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Pacific Raceways
By Emily | August 4, 2008
Pacific Raceways has proved to be quite a trying experience this year. Chris and I have been there many times, both with the car and as spectators. Each time we have been there we have been greeted by disgruntled workers and unorganized events. It is frustrating to travel the hour long drive to a nationally known track to find nothing more than an absolute mess.
A couple weeks ago, Chris and I went to Pacific Raceways for the Schuck’s Auto Supply Nationals. I have been going to this race for the past couple of years, but Chris has been in attendance for at least a decade. When we arrived on Friday for qualifying we were at least an hour early. Yet, the track decided it would be too much of a hassle to hire police officers to direct traffic. It took close to an hour an half to get off the exit for the track. Chris and I missed 
the first round of Pro Stock on Friday, and Saturday and Sunday were the same experience. The parking lots were an absolute mess. We arrived so early, and the lots were so crowded already, that it was impossible to fathom where they were going to put all of the cars that were lined up behind us on the freeway. As much as I love the national races, it is the little aspects of the race, such as parking, paved pits and event organization that make those races fun. When everything is in shambles, the drags lose some of their appeal.
On Wednesday, we took the car out to Pacific for a test and tune. Again, the track was a mess. The crew members were at each other’s throats all night long, yelling and screaming as they worked the starting line. The track was prepped horribly and could hardly hold our car. We attempted to get a handle on the track, changing our throttle stop multiple times. However, each time we changed the throttle
stop the response from the car was in no way related to the changes we had made. We were completely baffled by the track and it ultimately was very frustrating. The one saving grace was that we were able to get out five passes. Even though the times were not what we were looking for and the track was impossible, we still got the experience of running on the track, which is the most important part.
We figured that maybe it was just the Wednesday test and tunes and that things would be better on a Friday, where there would be more people. So, Chris and I pack up again (which can be quite an ordeal) and make the hour trek to Pacific Raceways. When we arrive we find a lonely sign saying “Sorry, we are rained out.” Although it had rain earlier that day, the currently weather was sunny and 75 degrees. After a conversation with a few fellow disgruntled 
racers, it was suggested that there was conflict between the crew and track employees and they would rather just cancel the test and tune. Although there is no way to prove this, it was very frustrating for everyone that made the trip out to the track, no matter what the reason was for the cancellation. The one good thing that came out of the track closure, was our ability to find some appropriate racing fuel. We currently run Rockett racing gas (at 118), however, it is only sold in California/Oregon. Pacific Raceways sell Sonoco, but they only go up to 112 octane fuel. We managed to find some Trick fuel in the area at 119 octane. We bought a couple gallons, only to find out later that Trick uses a different calculation for their octane levels and our 119 is actually 114. The couple gallons we purchased will suffice, but we are still on the lookout for some true 118 fuel. We may end up purchasing Rockett and having them
deliver it.
These experiences with Pacific Raceways were something that Chris and I never expected. We had always believed the track to be a nationally recognized track and expected that the pro teams wouldn’t accept anything less. However, we have come to find that Bremerton is a track used for classes much like ours. It is a true bummer that Bremerton doesn’t have more test and tunes. But like I said to Chris the other day, “A pass is a pass, no matter what the ET is.” It’s the experience of drag racing that keeps us coming back for more and I will be out there every chance I get.
EMDUB
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