I take SE 240th to/from work every day
Sir
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
heres a link to their "Renovation" plans just incase someone hasnt seen them http://www.pacificraceways.com/prcel.cfm
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,094
Likes: 5
From: The 7th layer of hell - Western Washington
Do I need to get my "high speed license" or whatever it's called to participate in lapping days?
What all do I need to have to come out and play with everybody either for a 1/4 mile drag day or a lapping day?
I have raced auto-cross with BSCC a few times, but never full road course or drags...
What all do I need to have to come out and play with everybody either for a 1/4 mile drag day or a lapping day?
I have raced auto-cross with BSCC a few times, but never full road course or drags...
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Track days typically involve a safety inspection for the car and that's not much more than an autocross type of tech inspection. Good suspension components, battery held down, good tires, hard brake pedal, seat belts in good shape, nothing loose inside.
For the car, make sure that you have tires in good condition, the brake pads can be stock but should be in new or near-new shape, fresh brake fluid (a good DOT3 is fine for Novice drivers at SIR or PIR), a helmet in good condition that meets a minimum of Snell SA95 or SA00 standards.
Like autocross events, everything has to be out of the car. A small fire extinguisher is nice to have mounted somewhere.
If you have not run a road course before, you will typically get an instructor to ride with you. Novice class drivers usually don't get to pass and in some cases, are even held to speeds by a pace car.
For the car, make sure that you have tires in good condition, the brake pads can be stock but should be in new or near-new shape, fresh brake fluid (a good DOT3 is fine for Novice drivers at SIR or PIR), a helmet in good condition that meets a minimum of Snell SA95 or SA00 standards.
Like autocross events, everything has to be out of the car. A small fire extinguisher is nice to have mounted somewhere.
If you have not run a road course before, you will typically get an instructor to ride with you. Novice class drivers usually don't get to pass and in some cases, are even held to speeds by a pace car.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 570
Likes: 0
From: Puyallup WA
I would be interested in going to the track just to watch and learn.. This is my first Vette and have only had it less than two weeks -- better learn to drive it on the street before I attempt the track..
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Rose City Corvettes hosts a track day at PIR in Portland that costs about $110 including lunch.
The best thing to do is to check the websites for SIR and PIR to see what different car clubs schedule for track days and contact that club to see if they wil accept your entry. The chances are that you can get in and the costs may be in the $110 to $175 range.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 0
From: Thompson Falls MT
During good weather, there are a number of car clubs that host open track days at either SIR or PIR and the fees for those events are typically much lower than what the track itself or ProDrive charges. For example the Corvette Marque Club of Seattle hosts a track day in July for about $160.
As ccj mentioned earlier you may want to try BMW or Alfa or Porshce events. There are several of us Z06ers that have done Alfa's May event for several years now. They run a good show. Looks like their price jumped to $200. 
http://www.nwalfaclub.com/track/calendar.php
You might try Speedware Motorsports events too. They hold several track days each year. I did their Sept event and got in around 150 track miles. That's the first time I had to leave and fill up so I could come back for more.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Sorry to hear that CMCS lost its playday 
I had my schedule cleared for that one (finally!). The same thing happened to RCC; ALMS pulled out of PIR; they had the last weekend of July so PIR moved the RCC track day from August to ehe end of July so they can get their maintenance program going.
I'm probably going to move up to the Advanced rungroup this year. At the last event, there were 30 cars in the Intermediate group and it was next to impossible to pass once yo got stuck in a group.
Maybe trailering down to Thunderhill or even Laguna Seca this spring or early summer might be a plan.
I had my schedule cleared for that one (finally!). The same thing happened to RCC; ALMS pulled out of PIR; they had the last weekend of July so PIR moved the RCC track day from August to ehe end of July so they can get their maintenance program going.I'm probably going to move up to the Advanced rungroup this year. At the last event, there were 30 cars in the Intermediate group and it was next to impossible to pass once yo got stuck in a group.
Maybe trailering down to Thunderhill or even Laguna Seca this spring or early summer might be a plan.
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 0
From: Thompson Falls MT
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The "high performance" group looked like it was for a select few but there were some fast cars and good drivers in there. Maybe that's why the Advanced group was so small.
One thing that hurt last year was the delays in the morning Novice and Intermediate groups by having all of us pulled off the track. I think I got all of 3 laps at speed in the first run group that morning.
One thing that hurt last year was the delays in the morning Novice and Intermediate groups by having all of us pulled off the track. I think I got all of 3 laps at speed in the first run group that morning.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
I'll probably be instructing at the first BMW event so if anyone makes it out there, look for a GS 
One of the previous posters has an avitar that shows a convertible. If you have a convertible, most clubs will not let you run on the track during their track days unless you have a roll bar. Just an "fyi"
If anyone plans on going to Spokane or Portland, we should try and get together as a group for the drive down. Makes for more fun.
One of the previous posters has an avitar that shows a convertible. If you have a convertible, most clubs will not let you run on the track during their track days unless you have a roll bar. Just an "fyi"
If anyone plans on going to Spokane or Portland, we should try and get together as a group for the drive down. Makes for more fun.
