Category Archives: ProFormance Racing School

Two Days of Skills Clinics at ProFormance Racing School

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24 Mar 2018 Kent, WA – These two classes though the same in instruction were a world apart when it came to the weather. Friday it rained then it would hail then the fat wet flakes came with the rain and not to forget the sleet and wind. Not part of their normal attire each of the instructors had a bumbershoot to help fight “Mother Nature”.

Saturday hey no rain but everyone was greeted with a fresh blanket of snow and bright sunny skies. No umbrellas needed today just an extra layer for a few hours as the sun brought a whole bunch of warmth.

The point being no matter the weather when you sign up for the ProFormance Racing School program next week or a year from now the only change will be the weather. The program that Don Kitch put together and is carried out by his crew of instructors is like clockwork transferring what Don described to you in the classroom to you now on the track. At the end of the day you drive away way better connected to your ride then when you started the day and in the end you are a better driver because of what the school got you aware of.

Two albums of images, one for each day. Make sure and check out the images from Saturday too – some very unique shots of “Racing In The Snow”

IMAGES FROM PROFORMANCE RACING SCHOOL – March 23rd, 2018

IMAGES FROM PROFORMANCE RACING SCHOOL – March 24th, 2018

Teen Street Survival Courses at ProFormance Racing School

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04 March 2018 Kent, WA – The right of passage as a teen would be getting your driver’s license. Going thru either a public or private training program what they teach you is all good but it’s not enough. Learning to park between cars and learning what the road sign is telling you is important but learning what you are driving is telling you is way more important.

ProFormance Racing School with backing from the Michael’s Automotive Group and Les Schwab put those 15 to 18 year old teens and teach them what is not in driver’s training programs. What will your car or truck do if you encounter this or if you do this what will happen?

The collision avoidance part of the course receives the most comments to the school by those that have gone thru the class no matter your age. If you have a teen getting ready to drive putting them into this program is the best thin you can do for them in to prepare for the open road and what they may encounter.

For more info go to the ProFormance Racing School for the next date for your teen.

Images from both days are now available – click here to go to the photo album.

A Trio of Events at Pacific Raceways

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13 Jan 2018 Kent, WA – Just the second weekend into the new year and Pacific Raceways is hosting a trio of happenings on the property. A full classroom for ProFormance Racing School to start the new year teaching students how to become better drivers when behind the wheel. Those brief seconds that your subconscious mind reacted to an issue because of what you learned in school can really be the difference between life and death.

In the upper paddock, the Avants ‘Drive Everything’ gathered for a “coffee” and car get together. Bringing together a number of car clubs and a whole bunch of like minded people to see what a lot had done to their rides. The things that are around both off the shelf and home made from are turning heads wondering “How” did you do that? Check this group out for their next “coffee” date.

Rounding out the “trio” of groups using the property is the UW Department of Mechanical Engineering brought out one of their projects to do some “traction control” testing and data gathering. Not the first time they have been out and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

All in all a great day of fun and learning and sight seeing on the Pacific Raceways property.

Lots of great images today – they are now available in the image gallery – click here to go to the photo album.

Final Classes of 2017 at ProFormance Racing School

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09 Dec 2017 Kent, WA – Putting a period on the 2017 ProFormance Racing School season as this day is the final of the year. The weather on this crisp and cold December played along as no rain or snow hampering the day.

As the day progressed the sun melted away the frost and ice along with chill warming the body enough to shed the heavy coats that started the day. For the students it was hard to keep the window down as required by the instructors so they may talk to you after each pass on the four different exercises, but I’m sure that the heaters were on full blast keeping the chill at bay.

The new year is about here, and the winter dates are there for you to take advantage of the school and what you “WILL” learn to become a better driver. Go to the ProFormance Racing School website for your date.

Images from all the sessions are now available – click here to go to the photo album.

Toys For Tots – NW Toy Drive at Pacific Raceways

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03 Dec 2017 Kent, WA – Each December Pacific Raceways property plays host to some very generous people. The annual NW Toy Drive benefiting Toys for Tots. Sponsored by Lexus of Bellevue.

Thousands of folks brought their un-wrapped gifts or cash donation for the Marine Corps Reserve program. Combine this with holiday music and vendors covering the many cars out for the car show gathering.

Out on the 2.25mi. Track a “lead/follow” overseen by ProFormance Racing School and Don Kitch giving those who take part an idea of what it feels like to drive a road course.

