Category Archives: Pacific Raceway

Pacific Raceway Events and Activities

Springfest at Pacific Raceways

Posted on by

02 Mar 2019 Kent, WA – Having outgrown their past locations for lack of room the move to the grounds at Pacific Raceways became the new home for this car show, vendors, lead/follow on the road course and people, lots of people.

When the need to use parking akin to the NHRA Nationals, it was obvious there are a lot of people attending this event held for the first time at the track.

Great sunny skies but still some winter chill got the spectators into the stands soaking the sun while downing food from the various vendors as the lead/follow cars flew by on the track.

I would have to say the interest in this event by the number of attending people is something you might want to mark on your smart phone for next years date, it will only get bigger and better.

Lots of great photos of all the action at this big event – click here to go to the photo album.

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

Posted on by

26 Jan 2019 Kent, WA – It was a classroom full of students and a paddock loaded with lappers out to take advantage of the great winter driving weather at ProFormance Racing School. For the students sitting in the classroom at the Performance Racing School the unknown is about to be pointed out with discussion and charts.

Owner and instructor Don Kitch will guide you thru the four exercises you will be doing and the correct way to navigate the 2.25 mile track at Pacific Raceways. Going thru the class will open your eyes to the things that you may and will confront out on the hi-ways and bi-ways and how to safely navigate thru them when it happens.

Young drivers, seasoned drivers and even bucket listers praise the program at the end of the day. Contact Performance Racing School and learn what they are talking about.

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

Holiday Classes at ProFormance Racing School

Posted on by

15 Dec 2018 Kent, WA – Tis the end of the school season for Performance Racing School and 2018. To all those that went to school this year, Great Job, to all those that have not you are missing out on becoming a better and safer driver on the hi-ways and bi-ways.

Knowing and feeling what your auto is doing when turning and slamming on the binders will tune you into what to expect and how to react when doing so is just one portion of what Don Kitch and his staff of instructors teach you in a day long session.

Want a great X-Mas present for a loved one or even for yourself? Sign up for a class after the holidays at the Performance Racing School web site and start the new year by becoming a better driver.

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

Toys For Tots – NW Toy Drive at Pacific Raceways

Posted on by

02 Dec 2018 Kent, WA – Each December the Pacific Raceways property plays host to some very generous people. The annual NW Toy Drive benefiting Toys for Tots, is 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 2.25 mile track a “lead/follow” run was overseen by ProFormance Racing School 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 was 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 of all the fun, and Santa too are now available – click here to go to the photo album.

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

Posted on by

01 Dec 2018 Kent, WA – Word continues to 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 all the courses today are now available – click here to go to the photo album.

Final Test-N-Tune of the 2018 Season at Pacific Raceways

Posted on by

20 Oct 2018 Kent, WA – The end of the season for the dragstrip at Pacific Raceways is a test and tune/gambler race, and as always weather permitting. This day started at daylight with 100% humidity and visibility less than 1/8th mile and the sun no where in sight until the fog lifts.

The previous few days this was the pattern between 9 and 10 am then the fog was gone and things warmed up nicely to the 60’s. This day however “Mother Nature” had other plans for the 175 plus racers and the area around the dragstrip, though just a few hundred feet in elevation it is sunny and warm while here it is, see your breath chilly and you can see barely a mile.

Track temps now in the 60’s with “street” tires only running the track and little by little warming the surface as the sun is now peeking thru the fog aiding in the process to prep the track for cars with the “slick” tires to make runs.

With the sun out nicely and everyone having made a run, it was time for the “Gambler”. The race is one run only and the “best package” takes the cash.

Two “winners” emerge, electronic and non-electronic, each earning a “GIFT” package of Bardahl products provided by sales representative Renea Berger who shared the winners circle with the electronics winner Mary Burckhard and drag strip manager Ed Garfield.

Taking home all the way to Mission, BC in the non-electronics class is Chris Stone in his ’68 Dart laying down a 0.040 package. Congratulations to both winners and see you sometime mid-March for the next TnT.

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

West Coast Grudge Season Ends With A Bonus

Posted on by

13 Oct 2018 Kent, WA – The West Coast Grudge Series ended their 2018 season with a bonus day of racing. The last date was added after the last race was rained out and it turned out to be a great move for the racers and spectators alike.

Pairing up with a test and tune date already on the docket brought over 200 entries eager to hit the instant green and 1/8th mile distance, and many hit speeds over 150 mph.

A huge thing for the series is the spectators that come out and watch these wicked machines do battle – the stands filled with more people than all the previous dates put together, it was great to see that and I am sure that the great weather that “Mother Nature” provided helped.

To all those involved in bringing this series to the northwest, Congrats to all your hard earned efforts and a job well done. From an idea born from Mike Bader and Dave Stolz and grabbed by the horns, Willy Peterson and his gang have built a series that will continue to evolve as the years go by.

We will see more and more bad fast cars and trucks to the Northwest and “Instant Green” racing.

Over 500 great images of these amazing cars are now available – click here to go to the photo album.  As always thank you for your support and purchases!!

WINNERS
Mike Thielen in Outlaw 10.5
Daniel Rodrique in Skinny
Dan Hermann in Stick
Eric McLaughlin in 6.50
Kenny O,Keefe in 7.50
Brad Craig in the 8.50 class

Test-N-Tune & Gambler at Pacific Raceways

Posted on by

07 Oct 2018 Kent, WA – October racing in the northwest or as some say the “Northwet” is always a gamble. Todays ability to go on the smart phone and see what the weather is doing and forecasted to do just about to the second can be a blessing or a curse.

Adding to that the direction from which the weather is coming can by just a scant mile be totally different. This became the factor in in which the date became a “rainout” as Pacific Raceway was just inside the border of rain/no-rain and just enough came down to make it un-safe and irritate everyone.

Here are the images from today’s rain-shortened day – click here to go to the photo album.

The weather though looks good for the Oct. 13th date and the 20th is too far away and this is drag racing in the “Northwest” at its best.

Full Day of Classes at ProFormance Racing School

Posted on by

05 Oct 2018 Kent, WA – As fall and winter driving is upon us the changes to your driving style come about. Slick surfaces just jump up in the roads after baking all summer long. Now in a classroom warm and dry as the rain comes down outside and you hear that your day is not ruined because of the rain, as a matter of fact it will help you grasp what the instructors are trying to teach you.

In this case the rain is an aid and not a deterrent. The skills you gain from taking the class can and will help your driving here in the great “Northwet” season. Contact ProFormance Racing School for your date to become a better driver in the rain.

Great group today at ProFormance Racing School – images are now available – click here to go to the photo album.