Pacific Raceways Renovation

[John Smillie]

Does anyone know when the major renovation at Pacific Raceways is supposed to take place? Did I hear King County bylaws were holding things up?

 

[none]

Does anyone know when the major renovation at Pacific Raceways is supposed to take place? Did I hear King County bylaws were holding things up?

I know there`s been talk of lowering the track and reversing the direction so that the evening sun is not directly in the drivers eyes for well over ten years now. Not sure if the Fiorito family has the $$ to do it, or if there`s issues with King Co. Maybe Kris Hill could dig into it and do a story.

 

[Kris]

I know there`s been talk of lowering the track and reversing the direction so that the evening sun is not directly in the drivers eyes for well over ten years now. Not sure if the Fiorito family has the $$ to do it, or if there`s issues with King Co. Maybe Kris Hill could dig into it and do a story.

Last time I tried to talk to anyone at the track, I was stood up. Shame, huh?

I am working on a package of stories for Seattle race.

I will try contacting the folks at the track and King County to see what's up.

 

[PDQ]

Thought someone posted on here awhile back that the new track design was axed by NHRA for being to short on the shut down area.

 

[Wayne]

The go-kart track looks great!!!

I've seen no changes since last years Nats & the last T-n-T we did last fall.

I'm anxious to see if Kris comes up with anything new. What I'd like to know is how much longer is the current contract w/NHRA is.

Seems that the current owners are just like all of the previous ones; short term profit is THE prioprity!!! They just don't get it. The racers & fans are just #s to them!!!

However there is no other "sandbox" in the area so NHRA just keeps keepin' on!!!

At last years Pinks All Out, everything was fantastic. However, we heard that the Pinks powers that be stated that there will never be another event @ SIR, err, Pacific Raceways!!!

 

[Kris]

I did a story on the go kart track last summer. Drove a go kart around while I was six months pregnant.
I meant to do a story on the Pinks episode done out at Pacific Raceways last summer but I got distracted... I may need to contact the PR folks for the network and see if they indeed have no interest in filming out there again.
Actually, I could probably contact NHRA regarding the contract.
It's my understanding that the Fioritos have always owned the track but for about 20 years leased it out ...
I put a feeler out to the folks at the track today and on Thursday I'll see what I can find out from King County.
Gosh, guys, it's like you think I don't have enough to do!

 

[Jim]

Seems that the current owners are just like all of the previous ones; short term profit is THE prioprity!!! They just don't get it. The racers & fans are just #s to them!!!

In order for a business to take a long-term view, it has to have the money set aside, or have financing in place, to sustain some profitless years. Without knowing the finances of the track owners, it is a bit presumptuous to assume you know their attitude toward racers and fans.

Jim

 

[John Smillie]

Who previously ran it? Jim Rockwell? Or Rockstead? Back then it was a dump, heck, my Dad almost fell through the old tall bleachers at the very top.

I think the Fioritos have made the adjustments needed to make it a respectable track but it's no where near some of the others on tour. It was pretty exciting 5-10 years ago when they made the renovation announcement.

I also remember hearing that they didn't want to use taxpayer money, and that the excavation of the lot (where the go-kart track is) was going to contribute to some of the cost.

Anyway, I still look forward to the old dust pile every year and having a few beers while waiting an hour or so to get out of the parking lot.

Does anyone remember the idiots who used to do burnouts in the grass until their tires blew? lol

 

[Wayne]

In order for a business to take a long-term view, it has to have the money set aside, or have financing in place, to sustain some profitless years. Without knowing the finances of the track owners, it is a bit presumptuous to assume you know their attitude toward racers and fans.

Jim

Sorry Jim but I call BS!
I am a fan, an occasional racer, & part of a group of friends who help another race. I've seen their attitude up close & personal towards me, other fans, & other racers!!!
They act like we're in their way and of no importance.

I do not know their finances or their actual plans for the future. All I know is how I have been treated and heard what others have had to say.

John: yea it was Jim Rockstad(sp?). I think he was a manager for the Fioritos, but am not sure.
I remember just 3-4 years ago they were hauling in plywood in the morning of Friday @ the National Event for the pit-side bleachers. And another year, again on Friday of the National, we couldn't get into the bleachers because (rumor has it) someone forgot to give the fire dept inspector HIS tickets for the weekend!!! :LOL:

HAHAHA The good ole SIR parking lot!!! HAHAHA
The key is to get there before dawn and not leave til midnight & you might get out ok!!!

 

[Wayne]

Gosh, guys, it's like you think I don't have enough to do!

Hey, at least you're NOT pregnant this year(are you?)!!!


Must remember to bring all camera batteries in case Joe has problems again!!!

 

[Meeks]

Last time I tried to talk to anyone at the track, I was stood up. Shame, huh?

I am working on a package of stories for Seattle race.

I will try contacting the folks at the track and King County to see what's up.

Hey Kris, can you tell me which hotels are straight down the road from the track or closest to it? I remember a thread a few years ago that you had talked about it but I couldn't find it. Thanks for your help!

