Nostalgia & Jr Dragsters Complete Busy Weekend at Pacific Raceways

09 July 2017 Kent, WA – In a rare race on Sunday the Jr. Dragster racers came ready to race at Pacific Raceways. The juniors were paired up with the Nostalgia group of racers and fine old race cars.

The weather could not have been better for the six classes in the nostalgia series which is great for all those that own the autos built before the mid 70’s. All four American auto manufactures could be seen racing down the track, with a couple of Topalino bodied cars thrown in for something different.

For the Jr’s it was business as usual, laughing and joking around as kids do, but climb into the dragster and its all business. This is true of all the competitors here today as it all revolves around family. All around the pit spaces that are not much more than a camping setup families come out to enjoy the sport they enjoy with the smell of bacon filling the morning air.

This combination of old school racers and their cars mixed with the next generation of racers is a great mix for all to see what was and what will be.

Over 400 images of all the racing today, lots of cool shots of racers “doin it old school” too. Click here to go to the photo album.

WINNERS

Dragster/Roadster – Dave Welch
Hot Rod 1 – Rob Lindley
Hot Rod 2 – Joe Locke
Street Machine 1 – James Van Cleve
Street Machine 2 – Larry DeCamp
Top Gas – Austin Calhoun
Jr. Lightning – Kaden Bean
Jr. Thunder – Ryan Warnke

Swift Tools ET Series #9, United Nitro Funny Cars Part of Busy Day at Pacific Raceways

08 July 2017 Kent, WA – The Saturday marked for the 8th of July arrived, and along with the normal Super Saturdays line up the United Nitro Funny Car group came ready to play. Shooting for the top eight spots in these old school race cars made for a great show.

When counting the qualifying rounds these cars made a bunch of passes giving all those watching quite a show. Those around for the old 64 funny car days remember what these race dates are all about.

These ground pounders always get the people running to their seats to take in the action. Fitted with current safety equipment is really the only difference from their past days on the track. Legendary promoter Bill Doner who brought the 64 funny car events to then Seattle International Raceway now does it again to the original named Pacific Raceways.

With the aid of local racer Bucky Austin they put together a summertime event that has not been to the track in many years. The aroma and sounds of nitro at a non-national event gets you a tad bit closer to the action, besides its “old school” racing from the hay day of these funny cars. I have no clue as to another event next year but me and the thousands that came out for the event sure hope so as it is a great fit to the “Super Saturday” dates that are on Pacific’s schedule thru out the season.

LIST OF WINNERS

Funny Car – Bobby Cottrell
Top Comp – Kevin Heffington
Super Gas – Lloyd Flatum
Stock – James Boyce
Sportsman – Paul Young
Motorcycle – John Plaster
High School – Jeff Jackson Jr.

Lots of great images are now available – Old School Nitro Funny Cars too. Got to check out this week’s images! – Click here to go to the photo album.

Car Club, Cars of the 253, and United Nitro Funny Cars!

07 July 2017 Kent, WA – Starting off a big weekend of racing at Pacific Raceways was the Friday night “instant” green for The Cars of the 253 and Car Club with their pack of members sporting their daily drivers and pure race cars.

Running their series on Fridays thru the season the car club members gather pretty much together in the upper “bowl” area of the track. This club of racers has also grown over the years as word spreads of the fun with family and friends and the “common” bonds they share. Not easy to be a repeat winner with the diversity in the club’s race cars. This fact really gives no one an edge and it can be anyone’s night to win.

Coming out on top this night Craig Smith and his ’95 Camaro edged out Bill Cadle and his ’64 Polara.

Also building is the “new” class called “The Cars Of The 253”. Running on selected dates, The Cars of the 253 also use the “instant” green start for racing. Only running to the 1/8th mile the reaction to the green can and will catch you off guard. With “no” amber lights counting down to green to set you up you have to be ready once both are staged. Brain to finger or thumb on a button or foot on the brake pedal “will” really test your reaction to the green. Those that cut some pretty good lights under the “normal” tree are finding a bit bigger number on their time slip. Adding to the fact once you get that slip you get “no” info on who you raced. Call someone out, pair up and hit the tree with first to the stripe the winner. This is pure “heads up” racing at its best taken from the streets to the “safety” of the dragstrip.