In the house, Santa and his helpers were on hand accepting gifts and posing for pictures, also on hand Ed Troyer from the Pierce County Toys for Tots program. Every year that I have covered this event it has gotten bigger and bigger thus proving the generosity of the NW to those in need.

This year exceeded last year’s total when combining cash donations and boxes of toys and those taking part in the lead/follow is growing in popularity. Great job by all those involved as it takes many to help bring it together each year.

Till next year Happy Holidays to all.

Images are now available – click here to go to the photo album.

ProFormance Racing School Going Strong in October!

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28 Oct 2017 Kent, WA – Sunshine and mid to upper 60’s in late October can only be a blessing from mother nature on this school day for ProFormance Racing School. The northwest just prior to Halloween shades more towards the “Northwet” then sunny and warm spring like day.

With many more dates set thru-out the fall and winter when wet driving will become the normal it’s no better time to set your date for school. What you will learn from Don and his instructors is a base for better driving and control of your automobile.

Go to the ProFormance Racing Schools web site and pick a date for school. In the northwest it is by far the best bang for your buck you can do for yourself and your expensive auto.

Images from all the sessions today are now available – click here to go to the photo album.

Final TNT & Gambler Race at Pacific Raceways

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15 Oct 2017 Kent, WA – Drag racing in the northwest in October is all up to Mother Nature. This sunny and chilly start to the day could not be better. Hearing what the local weather people were predicting brought out a host of racers for testing and a gambler race as those predictors are putting the last date on the 2017 season in doubt.

This also may have helped those new car owners to test their rides on the track. How often do you see a McLaren MP4 testing the dragstrip? Just one of the many new cars and faces enjoying what Pacific Raceways offers.

Grabbing the bucks in the gambler race in his ’69 Dodge Rob Hodgson to haul home.

See you next season unless Mother Nature graces us with one more October drag strip date.

Images of all the action, including the McLaren are now available – click here to go to the photo album.

AM Skills, Novice HP & PM Lapping at ProFormance Racing School

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14 Oct 2017 Kent, WA – The word has spread from the students that have gone thru the ProFormance Racing School program and how you should make time to take yourself to school. The newer cars are becoming more and more controlled by what you don’t see.

Testing these controlling parts will tell you thru the seat of your pants what your car feels like when doing so. Anti-lock brakes when put into action while going 50 mph all the while putting steering input to avoid a collision will get your attention.

When done as instructed by the crew of very experienced drivers themselves you feel it and you get it after done a few times. This just one of the exercises the school puts you thru with in classroom and on the grounds teaching by Don Kitch.

Your new car is a big investment, help yourself and your investment by going thru the school, contact them on their website and book a date.

Images from the sessions today at Pacific Raceways are now available – click here to go to the photo album.

AM Skills, Novice HP & PM Lapping at ProFormance Racing School

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06 Oct 2017 Kent, WA – Driving thru the school lot today the student cars were lined up and ready to go. Look a little closer and notice the makers of those of those autos. Today there was a Benz, an Audi, a new Mustang, a taped up GTR and a number of BMW’s. All very nice autos and the owners would like to keep them that way.

That upkeep is all on them and how they take care of them but once out driving the other owner driven cars and trucks can become a concern. Collision avoidance is one of the four exercises that you go thru, and according to the instructors it is the most commented on when the students are finished with the daylong class.

Knowing what your car will do in adverse conditions and more so in a potential collision situation. There is a reason that at most all road course tracks a school is on the grounds. Become a better driver by going thru the school as it may very well the best bang for the buck that you could spend on yourself and your automobile.

Images from the October 6th classes are now available – click here to go to the photo album.

Go to the ProFormance Racing School website for a date for yourself, you won’t regret doing so.

AM Skills, Novice HP & PM Lapping with ProFormance Racing School

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14 Sept 2017 Kent, WA – Becoming a better driver, no matter your age or gender is but a short drive to Pacific Raceways and the ProFormance Racing School located on the property. The school, instructed by Don Kitch has your butt on a stool as he explains what you will be going thru when you get behind the wheel and start the exercises.

New drivers are timid at first but after a few runs you grasp the idea of what this part of the school program wants to teach and you to learn. Catching on to what your car feels like when you do certain inputs to the steering wheel or brakes or both will show and teach you what to expect should you encounter it on the hi-ways and bi-ways.

Check out the ProFormance Racing School website for a date that fits and leave a better and more confident driver.

Images from all three sessions are now available – click here to go to the photo album.