2015 ET Finals At Firebird Raceway

Posted on September 6, 2015 by admin

03-06 September 2015 Boise, ID – Firebird Raceway is just outside Boise Idaho, and was the setting for this year’s E.T. Finals. It’s a ten to sixteen hour trip for most of the Pacific Pirates. Wednesday saw many already there with Thursday and Friday bringing in those that had to get away from work.

Wednesday and Thursday, the weather could not have been better at Firebird Raceway. It was a little cooler than normal but a welcome break from the heat that has been around all summer long in the whole northwest. Test and tune Wednesday and Thursday was in the past as we rolled into Friday’s Gambler Race the weather was a changing.

The sky thickened and all eyes were on it. Weather checking on all the smart phones were saying the same thing, Get Ready. And come it did as the wind picked up and moved anything that was not tied down and those that were scrambled to keep it from going to Kansas. The wind put a halt to racing as it coated the track surface with sand leaving it looking somewhat like sandpaper.

With just a few rounds left to finish the powers that be could have cleaned the track to continue but the threat of rain when getting that completed put an end to the idea there. It was great decision on their part as the rain came.

Saturday morning started dry then Mother Nature again threw a wrench into the works soaking everything. The plus side to this was the long and continuous lineup for Firebird’s yummy breakfast, with biscuits and gravy. They are good as I joined the others going through the line.

Once the Race of Champions got started the day went off without a hitch completed with the crowning of the class champs that will represent Division 6 in Pomona. Mighty Joe Lind will take his bike and represent Pacific Raceways as not only the track champ but as the Division 6 champ, Great job Joe!

Sunday’s race weather could not have been better though quite chilly early. Racing today for all attending was for class champions in each of the E.T. classes with points for each win to determine the overall track champs, and once again the group from Woodburn in a tie breaker won, laying claims for 2015.

With the finals going north of the border next year plans to do so start now and will require ID to cross, hope to see you there.

I would like to thank David Atkins of Atkins Rotary for introducing me to Lauretta. Quite a skilled photographer with a sharp eye on nature. Having never photographed drag racing before I offered up a camera for her to shoot what she sees and have fun. Here to spend some quality time with her father most of her shots followed him as is natural. By her own admission “I know nothing but would very much like to learn”. Looking at her shots she is right though there are shots that show her natural ability and just a few pointers will bring those skills that she has already has to the top.

Maybe our paths will cross again to see what she has learned and pass those little pointers along. Thanks Lauretta for your additional pics and a glimpse into your look at a first timer to the drags, could not have been a better choice to get away from everything and see what your father enjoys.

The images are organized by day – in four albums – click here for the Event Folder with links for all four days of the 2015 ET Finals! Good Luck in Pomona!

22nd Annual Nitro MC Nationals

Posted on August 30, 2015 by admin

30 Aug 2015 Woodburn, OR – For twenty one seasons the bikes and cars converged on Woodburn Dragstrip for a weekend of 200mph nitro powered Harley Davidson’s, double BB Funny Cars and their 250 mph passes. It is always a great show for those that attend and this weekend was planning on being no different.

But Mother Nature had other plans. Wind and rain greeted everyone not long after the track prep was completed, bringing a halt to the start of racing. The rain quit but the wind did not, forcing the track to cancel Saturday’s racing. To the best of anyone’s knowledge that has been around Woodburn the cancellation due to high winds was a first.

The wind pushed away the rain and that brought out the kites for some fun in the windy conditions.

Saturday night to Sunday morning the downpours returned soaking everything and the weather forecast was saying lots more rain coming, so it pushed the Woodburn crew to shut down any possibility of racing.

There will be lots of re-scheduling to bring the bikes back, check Woodburn’s web site and Facebook page for info.

Steven Ham – AA/FC Driver

Posted on August 11, 2015 by admin

In the sport of drag racing there are drivers from various countries and continents around the world. Over the past three weeks I had the privilege of being around one of these International drag racers.