Top of the list tonight is Lloyd Flatum and his ’01 S-10. Next race for this group is Aug. 11th.

Rounding out the evening was the United Nitro Funny Cars (UNFC) setting up for their race on Saturday; the teams got their first qualifying hit. There is nothing like “nitro” sounds reverberating around the track. The class is the combination of Bill Doner and Bucky Austin bringing the United Nitro Funny Car event to the track. Not quite the “64” funny car event from Doner’s past here at the track but a big event none the less.

Also not the nitro funny cars you see at the national event held each summer at Pacific Raceways these are “old school” race cars like they raced back in the day. Yes they “do” have current safety equipment on the cars and a little help from the lessons learned from the technology developed since these cars ran in their heyday.

Top of the field going into Saturday is Mark Sanders throwing down a 5.677 et at 224.81 mph.

Lots of great images are now available, including some from up high – click here to check them all out. Again thank you very much for your support and purchases!

Two Days of Action at ProFormance Racing School

06 July 2017 Kent, WA – It was two days and two separate classes at the ProFormance Racing School at Pacific Raceways, but the same set of exercises for both. Wednesday saw a mix of cars and drivers with Thursday being women only and their daily drivers.

ProFormance Racing School and its instructors will take you through four exercises, two at each end of the Pacific Raceways property that will teach you what to do in case evasive action is needed when you are behind the wheel.

Two stages run you at 25 mph and two at 50 mph. Who knew that jamming on the brakes would bring a boatload of smiles after doing so. The feeling you get in the seat of your pants telling you what “you” told your car to do “will” teach what to do once you put “input” into the steering wheel.

All this is explained to you in the classroom by Don Kitch then put into practice on track overseen by the instructors and de-briefed by said instructors on what they seen and heard as you go thru each of the exercises. This all before noon then it’s out on the track with an instructor driving your car around the 2.25 mile road course for two laps on track showing you the correct way to complete a lap, then it’s your turn.

Drivers are usually timid at first then as the laps go by the times to lap the track get shorter in time, hence faster speeds and under control. Without a doubt the best bang for the buck you can do for yourself or your child.

Images for the two days are organized into two albums:

AM SKILLS, NOVICE HP & PM LAPPING – JULY 5th, 2017

WOMEN ONLY HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVING EXPERIENCE – JULY 6th, 2017

Go to the ProFormance website for info on your date to become a better driver.

PRDC & Diesel Drag Racing at Pacific Raceways

28 June 2017 Kent, WA – After a weekend of record-heat the mid-week bike and diesel drags basked in cloudy skies and very comfortable temperatures. Along with the two regular Wednesday series running tonight, the test and tune lanes saw quite a mix of street cars and some true race cars out to test and earn a competition license.

One of those out for the process of getting a competition license was a guy named Gary. Two years of hard work with near five more just putting around on his 1970 Duster. It runs on pump gas and uses a footbrake to launch, it also has no side windows and drives on the streets. This is where the description of the car takes a turn as it is modeled after the very early “funny cars”. No lift-up body here, it has “doors” on both sides and they are all metal though the guts have been removed for weight.

The car is fully caged as per NHRA rules with a motor that fits the era. He set out to bring about a “street” car with all the looks of “old” school that he could safely motor around the hi-ways enjoying his project.

He plans on running it on the track though at this point the class is unknown but with his good friend Randy Parker there to help-out; no telling what class it will fall into.

Good luck wherever you land and look forward to seeing it run again.

Images are now online and available for purchase – click here to go to the photo album.

PRDC winner: Jim Were
Diesel winner: Ray Bartroff
Money winner: Kam Kling

Fantastic Finale to Four Days of LODRS Action at Pacific Raceways

25 June 2017 Kent, WA – Hosting a NHRA Northwest Division 6 event brings the best of the best to grab that “Wally” trophy when all is said and done. Pacific Raceways has two of these events this season, something I don’t think they have done before. Yes, they did have a “two” event weekend under a previous division director but not two separate dates.

