When Riverside International Raceway closed in 1989, it left California racers with a shortage of racing facilities. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Sonoma Raceway were becoming more expensive to rent, if you could get a date amongst the numerous pro series of the time. Other than those two facilities, San Francisco had Willow Springs International Raceway. That didn’t leave a lot of options, and what would they do if another one of their tracks was sacrificed to growing populations and cities? The answer seemed simple: build a racetrack where there was no threat of urban sprawl. There was no answer, though, for where this would be or who would pay for it.
In February of 1989, the Northern California Regional Directors proposed a $90 surcharge to entry fees to be earmarked for building a racetrack. That would almost double the standing $100 fee so it’s no surprise that the members voted down the proposition. The members did see the merit to the idea and agreed to a $50 surcharge.
The most surprising part of the project was support from an unlikely place: the SCCA National Office. Area Nine Director, at the time, Clint deWitt felt that the club should be involved in vertical integration and pitched the project to the National Board of Directors. The national office maintained its stance that it will not operate as a bank to the regions, but liked the idea of a track that was built, owned, run and used by SCCA. Yet, they gave the project a thumbs up and David Vodden was made chief logistician.
With the money dilemma solved, a location needed to be selected. The team found that city politics would be an issue as site after site got tied up in red tape. When Glenn County was contacted though, the team met an enthusiastic County Supervisor, Dick Mudd. Mudd assisted with everything from finding the perfect site to ensuring that paperwork move forward with the county. He turned out to be the MVP of the project.
Finally, the track that SCCA built was on the way to becoming a reality. Thunderhill Raceway Park was born. Located 125 miles north of San Francisco, the track officially opened on Halloween 1993 with a three day SCCA event, drawing 15,000 spectators, a track record which remains to this day.
In June 2014, the first major addition to the track since its opening was completed. Doubling the racing surface, Thunderhill West allows two tracks to be used simultaneously. This is an exciting opportunity for SCCA’s track. Even though the loan from the national office was repaid long ago, San Francisco Region continues to own and operate the facility. David Vodden, the original chief logistician, remains on staff as the CEO.
Photo: Ribbon Cutting at the opening of Thunderhill Raceway Park, from left to right: San Francisco Region RE Gary Meeker, SCCA President Nicholas W. Craw, Track Manager David Vooden and San Francisco Region Properties President Tom McCarthy
