just as bad .
then talk about a long walk to the pits there from B-paddock and to top it off with the B-paddock your on grass so you have to bring your own plywood because you jack stands sink into the soft ground and they will not let you put your car on stands on the paddock lane .
CT needs a new track

[cfossum]

I spent a nice day there, and honestly had a blast. Perhaps its because my car ran all day without issues for the first time in like four years, but I think I really enjoyed the track too. I was able to find a flow, or a groove, even though there are some exceptionally slow turns. There are more elevation changes than the videos show. The slowest turn goes downhill, so you can build speed quickly enough afterward.
I found this interesting:

A lap in my mind

Coming down the front straight. (although not really straight)
Really hard on the brakes, turn real hard to Right, track out some, hard on the throttle
No so hard on the brakes, turn not so hard to left, track out some, hard on the throttle
Really hard on the brakes, turn real hard to right, try not to track out too much, hard on the throttle
Not so hard on the brakes, turn not so hard left into short oval, track out some, hard on the throttle
Not so hard on the brakes, turn not so hard right into a shitty stock car short oval with no real grove, track out some, hard on the throttle
Not so hard on the brakes, turn left into the chute, OK this is fun for a few turns that flow together, now full throttle down the straight.

Oh no not the front 3/4's of the track again.
Repeat above over and over and over and........................

Ok, so basically you have to use throttle, brakes, turn, and repeat. Well, isn't that kind of the point of a road course?
Anyhow, I came away feeling positive. But I love driving at Limerock too, not boring at all. Easy to learn, difficult to master.
But most importantly, Bring on Palmer!
-Carl

[MiataSteve]

[/quote]

Ok, so basically you have to use throttle, brakes, turn, and repeat. Well, isn't that kind of the point of a road course?
Anyhow, I came away feeling positive. But I love driving at Limerock too, not boring at all. Easy to learn, difficult to master.
But most importantly, Bring on Palmer!
-Carl[/quote]


I share your take on LRP, so this has given me hope that I will enjoy Thompson.

[brucesallen]

Miatas and GO carts will love Thompson.

Paddock B is paved. Without it COM will be parking way off in the middle of the oval. There is a little grass by the road to paddock B.

[962porsche]

ok so boring maybe the wrong word how about monotonous ?
LRP is a ez track to learn and to master it I would say all you need is a big set of nuts to turn a fast lap there .
my feeling is a track were you hardly use the brakes tends to become a little routine and if your in a low HP car it makes it even worse .


I too can't wait until palmer opens that looks to be a great track .

[cfossum]

I share your take on LRP, so this has given me hope that I will enjoy Thompson.

I didn't intend to imply that Thompson was anything like LRP. Its just that some believe they are both boring, which never occurred to me while at either place.

I would say all you need is a big set of nuts to turn a fast lap there .

Probably true of any track, and something similar could be said of any extreme sport!