There had to be a little question in the minds of those that put this date on the schedule, see as a lot will say in the northwest say “summer” begins on the 5th of July. Not the case this four-day race weekend. Mother nature threw down nothing but sunshine though increasing the temp every day with race day Sunday jumping into the 90’s, not normal for the end of June and just a few days into summer.

The gamble you play with Mother Nature paid off this day of “finals” as it reads like a “who’s who” in division six racing.

Starting with Jeff Lane, a many time division champion picking up another “Wally” in Competition Eliminator. Who else but Jody Lang in Super Stock, another many time “Wally” winner. Method Racing is a name you will see many times in Stock Eliminator, either Cal or Mary Ann powering their “Nova” to another “Wally”.

Top Sportsman saw a very first-time winner of the coveted “Wally” when James Rutherford came all the way from Wembley, Alberta Canada, (a 15hr. drive) and hoisted his trophy. Another name you will see is Paul Nero taking care of business in Top Dragster to grab the “Wally”.

In what has to be the best-looking pit area the Dalrymple’s came in force with “five” race machines for at least three separate classes. Hoisting the “Wally” this time out of the group, Michael got it done in Super Comp. Taking the ’63 Corvette to the winner’s circle and another name that grace’s the D-6 books, Chris Cannon put his hand around the “Wally” in Super Gas.

Many of his friends call him “Bags” but his name is Steve Beggerly, past track champ in the E.T. series at Pacific Raceways and has lifted a “Wally” in the past did it again in Super Street. Coming up from Gladstone, OR, Don DePeel powered his ’74 Kawasaki for a “Wally” in Sportsman Motorcycle.

No stranger to the “Wally” himself, Dale Green put his DG Machine ’08 American dragster in the winner’s circle. Another local racer, Al Chinn and his ’64 Nova Wagon running in a “not” normal class for him put it in the winner’s circle holding up the “Wally”.

Congrats to all the winners who endured the heat for a fine four days of racing.

The event album now sports a total of five albums, covering all four days of racing, testing, and qualifying. Some great shots of action on the finish line are included, and are really cool, in spite of the heat this weekend. To go to the event albums – click here.

Also a young lady very near and dear to myself and my daughter up from Boise spending time with her squeeze Jason while he worked the race spending a little time with a strange camera (she shoots Cannon I shoot Nikon) working on her own photography skills. Thank You young lady, till next time.

LODRS Test-N-Tune at Pacific Raceways

22 June 2017 Kent, WA – Pacific Raceways is hosting the NHRA Division-6 racers this weekend. They are coming to the track the first of two times this season, racing in June as compared to the middle of August will be a change for the racers.

People in the Northwest joke about summer beginning on July 5th but the weather forecasted for this weekend it will seem like the late summer event. Plenty of hydration is going to be the order of the weekend as the temps are jumping 10 to 15 degrees above the normal for this just into summer time race.

Should be a great weekend for racing, come on out and see the action, it will be great also.

Images from the Test-N-Tune sessions today are now available – click here to go to the main event album for today’s images. More images will be added over the course of the weekend.

Good luck to all the drivers and teams!!

Car Club & WCSA at Pacific Raceways

17 June 2017 Kent, WA – Two quite different clubs brought their action to the track, one for the evening and the other for the weekend. For those in the Car Club it’s another race in their series that brings all sorts of race cars to run down the track, from pure race cars and a bunch of daily drivers.

This diversity makes for some pretty strange pair-ups running each other. Divided into the main three car makers (Ford-GM-Mopar) in the lanes you see diversity for yourself. This night though the GM brand won out in the finals as a pair of Camaros one a 1969 and the other a 2013 faced off for the trophy. Ken Nylin and his 2013 bested Larry DeCamp and his 1969 to pick up the hardware.

To the WCSA their action on Friday is to qualify for their race on Saturday. Running only 1/8th mile these high horsepower race cars run on only an 8 ½ inch wide racing slick tire. Harnessing that power on a tire that should be twice the size is the goal. Add to that because you qualify one day and race the next can bring “mother nature” into play.

This fact is the demise of many a race day in the northwest as the weather finally put an end to a huge effort by the drag crew to make it happen. Also bitten by the rain was race number eight in the E.T. series and race number three in the H.S. series.

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

The Next race is July 9th for the E.T. and H.S. series.