15 June 2014 Kent, WA – Ever drive on a wet surface with bald tires? On the streets this condition can get you in some not so good positions. Road racing tires for dry surfaces are pretty much the same on the outside, so try driving and controlling a race car at over 100 mph. This was the task for a number of classes on this Sunday race day.

Spinning tires get you nowhere fast and on a curve can get you facing the oncoming racecars in a blink. Those that did have rain tires fared well as the tires did their job as “rooster tails” and tire spray were quite visible. The track did dry out though for the class of cars that do not have “inner” fender wells to keep things dry to get their chance at Pacific Raceways 2.25mi. Ten turn legendary track.

Two Albums Worth of Images –

IRDC Practice – Friday June 13th, 2014 – Click Here

IRDC Main Event (Over 600 Images) – Click Here

SAMPLES

26 May 2014 Kent, WA – Nearly 150 entries rolled onto the Pacific Raceways legendary 2.25 mile road course for the 34th time: for this Memorial Day weekend of racing. The teams attending are from the Pacific Northwest, including parts of Canada. There were a number of teams from Nevada and California also that made the drive.

One driver came all the way from Miami Florida with his father overseeing him as this young man is only 17 years old. Has to be living a dream though, he is a good driver and is quite focused on the road ahead of him.

Local drag racers, the Ermish’s welcomed Troy from Tracy, CA for a family weekend get together, lots of smiles around that camp. I have to think that there is alot more families doing the same thing.

Enduring the weekend with the Northwest weather – still in spring mode was to be the challenge of the event. Cloudy, rain, sunny and dry has to make tuning and suspension changes a lot of log book moments.

Racing these fine machines in good conditions pushes man and race car to the limits, now throw in adverse weather and the seat of your pants becomes more in tune. For those who overcame all these conditions go to www.nwr-scca.org for the results.

Pacific Raceways has many wonderful vantage points and photo opportunities.  The weather provided a great variety of lighting conditions as well, so over 3,400 images are now available.  The pictures are broken down into four albums – by day, so please take a look at all of them for your favorites.

To go to the albums – click here.

SAMPLES

04 May 2014 Kent, WA – In what could be called their home track Seattle based SOVREN made their first visit of the season to Pacific Raceways 2.25 mile road course.

This brings some very vintage race cars to test them and their drivers to race for points towards a possible championship season. Under perfect weather conditions some of these race cars can fly, though this weekend “Mother Nature” and her cohort “Murphy’s Law” tested everyone involved.

On and off rain sometimes in “buckets” kept the track surface soaked and brought the lap times way down from normal. This fact pushed some of the racer’s to err on the side of caution and not “test” the laws of nature in these conditions and they left early, and that fact caused a change in plans for the SOVREN officials.

Officials got together with the racers and formed a plan for a shortened race day. Putting safety first, no sense in risking vintage cars to the weather. Visit SOVREN.org for info on results and upcoming events.

Over 1,100 images of all the action are now available for purchase – click here to go to them.

SAMPLES

06 Apr 2014 Kent, WA – It seems like when a list of dates are posted for track time an end date draws attention. The “Driving Days” dates over winter drew quite a number of driver’s with even more automobile types.

This day was a little different in that there were “race cars” out for an inexpensive “test-n-tune preparing for the upcoming race season. The early sessions were timed out to 20 minute sessions, and gave the cars a wet surface to drive upon. The “open wheel” group got the worst as “light rain” on “slicks” does not work well. After the track dried this group and the “advanced” driver’s got their chance to make them “slicks” test the 2.25 mile surface.

The group that had what could be called a “bad day” was the Mechanical Engineering Auto Cross Team from the University of Washington. After laying out a course of cones to “test” their designs the motor choose to puke a valve cover gasket not long after testing started, which ended their day early. Not knowing if any of the gasket went down into the motor they decided to err on the side of caution and take it back to school and look it over so they can “test” again next week. Smart students making smart decisions.

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

SAMPLES

30 Mar 2014 Kent, WA – As the “Winter” sport driving series nears it’s end your chance to get seat time at Pacific’s 2.25mi. track is about up.

The advantage you can gain as far as driving in weather that is “not” sunny and warm. Understanding what your car will do in rain,sleet,light snow not only helps on the track, but your everyday driving as well. Knowing what is going on when the car in front of you is throwing a “rooster tail” of water in the air, impeading your sight line view of where you are headed at 70 to 120mph is a nice piece of info when you are at freeway speed in the rain with cars all around you. The information you can gain taking advantage of these driving day’s in the weather is only a part of what you learn about you and your car. Check Pacific’s website for info on the next chance at the legendary track.

Images are now availbe – click here to go to the album.

22 Mar 2014 Kent, WA – Mother Nature did its part this weekend for the ChumpCar World Series at Pacific Raceways historic road course.

Based in California, ChumpCar made its first visit to the Northwest for a two day endurance race. Never heard of ChumpCar? Check out their web site, (www.ChumpCar.com) and you will find this “REAL RACING, REAL TRACKS, REAL CHEAP CARS”.

When they say cheap cars they mean it. $500.00 is the limit for the cost of the car minus safety equipment. With many ways to check the price of used cars and many to choose from it pays to follow the rules and there are many. TCV (total competition value), ACPV (average car-parts value) are two of most watched and documented portion of the series. Keeping costs for racing in check allows for just about anyone to join in and have the time of their life road course racing.

Post race inspections in other major motorsports are done pretty much behind closed doors, not the case here. The top five places are impounded and opened up for all to inspect. Car on jack stands, wheels off, hood up, no chance for any “rules” bending. ChumpCar executive rule #2 says it all, “Don’t screw with us and we won’t screw with you. Just bring a legal car”! After all is said and done all had a wonderful time here, even the few who encountered the mishap end of racing and look forward to returning next year.

Over 1,100 images of all the fun are now available – click here to go to the album.

The top five places for each day are as follows:

SATURDAY

1. Slingshot Racing
2. Chotchkie’s Racing
3. Alpo-na BMW
4. JAT
5. General Leif

SUNDAY

1. Son of Andre
2. TSR 1
3. Slingshot Racing
4. Eh! Team
5. Team Beagle

SAMPLE PHOTOS

01 Mar 2014 Kent, WA – A new month brought out the regular entrants to the HPSDD at Pacific Raceways road course along with some new faces with their wide range of cars taking laps on the famous road course.

This day brought a bit of everything when it came to the weather, light rain, no rain, even sleet teasing with a bit of snow. Most of this band of weather happened when the “students” were out on the track. At this point they were in a “lead follow” with the instructor in the lead car setting the pace and the line to follow around the track.

Along with classroom teaching this on track experience brings most grads back to lap the track in whatever weather conditions provide, confident in the schooling they got to overcome the conditions at hand. Go to Pacific Raceways web site to get the info you need to try it yourself.

Images are now available for purchase – click here to see them all.

SAMPLES