West Coast Grudge Racing #1 at Pacific Raceways

18 May 2018 Kent, WA -From an Idea to Reality, this series was thought of by a pair of guys, then with the help of a few more and after that it was taken up by Willy and Jen Peterson. Friday night kicked off a five race series this season and brought at least 50 entries to take part in side by side instant green starts.

On the anniversary of Mt. Saint Helens eruption could this series explode with many more taking part? Only time will tell but they are off to a great start. Next race is June 15th.

Images of these ultra-cool cars are now available – click here to go to the photos.

 

PRDC #2 at Pacific Raceways

16 May 2018 Kent, WA – Mid-week bike racing gained a few new entries this week to the series sponsored by Olympic Ironworks and Gary Tokos.

Word is getting around of the fun and comradery that that takes place when the group gets together. Laughing, joking and kidding each other as friends do when together but also helping each other when needed and guiding the new racers to the ways of drag bike racing. To put it plain and simple, help each other to “WIN” no matter who it is in the group.

This night Mark Sires and Thomas Agar faced off in the finals with Mark grabbing the top spot. Next race June 6th.

Images from the 2nd PRDC event of the 2018 Season are now available – click here to go to the photos.

Swift Tools ET Series #4 at Pacific Raceways

12 May 2018 Kent, WA – After “Mother Nature and a Curfew” played havoc with the Swift Series earlier it was great to get in a full race. This race #4 was combined with the first of five “Budweiser Under the Lights” Events this season.

Set up on the tower patio with seating and tables for food and drink the bonus is it is a great spot to take in the four main classes in the Swift Series.

There were 160 entries to grab points and four trophies were handed out at the end of the night plus the pay out for winning and running up.

Race #4 winners are William Nitta in Motorcycle, Jake Biscay in Sportsman, Brian McGinnis in Pro and Austin Calhoun in Super Pro. Next race is June 9th.

Check out all the images by clicking here. As always thank you for your support and purchases!!!

Car Club #1 at Pacific Raceways

11 May 2018 Kent, WA – Hitting Pacific Raceways for the first time this 2018 season Kent Magruder and his group of Car Club racers were out to have fun at the track.

Car makers bragging rights is always up for grabs and points toward the end of season champion. A little less than normal 36 entries from a ’64 Polara to a ’17 Hellcat and a bunch of years in between got after the tree and the track prep.

Six rounds of racing later Craig Smith takes the first race this season. The next Car Club action is June 8th see you there.

Click here for all the images from the 1st Car Club Event of the 2018 season.

All Day Lapping With Jay Leno

10 May 2018 Kent, WA – When ProFormance Racing School gets the whole day for lapping the cars come in droves to take advantage of the track time.

This day six lucky drivers got to share the track with a legend in the car collector’s world Mr. Jay Leno.

Jay was at Pacific Raceways to film an upcoming episode of his CNBC show “Jay Leno’s Garage”. Always with a smile and passing humor until its time behind the wheel and in his driving suit, then all business takes over.

It was a great honor to meet Jay and look forward to watching the show when it airs.

Lots of cool images in this album – click here to go to them.

Import Faceoff at Pacific Raceways

06 May 2018 Kent, WA – Sunday morning the gates opened at 8:00am and the entrance lanes were three wide and out to the highway. Bringing in more people to the track for an event short of the “Nationals” the Import Face Off group has a huge following.

Leading the charge of course is the new and their new record holder Honda Civic and the Speed Factory team.

Import racers from Idaho, Oregon, and Washington come together for a car show contest and drags.

Thousands of people roamed around the car show then headed to the stands for the drags with many stopping in between for “Bigfoods” menu of goodies. Once again this year the IFO group had a great time bringing their show to Pacific Raceways.

This years winners are Jeff Bush in Outlaw, Ricky Saly in FWD, Jake Montgomery in Forced Induction Pro, John Wood in Forced Induction Sport, Joe Abele in All Motor Pro, Kristen Campbell in All Motor Sport and Deritrly Gerasimos in Bracket.

Lots of great images – click here.

Swift Tools ET Series #3 & Mark Lyle Jr Invitational

05 May 2018 Kent, WA – Early Saturday morning had a line of racers for the Swift Tool ET #3 and the WCSA, BB/FC, EF-65 Junior #4 plus the very first “Mark Lyle Junior Invitational”.

With the drivers meeting finished it was on to time trials for all classes minas the Juniors who will start the next round of qualifying. Always bringing it the classes of the WCSA and their one 8th mile racing and the BB/FC always please.