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: anacortes washington
I'll probably be instructing at the first BMW event so if anyone makes it out there, look for a GS
One of the previous posters has an avitar that shows a convertible. If you have a convertible, most clubs will not let you run on the track during their track days unless you have a roll bar. Just an "fyi"
If anyone plans on going to Spokane or Portland, we should try and get together as a group for the drive down. Makes for more fun.
One of the previous posters has an avitar that shows a convertible. If you have a convertible, most clubs will not let you run on the track during their track days unless you have a roll bar. Just an "fyi"
If anyone plans on going to Spokane or Portland, we should try and get together as a group for the drive down. Makes for more fun.
Will the factory hardtop on my vert count as a roll bar, I heard that it would? Would love to join in the fun, its been about 35 years since I've been out to SIR.
see ya on the road
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 1
From: Seattle
Several years ago I took the SCCA class from ProFormance at SIR (PIR). When I still had my 996 C2 Carrera I also drove in Porsche Club events and the ProFormance lapping days.
All the groups restrict access until you have proven your capabilities and receive some training. This is to promote safety and they all appeared to be doing a good job. As you move up in the speed groups you typically get more driving per day.
IMHO since my time is more limited than the difference in price of the groups, I like the ProFormance days the most as they seem to supply the most track time per day.
All the groups restrict access until you have proven your capabilities and receive some training. This is to promote safety and they all appeared to be doing a good job. As you move up in the speed groups you typically get more driving per day.
IMHO since my time is more limited than the difference in price of the groups, I like the ProFormance days the most as they seem to supply the most track time per day.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I'll probably be instructing at the first BMW event so if anyone makes it out there, look for a GS
One of the previous posters has an avitar that shows a convertible. If you have a convertible, most clubs will not let you run on the track during their track days unless you have a roll bar. Just an "fyi"
If anyone plans on going to Spokane or Portland, we should try and get together as a group for the drive down. Makes for more fun.
One of the previous posters has an avitar that shows a convertible. If you have a convertible, most clubs will not let you run on the track during their track days unless you have a roll bar. Just an "fyi"
If anyone plans on going to Spokane or Portland, we should try and get together as a group for the drive down. Makes for more fun.
Most vert's don't get out without a roll bar. But the Rose City Corvette Club holds their event each year at PIR and convertibles are allowed at that specific event.As far as factory hardtops, you would still have to check with the event but it should be OK as long as the top is properly installed. The factory hardtop has the same type of halo bar as the coupe has and that, coupled with the heavy steel mounting brackets used to attach the top makse the vert stiffer than a coupe.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
As an aside, my experience with the road race (NASA) & HPDE (PCA, BMW, etc) folks is that 99.9% of the people are terrific to be around and they just like cars in general regardless of what they drive. I've done everything from helping to bleed brakes on a Mustang, to teaming with a 911 owner to change out an Opti that died on a mid 90s F-body. I've recieved help as well, no questions asked. Sure, there can be a little ribbing and competition but the attitudes and willingness to help out a fellow track junkie are consistent from track to track across the country and really make the events enjoyable
Last edited by 96GS#007; Jan 11, 2007 at 11:57 AM.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Fall City, WA
Several years ago I took the SCCA class from ProFormance at SIR (PIR). When I still had my 996 C2 Carrera I also drove in Porsche Club events and the ProFormance lapping days.
All the groups restrict access until you have proven your capabilities and receive some training. This is to promote safety and they all appeared to be doing a good job. As you move up in the speed groups you typically get more driving per day.
IMHO since my time is more limited than the difference in price of the groups, I like the ProFormance days the most as they seem to supply the most track time per day.
All the groups restrict access until you have proven your capabilities and receive some training. This is to promote safety and they all appeared to be doing a good job. As you move up in the speed groups you typically get more driving per day.
IMHO since my time is more limited than the difference in price of the groups, I like the ProFormance days the most as they seem to supply the most track time per day.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Fall City, WA
If your a novice or have never tried to get involved there seems to be several oppurtunities to get started, they have all been touched upon but I will elaborate a little bit.
There are few clubs that don't require any prior experience before letting you out on Pacific Raceways.
1. Corvette Marque Club - run with no prior experience with an instructor.
2. Mustang Northwest - run with no prior experience... I haven't run with them for several years, they may have instructors available now.
3. NW Alfa Romeo Club - They have a few steps to get you ready for the big track (Pacific), which I would HIGHLY recommend. They have a novice skills day in Nov. and Feb. March @ Bremerton you need to attend first and the next step is they have you run a novice track day @ Bremerton.
4. BMW Puget Sound chapter (may need to be a member) - similar to Alfa above.
5. ProFormance Driving School.
6. Race School @ Mission Raceway in Vancouver BC.
I hope that helps.
There are few clubs that don't require any prior experience before letting you out on Pacific Raceways.
1. Corvette Marque Club - run with no prior experience with an instructor.
2. Mustang Northwest - run with no prior experience... I haven't run with them for several years, they may have instructors available now.
3. NW Alfa Romeo Club - They have a few steps to get you ready for the big track (Pacific), which I would HIGHLY recommend. They have a novice skills day in Nov. and Feb. March @ Bremerton you need to attend first and the next step is they have you run a novice track day @ Bremerton.
4. BMW Puget Sound chapter (may need to be a member) - similar to Alfa above.
5. ProFormance Driving School.
6. Race School @ Mission Raceway in Vancouver BC.
I hope that helps.