Steven Ham hails from Brisbane in the Queensland area of Australia. Taking a break from his and his father’s heavy equipment repair business, they decided to come racing in the northwest. First stop was at Woodburn Dragstrip in Oregon for the first step in the car purchased last year from John Evanchuk up in Canada.

This connection to the Evanchuk’s was a huge eye opener to a local friend and shows how the drag racing community is a worldwide thing. Climbing into a new machine was quite different, but quite the same as the one he drives at his local dragstrip Willowbank Australia. The success racing around his country puts him right up there with the alcohol driver’s here in the U.S.

With a plan to test as much as possible before the Northwest Nationals in a few weeks there is a lot to do in the fine tuning that fits the driver to the machine let alone the tuning to make it run in a competitive manner. With the initial testing in the log books they headed north to Pacific Raceways for more testing and fine tuning. The wide open area of around the track, and the nearby oxygen given by the trees surrounding the racetrack was perfect for tuning.

With Friday and Saturday events scheduled at the track it became the perfect time to set up for the National’s. Track prep by the Pacific drag crew can prep a track close to what is done by the National’s drag crew so you can get a pretty close base line to work off of. Having no data to work from I say they were right in the ballpark for qualifying in the alcohol field.
With all the testing possible and still a week away from the National’s it was break time. As an avid fisherman the sight of all the rivers, lakes and open water in the Pacific Northwest had his attention.

They mostly do reef fishing at home, so the thought of giving it a go was on the plate. Heading north towards Canada the sights of the mountains and the scenery had their cameras and smart phones catching it all. In Canada to visit friends and take in the sights around there became the perfect time off and vacation needed to gear up for what was ahead of them, and all along the way they were taking in the chance to eat food not found at home. You here it a lot about the “Steak on the Barbie” his favorite, but the chance to eat Italian and Mexican food quite the experience and something that they will seek out at home.

Back in Seattle and all that is necessary for a National event got the crew back in racing mood and the checklists of to do items. This group has Dan Case on the motor with Greg Layton in the gears and Deiter Herman in between on the clutch all leading to James Rowland the tuner. Three attempts at qualifying though brought out the bugs in that list of a thousand ways to lose a race and in the end an electrical issue ended their chance to make the field. The RD Williams/Noonan Race Engineering sponsored car gave it a “go” and fell just short. Not discouraged buy this the team will head back home to re-group and attempt to make the Las Vegas and Pomona later this year and give it another go.

It was a pleasure meeting Steven and his crew and look forward to the next chance to see him, good luck to the future and happy racing to you, Thank You.

Happy New Year!

Posted on December 31, 2014 by admin

31 Dec 2014 Kent, WA – May 2015 discover you fresher, happier, healthier, more joyful, more cheerful and more satisfied. Here is wishing you a Happy New Year from all of us at See It Imagery. Race Season is around the corner!

NHRA Northwest Division Summit E.T. Finals at Woodburn Dragstrip

Posted on August 31, 2014 by admin

31 Aug 2014 Woodburn, OR – In the rotation of host tracks for the E.T. Finals in the Northwest, Woodburn claimed this year’s event.

Having not been to this track in a number of years I was impressed at the changes made. All improvements made to make it better for both racers and spectators alike. Well done.

Temps were in the 90’s, and the heat greeted all to the test and tune on Thursday with a forecast for the weekend of thunderstorms. This weather change had many a racer thinking of the tuning and a head wind to go into down the track.

On to Friday and let the racing begin. Classes split into those in the Gambler and the test and tune only, ether way you get info on how things are working according to log-books and brains with seat time. The big help, it was not as hot as yesterday for the TNT.

More than 380 entries to the gambler had five or six rounds to get to the finals, that’s a lot of racing to manage and watch. Combining both track and division personal makes for quite a talent pool to run the race with all bringing their A-game. As far as the racer’s go you know they are on top of it as the best at their tracks sent to represent the rest.