To me the highlight to the races today had to be the tribute to Mark Lyle. On hand the Lyle family was out in force with Marks wife Marcia watching and taking pictures on the wall and what has to be the greatest honor for a brother Ken Lyle was on the “switch” starting the Juniors.

This race day though would come to an early end as “Mother Nature” put an end to the great track prep by soaking it with water.

Some classes did have winners and they are Trenton Smith in Junior Street, Jacob Vanderwaal in High School, Sean Miller in Open Comp, Tim Vogt in Pro Street, Sherry Rohr in Outlaw 8.5, and Paja Agatonowic in Outlaw 10.5.

Almost 500 images from all the action today – lots to choose from! Click here to go to the photo album.

Cornwall Tools & Les Schwab Tires High School Drags

04 May 2018 Kent, WA – Friday brought out to the track the 48th All High School Drags sponsored by Cornwell Tools and Les Schwab Tires. Students from many of the high schools around Pacific Raceways bring their cars and trucks which ends up being bragging rights for that person and the school that gained the prizes put up by the sponsors.

Helping the schools some past grads up to age 25 run in the “Alumni” class and the big help they give the high schoolers in the lanes notably the dial-ins.

Ending up the best Kaden Bean scored for the high school class and Jake Tate took the alumni class.

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

Olympic Ironworks Motorcycle Race #1

02 May 2018 Kent, WA – Starting off the summer schedule Wednesday night the motorcycle riders were first up. This mid-week race has grown into a great meet and race around a bunch of friends.

Racers pitted around each other prepping their bikes, helping one another when needed and welcoming new riders to the race program. Combined with the bikes was a test and tune for cars and Jr. Dragsters. They filled up the lanes ready to test their machines and the track surface and its grip.

May 16th is the next date for the bikes, come on out for the mid-week racing.

Outlasting the rest of the class Mark Sires saved the best for last running one-thousands off his dial-in over Mike Evans who was a little off the mark.

Images from this 1st race of the series are now available – click here to go to the photo album.

Private Test Session at Pacific Raceways

26 April 2018 Kent, WA – When there is an open date at the dragstrip it can be used a racer who really needs the track time, he will grab it. Then word gets around that the track is booked for the day others will join in and help split the cost of the track rental. This cost can be split by up to ten players – the cap set by the track.

The range and reason for taking this track time can be all over but the common item is “seat” time. Under the watch full eye of dragstrip manager Ed Garfield and the always present Race Rescue ready for the 9:00am start. For Ed though the day began early as “Mother Nature” gold dusted the track surface with pollen. Brooming, dragging and spraying done before motors can legally start the track is ready.

Out today Speed Factory and their Honda Civic were getting it set up for an upcoming race. Hood off and getting the launch dialed in. Make a launch, stop, adjust, hit it again, back up to their pit and read the data cool it down and do it again when ready.

When the hood went back on you knew they were ready to make a full track run. And run they did throwing out the laundry after running a 7.58 @ 206 mph. That made their day on just a test pass.

Over in the pits a corral of turbo cars that that could be looking to run in the “Grudge” dates dialing them in. Ono of those cars a yellow/gold Mustang sporting a 302 Coyote motor had his hands full calming down the power to the wheels – he was losing traction on the launch. With the persistence of a true racer he figured it out to make a full pass and use the parachute hanging off the back end. By the end of the day all seemed to have things dialed in and ready to race.

Using the time also a few Jr. Dragsters were out for licensing and testing for their big event coming up in May. Finishing up the story I had to end with my long-time friend Jim Ronan and his wheel stander. Some could look at it as a “bucket list” though those that know Jim it has been a “goal” to license since purchasing the old “Knotts Berry Farm” truck.

Making changes over the winter to improve the truck with the aid of Russ Smith today dialed the wheel stander in little by little. Calming down the throttle hit to not jump up on the skid pads added greatly to get the truck up to the proper attitude. With this obtained Jim started making longer and longer runs at different parts of the track. Then came the big moment making a nice straight pass into high gear down the track better than 330 ft. captured on video and posted to Facebook by Edmund Woody Hloshyk ll.

The excitement that is all over Jim’s face is going to take a long time to calm down though now really looking forward to the next chance to ride the skid pads. Great job Bud.

It was an awesome day at the track – congrats to the Speed Factory folks as social media is buzzing on their world record performance.

Lots of great images, often from angles that are hard to get on a regular racing day. Check them out – click here to go to the photo album.