More on the proposed NASCAR track

It looks like it's getting closer...
For those who didn't see this article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4735623/

While I'm no big fan of NASCAR, I'm in favor of anything to bolster support for motor racing. BTW, if you haven't seen it, the IMAX movie on NASCAR (in 3-D) is awesome.

In other news, I just got the diagnosis on the 512TR from FoS - a bad O2 sensor. Someone suggested that (Dan R? Steve J?) as the culprit and they get the gold star.

Cheers,
Will

 

Will,

They should add an infield road course section too.

I believe kudos goes to Dan R. for the on-the-spot diagnosis.

Hope you could get the car back by Saturday's club event at Carlo's.

 

Bob O's TR is in for diagnostic due to the 'lean bank, rich bank' syndrome. It all cropped up when he put the Tubi on. An O2 wouldn't be off the mark.

I'm with Willis on putting a road course in the infield of the proposed track. They would be crazy not to. Pacific Raceways road course desparately needs reconfiguring and resurfacing to be a competitive track again and I am afraid it's not going to happen anytime soon. A new road course 5 minutes from my house would be 'kind of neat!'.

I read the article in the Herald today and it looks like the prefered site can be developed up to 700+ acres. I think they could fit a road course in there somehow. They would have room for a drag strip too, yeeehaaww!

 

I hope this will light a fire under the guys at Pacific Raceways to make improvements.

 

I agree. The Fiorito bros. are cleaning things up and have expressed ambitious plans but they have a LONG way to go to make it into a desirable venue that would merit national attention. Wouldn't it be great though.............

My dad started taking me to "Kent Pacific Raceways" back in the early 60's when the road racing was BIG on that track with big names and great cars. I would like to see it happen again! KRIKEE! They don't even have a road course pits!

 

Not being a big NASCAR fan myself, I don't look at the new track as such because of the potential for all of the 'other' types of racing that can be enjoyed there.

NASCAR is no longer an accurate term for that type of racing anyway. With the entry of Toyota into the field it is no longer exclusively American and the cars are anything but stock!

 

I'm not into NASCAR either. With the track built and racing begin, I'll go see a race. Might even be fun.

 

The sound of horsepower always gets my blood going regardless of the type. Willis, I'll see you there!.

 

The prospects of the new track is awesome! I am not a fan of NASCAR, but would probably go to at least one race, but more importantly (as others mentioned) anything to do with more racing is good.

Great to hear it was a simple fix on your car Will.

Dave

 

If they would include a Road Course it would
certainly attract other forms of Racing besides
NASCAR. Not that we would ever be blessed
with F1 Racing. But with 80,000 capacity the
possibilities are endless…

 

So you have 80,000 people gathering for an event, won't the traffic be really really really bad?!

 

In a word yes, but only on race day which would be a minimum of every weekend and at least 3 days during the week if not more sooooooooo I guess that makes it EVERYDAY, at least during the summer. During the winter they can flood the infield and run boat races, then when it snows they can run the snowmobile dragraces.

There is BIG money to be made here!

To help the traffic problem they will expand the interchange at Smokey Point (exit 206) and make the overpass at 136th (future exit 204) into another interchange. These improvements have been on the boards for years but had no need or was short on funding.

The trick is to go to the race 4 hours early with the motorhome and have a tailgate party. When the race is over you can just sack out until the traffic clears or sneak out the back way to my house.

 

I had to chime in on this one. Why do they have to put in an oval at all? Whats wrong with a big road course? I know those big cars can make right turns too, seems to me there are 2 other NASCAR races on road courses.
A great road course could lead to Champ/Indy/Cart & dare I say maybe just maybe an F1 race.
Bill
just lurking around as this may be the year I make the leap from GM Muscle to an Italian Screamer

 

Welcome BillyD,

In answer to your question, NASCAR oval racing is as big a draw, if not bigger, than NFL games. Huge money.

The first time I saw NASCAR run a road course was in Portland and I actually liked watching THEM more than the formula cars. These guys really mix it up! Four guys go into a corner and only two come out after the dust settles. The cars can take contact without exploding parts all over the track.

My brother made a good point last night about the space limitations of Pacific Raceways. The place is maxed out and the surrounding humanity is closing in tighter and tighter every year. There is no way Pacific could handle the kinds of crowds that this new track could bring even if Pacific was utilized to it's potential.

As making the leap from GM to Fcars. MAKE THE LEAP!

 

An oval, or tri-oval or whatever will definitely be the primary circuit. Nascar fans want their cars running FAST. I do hope that they build an infield course, though.
The Fioritos have done a great job with the improvements at Pacific Raceways. It is a totally different place than it was 4 years ago - the facilities are greatly improved (still a ways to go, of course) and the track is HUGELY improved. The sight lines are much better, gravel traps and run-off areas have been added as well as new barriers. It's significantly safer to drive than it used to be. It could stand to be re-paved but the surface isn't really bad. It is still one of the most fun and challenging tracks on the west coast.
I wasn't able to go to the NASCAR race held there last year but I heard it was something of a disappointment. For the track to succeed it needs some big events beyond the drag racers. I'm hoping it all comes together.
- Will

 

I agree on all points Will.
One thing the Fioritos need to improve for road racing to succeed at Pacific is to open up viewing to the back half of the track! You can't see the middle section at ALL! It's either at the west end, turns 1 and part of 2, 3A and 3B or go down to Martini Point and see them come through 6 & 7. With that steep hillside in the infield some nice terrances could be cut in.


It is nice to be able to walk around Portland and see every turn. I didn't care for the viewing through the chainlink fence on the main straight though. AHH, the pros and cons.

 

there has also been talk of building a track in Boardman, OR, which would draw from Seattle, Portland, Tri-Cities, Spokane, and Boise, to really get the crowds from all over the northwest. For those who have ever been to Boardman, there's not much there, but I think that the idea is that you can build a huge track with a huge parking lot if there's no neighbors to complain about it. That solves our problems with the Marysville location. \

Has anyone heard more about this proposed location? Sorry if I'm behind the times here.

 

I haven't heard much lately. Monroe has dropped out which makes sense. They have less room than the North Marysville site. There are numerous community groups that have formed to fight the track there.

The Boardman idea would work well if they wanted to put a complete motorplex in similar to the one in Vegas. One stop racing! The only protest would be from the rabbits and the wild donkeys.