24 May 2015 Kent, WA – Congrats to Sunday’s winners from the SCCA John A. Forespring Memorial Races at Pacific Raceways. The final races of the weekend get underway in the morning, we hope to see you out at the track!
There winners circle photos and more in the album – click here to go there.
23 May 2015 Kent, WA – The Vintage Motocross race held on this day is the same day as the SCCA event on Pacific’s road layout. This gave me only about an hour at the end of the day to capture what I could of the motos that remained.
It was good seeing and hearing the old bikes, one of the riders was participating at the age of 85. Yes that’s right 85 years young and having the time of his life doing it. Can only hope the timing next time will favor more time to cover the MX races.
Images are now available of the bikes – click here to go to the photo album.
23 May 2015 Kent, WA – Every Memorial Day weekend the SCCA racers and the legion of workers that man the corners, the clocks and pits and so on come to Pacific Raceways. The amount of people it takes to put on a weekend of racing is quite amazing.
8:00am sharp: All the workers gather for the days layout of what they corner they will be “cornering”. They all get a radio and log book, listen to the last minute instructions, and off the go to grab some munchies or more coffee and be ready by 9:00am for a combined day of practice and qualifying.
The two days of racing ahead is really only affected by Mother Nature, and here in the Northwest it can change rapidly so everyone prepares accordingly. A famous Boy Scout motto that really has to be thought of in the spring here.
22 May 2015 Kent, WA – Prior to the weekend of SCCA racing at Pacific Raceways, the drivers came out today to test and tune. Like any other motorsport, things change, due to upgrades made or even a new car to race.
All of these reasons are good enough to check things out, safety first then comes the fun in just driving around the track. This fact alone has the making of some fine racing for this weekend. Come on out – it is a holiday weekend after all. See you there.
Images From today’s practice are now available – click here to go to the photo album.
21 May 2015 Kent, WA – As the trailers of cars pulled into the paddock area for Cantrell Motorsports first appearance at Pacific Raceways for a day of lapping around the legendary 2.25 mike track you could see the excitement in Colin’s face. One must know he was deep in thought of all the little things that it takes to pull off an event like this.
With all the cars unloaded and lined up in front of the trailer at the starting line but prior to the 9:00am starting time, last minute preps were done. The cars were cut loose into two separate groups for thirty minute sessions, and the lapping carried on till it was time for a lunch break. It was a little sluggish after a good lunch, but the drivers soon got back into their groove and were back to the lap times from before lunch.
The lapping groups carried on thru the afternoon and into the early evening, and after a short break at 5:00pm for the corner workers to catch their breath the action continued until 8:30pm. It was long day for sure but a very good day for Cantrell Motorsports and their first time at Pacific Raceways. We’re all looking forward to the next time.
Lots of images from several vantage points are now available – click here to go to the photo album
21 May 2015 Kent, WA – ProFormance Racing School will forever be ingrained in one young man. He has been waiting for his Christmas present to be opened. This was it, a day of driving instruction from his parents and with two hands on his cheeks you could not wipe the smile away.
This young man was just one of the five men and one woman to go through the day long classroom and driving instruction. All at the end of the day were zipping around the track at a pretty good pace for first time drivers, just a testament to the quality and complete instruction ProFormance offers. Got a new ride and want to drive? Then check out the dates on the new Pacific web page.
16 May 2015 Kent, WA – As the paddock full of racers awoke to overcast skies above the thought of rain was on the minds of the racers and their setup for the day of IDRC qualifying here at Pacific Raceways. You want to get the best times you can and the rain or wet surface will cut that down and the setup you planned for qualifying.
Practice the day before gave the racers a good base line to go off of and no one likes change in the middle of the game plan, but the ability to adapt makes for a better racer and team thus setting you up for a better position to start up front of the pack, that’s Qualifying.
After a fine lunch served up by Bigfood Concessions and an afternoon of more qualifying Bigfoods was at again – hot and heavy putting together a selection for end of the day that would rival any concession food around. This the treat for the workers who for the labor of love that they put out doing what they do to run the race as smooth as possible.
Spotted in the pre-grid was Don Kitch owner of the onsite ProFormance Racing School – lending his driving skills for a one hour endurance race dedicated to Ron Johnson, a fitting way to end the day.
15 May 2015 Kent, WA – In their first of two visits to Pacific Raceways 2.25 mile track the IRDC groups were out in full force today. Nearly a full paddock of haulers of all sorts brought the racers and their rides out for some fun.
Looks like the small bore group has quite a few in the field. Should make for some fine racing action over the next two days not to say that the other groups are not in the same position but the more the merrier.
We’re looking forward to all the action in all the classes this weekend. Not doing anything, come on out and watch the action.
Images for today are now available – click here to go to the Friday Session album
09 May 2015 Kent, WA – To many racers the off season is too long and they cannot wait to get back to their passion. E.T. Drag Racing is about the most fun a racer can have as the structure of the program should put the racer’s within feet to inches at the finish line.
Running the number and cutting a good light by each lane has the eyes glancing to your competitor as the equality shows at the finish line as the margin of victory takes a computer to figure out. Unlike what you see at a divisional or national event where the first one to the finish line wins you do that and you could go quicker than what you dialed in you can lose. A lot of thinking and knowing the race cars makes this series every bit a thinking person’s game.
Over 500 images are available from the season opener – check it out by clicking here.
Here are the winner’s from Swift Tools ET Drag Racing Series #1
Jr. Thunder: Luke Cavar over Jacob Laitila
Jr. Lightning: Kennedy Krier over Josh Schmanke
MC: Jake Havens over Ryan Farmer
Sportsman: Ken Ward over Dan Glatt
Pro: Jeff Warnke over Brian Gittings
Super Pro: Jess Dale over Berry Hobson
The other class winner’s are as follows:
Stock: Martha Thompson over Dave Jung
Super Street: Jess Dale over Tony Hopkins
Super Gas: Steve Radunovich over Phil Gilbert
Super Comp: Emmitt McKillop over Arlyn Staiger
Top Comp: Barry Hobson over Megan Lea
Outlaw 8.5: Sherry Rohr over Walter Poyner
Pro Street: Mike Bedsworth over Bryan McDonald
08 May 2015 Kent, WA – High school motor heads look forward to the spring when Pacific Raceways holds their annual drags for all the high schools in the state. Mostly west of the Pacific Crest Trail schools, though in the past some have come over the pass the take part.
I have no idea of how many schools in the area but 28 of them were represented for this race. With no threat from the weather, conditions could not be better. A mandatory driver’s meeting before anything gets going brings the focus of the driver’s to where they are at and what can happen when things go south.
This fact pointed out by a very seasoned super comp driver on what happened to him and the fact that it happens very quickly. Added to it – in closing drag strip manager Ed Garfield wished all good luck and pay attention to those that are here to help you be the best you can be representing your high school.
Breaking up the rounds of high school action were a few of local E.T. racers giving the high school students a look at what they do on when they go down the strip.
Over 400 images of all the action are now available – click here to go to the album.
Added to that there were a number of 7 second door slammer’s doing some shakedown runs before their season starts. Quite a show for all those attending.