As in any sport you pit the best against the best the outcome is like picking lottery numbers, any one is capable of winning. Getting the bucks this day in the Jr. Dragster class was Emily Lewis, she got the gift as Kennedy Krier broke, tough one to take either way. In MC, Pacific and Bremerton faced off with a red light deciding the outcome before both started. Bremerton’s John Plaster gave it to Pacific’s Chris Benda. In Sportsman a pair from Vancouver, WA. battled and saw Gordon Cady Jr. running closer to his dial over John Nelson giving him the win in the greatest number of entries per class.

In Super Pro Lonnie Sharkey from Bremerton, WA. pitted against Keizer, OR. native Danny Wargnier. The double break-out race had Lonnie closer to the dial ending Danny’s bid for the bucks. What a day of racing and two more day’s to go.

4:00 am Saturday Mother Nature soaked everything not water tight. Many racers’ camps include tents, most not set up for the rain as bedtime saw mid 70’s, not the best for falling asleep in. This soaking had the track personal hot and heavy to get the water away. Go ahead she said and rained again forcing a start over a short time later. Thus went the morning of the most important race of the event. The race of champions is set in stone, it has to be run and completed. These winners go to Pomona. With at least three hours lost to the weather and a curfew in place the race pace went hot and heavy through the rounds, a testament to those who are running the show, even Mother Nature kicked in by providing partly cloudy conditions thru the racing. Toss in the “Track Manager’s Challenge” and a lot is at stake.

Some said it was a runaway but by 7 is difference between Pacific Raceways and the host Woodburn to give them the Challenge title. Sure sign of a strong team. Two class winners in the ROC proved that.

In the “Race of Champions” in Jr. Thunder Alisha Miller from Warren OR. stopped Levi Burke from Bates OR. In Jr. Lightning Adam Lint used better reaction and closer to the dial to end it for Jordin Howell. The high school class pitted a car and a truck with the ’65 Chevelle of Cameron Loos with the ’00 Sonoma of Zach Zurbrugg going too quick. The MC class saw Jeff Havens become a three timer as he ended Al Omond’s chance to claim the Wally and the trip to CA. An .029 light and closer to his dial gave Gordon Rust in his ’69 Chevelle the win over Brian Jennen in his ’70 Pontiac. The finals in PRO had Washington State between them. Nicholas Shepherd from Tigard, OR. ended Chris Stone from Mission, BC his chance at the title. Pacific’s SPRO champ Norm Braedt punched his ticket to Pomona with a foul by Sean Shaffer from Boise, ID. Putting an end to a tough day of racing by all.

Sunday, Sunday the Team Championship was up for grabs. All team member’s compete here with the Jr’s having a say so this year. With a number nearing 500 the racer’s came to run for their track not against each other as normal. Team racing at its best, one for all and all for one. 14 tracks on site made for some interesting displays in the stands surrounding the track as each team brought their flavor. After a while you could tell who won just by the noise made be each team, great support by team members.

Granted in the end there are single winners in each class but the point you gain is “TEAM” and in this case turn- around is fair play came into play. Remember the Manager’s race and how host Woodburn and Pacific battled it out for the top well these two were at it again in what was said to be the closest racing for the team championship ever. Four points was the diff. between first and third with second just one point ahead in-between. It could have gone so many way’s in the late rounds as it was anyone’s for the grab. In the end though host Woodburn claimed the title to go along with the “Team Spirit” award. In some way just like the Olympics the host team puts on a great display for everyone to see, great job by all those involved.

On a personal note I would like to thank the Evans family for Wednesday night’s chicken dinner and the Johnson’s for the 110 to see and charge up, Thanks to both, and to Joey Severance in finding a ladder for a group picture, thanks again. And in what the track photographer described as the ‘hardest working’ mop guy he has ever seen Jason Ronan proved that it can be done but you better be in shape and have your head in the game, great job young man.

The link to all the images broken down in four albums by day – click here. Thanks for all your support.