New Track going in in Washington State

OK... Where and when??

 

Just curious as to what your involvement with the track is?

Jedi

 

blue is just a track hound with information. no affiliation other than being on some email strings and interest groups from around the area

I think it can be a fantastic thing. Pac Raceway is horrid and we need some fresh pavement close. ORP is the only worthwhile track around and it's a solid 4 1/2 hours to get to. Not your typical day trip

 

Thanks for that Mark... didn't mean anything by it - as I said, just curious. Yes - would
be VERY cool to see this get built.



Jedi

 

Didn't think you did, he has a new baby at home so doesn't get on the computer much.


He has a chunk of information about it and I'm glad he's following it closely. I enjoy his updates on what is going on and he forwards me emails about it.

A good track 45 minutes from my house will make it a lot easier for my wife and kids to take full advantage of. I'm really looking forward to real pavement around here.

 

But definitely worth it.

 

So very cool.... please keep this thread updated with, well, updates

Golly I wish I still had a baby around to burp....


Gotta get my kids PROCREATING! That's all there is to it

Jedi

 

I got an email today as well as last week to attend a meeting mid January for this. I'll try to keep people up to date.

Blue I got Meeting time and everything today through a Ferrari Club member asking me to attend with them as well.

 

I like the configuration with those straights. Any indication of scale (how long the track will be)?

 

Funny thing I think it looks like it's too fast without much skill required. I am hoping I am missing something in the renderings. It is hard to see elevation but the corners appear to be made for anyone to enter without real hesitation.

 

I believe there is also a lot of elevation change going on here that isn't clearly seen. The straight with the carosel is at a much higher elevation than the lower straight. Sort of Brazil GP-esque? Fast, swooping with a long climb and decents.

 

Unless it's going somewhere other than near the airport they will have to dig to make elevation change. I've spent years riding my motorcycle starting in that area and it's flat as a pancake. I don't honestly know where exactly it is but next to the WSP/Prison and old Airport is my guess.

 

You're pretty close, around a 2 mile radius

 

I too am not impressed with the track at Pacific. Never have been. The surface is shot and it's too narrow.

Building something like this will cost more than simple sports racing can support unless somebody doesn't mind doing it at a loss..

If they really want this to fly they should work very hard at designing up to "national" standards to bring in a race series or two.

This would include elevation changes and BANKING on some of the turns. Potential for full service pit and garage facilities are a must.

The only detraction could be location and available services/ lodging. Something that has squelched the other 2 proposals for tracks on the west side of the Sound..

 

I think it's got a large chunk of the funding but I could be wrong.

ORP is the best example of your concerns Spasso, it's a solid 4 1/2 hours away at freeway speeds. Has unbelievable pavement, large paddock area and the ability to add all that's needed. They have plans for garages etc already and have really only had 2 years and a handful of sanctioned races.

Shelton is different. It's well located just an extra hour away from most places than Pacific Raceways. It can easily take every race Pacific Raceways has if the track is good and the pavement is remotely close to ORP. It's still the same distance from Portland which supplies a lot of the racers for Pacific Raceways as well. Pacific Raceways has to fight all the time to keep themselves open where I think Shelton will be more open to it.

Shelton and Bremerton both lost out on the Nascar track that lobbied the area but private funds and local desire I think is a win win for a motorsports park.

 

I hope you are right. It would still be a really long haul for me either way because I am so far north..
If it's close to an airport that will make it more attractive to race drivers and their families etc..............

Oh, and by the way, The Hokey Pokey IS what it's all about.

 

I attended a county hearing for this track back in May, then all of us drove out to the site and had our introduction to it. Once there we got in 4x4 trucks and drove the rough line of the track. It does have a huge elevation change from the lower East-West section to the upper East-West section. This is going to be a PNW club track for bikes and cars. From all I have heard throughout the county permit process the message has been clear that there is no intent, nor are there any aspirations to make it a track to attract national professional level events.

There are WASP's everywhere in that area - so going to and from the track will be a exercise in self control.

 

Yup, the WSP training facility is a stone throw away. The project is churning through the political process but slowly moving forward.

 

Anyone know how this track will run? Clockwise or counterclockwise? If it is clockwise, I am with Mark, it could be a real handful for the novice driver.

 

Is this a "for sure" the track is being built? If so, I'd love to hear how they got through all the legal loopholes.

If everyone remembers a couple years ago, Kasey Kahne and Greg Biffle were trying to get a NASCAR track built over there, but the environmentalist-wackos put up so much red tape that they abandoned the idea.

Mike