 

[Kris]

Hey, at least you're NOT pregnant this year(are you?)!!!


Must remember to bring all camera batteries in case Joe has problems again!!!

Noooooo! Heh, not pregnant this year. Heh. I thought being pregnant had me running around like a crazy woman. Oh, no, being a new mom is way crazy busy. I had no idea!
Ooh, good point, I shall pick up an extra battery for Joe, er, me, just in case.

Hey Kris, can you tell me which hotels are straight down the road from the track or closest to it? I remember a thread a few years ago that you had talked about it but I couldn't find it. Thanks for your help!

Well your closest options would be Auburn or "downtown" Kent. I would suggest Kent because then you can minimize time spent on state Route 18. There's a back way I can tell you (via PM, too many people know my back ways now!) from Kent that will cut down on entry traffic.

Here's a link to what I think would be nicest:
Kent Hotel | Best Western Plaza by the Green | Kent, Washington

I am not sure, though I know no one asked me, who ran the the track prior to the Fioritos resuming day to day operations. Also, the announcement of the master plan renovations was made in 2006, so it's been four years. They have made some improvements but not on the scale proposed. Of course, these kinds of things can take time, especially when dealing with King County. I'm just trying to figure out who in the monolithic county bureaucracy I need to contact to find out where things are at... I should have gone to the annual CUP (conditional use permit) meeting they have every fall but, I was kind of getting ready to go on maternity leave... i.e., about to pop. LOL!

The only other track I've been to is Vegas but I know Pacific Raceways is a far cry still from where it could be...
So, I'm working on it. We'll see if I get anywhere with the folks at the track and the county. It's gotten harder with the track people since they made a staff change in the marketing department. I tried to get a direct line to Jason Fiorito four years ago but was told to contact Charlie Kester (the former marketing guy) if I wanted to talk to Jason...

 

[Ma Green]

Although I don't know who owned the property, Bill Doner leased the track in the '70s & '80s. When he moved to SoCal, he put Jim Rockstad in charge at both Seattle and Portland. If I remember correctly, Jim got the lease once Doner gave it up and once the Portland track closed.

 

[Sleepy]

"HAHAHA The good ole SIR parking lot!!! HAHAHA
The key is to get there before dawn and not leave til midnight & you might get out ok!!! "

Ha. I remember a big meet in the late 60s. We probably got to the gate at about 2am ( woohoo, 1st in line ). We were in my 63 PLYM. I had burnt the circuit board in the dash cluster, but knew I had prob 1/2 tank left. Gate opens, I hit the key and it fired ... for about 10 seconds. By the time I got gas, there musta been 10,000 people there.

 

[Kris]

Still waiting to hear from the folks at the track.

Got a call from King County yesterday afternoon... like 10 minutes after I inquired about it. They're trying to track down info for me. Told them not to rush, I've got about a week before the race is here, but it would make for a nice sidebar to go with the rest of what I'm working on to preview the race.

I've got a pro racer (one of the dragsters has a crew member from my neck of the woods) and a sportsman racer from Oregon nailed down (they always have issues running the national event up here, pretty cool story) and I'm trying to get with Brad Plourd, too, or any other sportsman racer from the area.

Since this is the track's 50th anniversary year, I figured a little update on things would fit well with the write up about the NHRA race. Let's hope it works out.

 

[Coop]

{...biting my tongue...biting my tongue...biting my tongue...mmmm, I think I taste blood...}

 

[clock guy]

I feal your pain Mitch

 

[clwill]

I'm trying to get with Brad Plourd, too, or any other sportsman racer from the area.

Brad Plourd is down here racing S/C with us in Woodburn Oregon for the divisional this weekend. Just saw him take Charlotte Lucas's car down the track in the pair before us about an hour ago.

While I'll certainly bite my tongue as well about promises made/kept at Pacific, at least last year they got people in who were trying to run a tight ship. But the national last year was a cluster (from the perspective of the sportsman), their test/tune days are all about the street racer, and are run poorly.

Our Pacific Northwest Super Comp Association (I'm VP of the group) tried to get a race weekend there this year and they said "no thanks". What? You don't want ~25 racers there spending money for a two day event? Nope... Don't get it.

 

[Kris]

Brad Plourd is down here racing S/C with us in Woodburn Oregon for the divisional this weekend. Just saw him take Charlotte Lucas's car down the track in the pair before us about an hour ago.

While I'll certainly bite my tongue as well about promises made/kept at Pacific, at least last year they got people in who were trying to run a tight ship. But the national last year was a cluster (from the perspective of the sportsman), their test/tune days are all about the street racer, and are run poorly.

Our Pacific Northwest Super Comp Association (I'm VP of the group) tried to get a race weekend there this year and they said "no thanks". What? You don't want ~25 racers there spending money for a two day event? Nope... Don't get it.

You've gotten further than me... I can't even get to someone to tell me no.

 

[Alexsyellowjello]

They have new people, again. I wish Russell was still there At least he would talk to you.