Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

Just spoke with Jonathan Adams our division director and NHRA told him parking for Super Stock and Stock will be like last year. As most of you saw I turned around and went home and I won't be going again this year. Of course there will be those on the special list that will be pitted close to the staging lanes. If Super Stock and Stock has to park down at the end of the track on the road course than everyone should have to park there. How can you be competitive in a heads up race. This is unfair competition when the select few can go to the staging lanes with their engine and trans nice and cool and ours is boiling over from the nice road trip. Well I guess they can race themselves.

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

NHRA forgets the event is not a road race, it is drag racing. The interesting part of all of it is that if they took their time, they can do a layout to accomodate everything and everybody. Every year I have attended the event I see vacated areas that they could have used for parking.

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

Last year they cleared out a bunch of trees, and paved one of the few decent spots that the Stock & S/S guys used to pit that was reasonably close to the staging lanes. However instead of letting the Sportsman racers pit there again, it basically became an "overflow" big rig parking area, I noticed the semi trucks that transport the rent a golf carts were parked there for the weekend, as were some of the "little guy" Nitro teams. A couple of years ago, they parked some of us waaaay past the finish line, in front of the old free spectator parking lot, which was turned into a gravel pit. By the time I got my car to the staging lanes for Tech, my engine temp was already approaching 200 degrees. And this was on Thursday! Add several thousand nitro fans slowly strolling thru the pits and access roads, you would be hard pressed to get into staging on Sat or Sun without boiling over! Hopefully when they eventually get the track re configured, there may be some decent Sportsman pit spots, but with most Nitro teams having 2 or 3 semi trucks per race car, I won`t be holding my breath. Between the current 50 car cut off in Stock, and the dismal pit parking, it is quite frustrating to be unable to attend the only NHRA National Event within 1200 miles from home.

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

This situation really sucks for guys like Steve with a CM car especially when the pits were talking about are on the opposite side of the track too the time slip booth and scales.
So it’s about a mile drive with lots of up and down and bends on the back road course or about ¾ of a mile if you wait at the end of the track for a pause in racing where they let cars cross. Then it’s another adventure to get back to the pits after the fuel check and scales. I can live with it with my combo but a SS/modified 16:1 motor running on C-25 that’s brutal.
Also I hear we cannot park until Thursday night for the Divisional next week at Pacific

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

Steve, as one of the few to park on top last year, it was a mistake by NHRA. The first 4 off us were sent to the old parking. Till one of the officials realized what was going on. Then we refused to go back down, and they let us park on the curve. I will not go back, as I am with you. That it is ridiculous for stock/ super stock to park 3/4 of a mile away when there is more than enough room on top in the alcohol pits for all of us!! And as of right now, parking for the points meet will be Thursday night. Tech. and qualifying will be on friday. Sounds like a real fun time for all ?

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

Division 6 has not been the same since the departure of Mike Rice. All previous directors were more sympathetic and supportive to class racers. The current director's experience is running a track and that is what the powers in Glendora wanted...someone that is afraid to challenge their decisions and supportive to taking the competitors money in the same manner as running a business.

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

I know it would never happen, but wouldn`t it make sense for NHRA to allow the cars that are required to drive to the lanes pit nearby, and let the alcohol cars and Comp cars park out in the road race course, since they all tow to the lanes anyhow? I know NHRA wants the "Pros" in the prime locations, but with space at such a premium with the huge number of big rigs hogging the real estate, ("technology centers", hospitality trailers etc), can`t the "fluff" stuff be parked elsewhere? Heck, the ARMY obstacle course setup took up so much prime pit space last year that you could have parked at least a dozen Stock S/S cars there.

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

Thanks you guys for the support and also refusing to stay home. In Jonathan's defense he did pursue this matter for me and was in agreement with me. Yeah Seattle always has a poor car count. We are lucky to get thirty cars to show in super stock. But it is the only National event our division has and I am staying home again. I got family and friends that want to come out and support me and are asking if I am going to be at the show and I have to tell them no. That is what really sucks. I even got licensed for comp this year and considered running my junk in comp at this race so I would get to pit close to the lanes. But I am not going to fork out the almost grand it will cost me to get a diaper for NHRA's benefit. Aint going to happen. I am tired of seeing the red carpet rolled out for these special ones when they come and race in our division and when I go to their turf no one is out there rolling out the red carpet for me and my wife. All of you not on this special list needs to stay home and send a message. Us stock and super stockers need to band together and do something and quit talking about it.

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

Steve with the current gas and diesel prices, I dont think to many touring pros will make the trip out west. When sonoma has no SS it really would make the trip expensive, as for me i am going fishing that week.I was lucky last year, i dont think that will happen again LOL

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

Steve, your point's are good, the way the track is now it is NOT SPORTSMAN freindly, it's to bad when it's in our back yard! even for the point's meet we can't park until thursday night. the racetrack would rather cater to the road course then the drag strip. everbody in SS & Stock should just go fishing with larry!!

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

I understand all of your frustrations but it is parking! This is the only national with in 1000 miles for most of you. If I had an opportunity I would drive a super stocker at the race as well. I just raced the Jeg's All Star race in Chicago. I had a prime All Star pit spot and we were parked past the finish line! Some class racers were 3/4 of a mile from the starting line. "If" and that is a big "if" you have a heads up get your car up on top and finish the prep. Steve, of all people you being a Vietnam Veteran I know you could over come the challenge. Don't go in with the attitude of "Oh they got the good spot" if you do that your beat! I don't know I just think the nationals are something special you are right it is the time to bring all of your friends and family out and let them see why we do what we do. Steve I know you know I am not picking on you I would just hate to see a tough guy like you quit over some bull **** parking problem.

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

Tommy-

You are comparing Chicago to Seattle? That's like saying Medford and Vegas are the same. Give me a break. When you wake up, I will bring you some coffee. Seattle, for the Sportsman, is a ****hole. If it rains, you get NO QUALIFYING passes, and random pairings for first round. Way to treat the Sportsman at our only National the Div. gets. Thumbs up! Grab your pom poms Gaynor and give the organization an Attaboy!

I'm with Steve on this one, Sorry!

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

All u whiners shut up and race thats what we r there 4 not to bitch about were we r parking or who we got round one as for Jonathan Adams no good for us races in div 6 we better off with Dino Kost as are Div 6 director its just all a poor mangment of space and parking and yes is does suck living so close to the **** hole

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

I guess I am saying at $5.00 a gallon how far do you want to go to race a national? It's 15k to win in your backyard! I seem to remember you and me in Indy parked past the finish line and we were happy to have it!

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

Now with this economic envirorment the decision makers at a race track will find out just how good there are with their customers. if no one shows up the decision makers will Blame everyone but themselves, when in fact most of there customers when they have not been treated right only need one reason not to show . the reasons are now so the decision makers at race track need to look at a mirror and blame who they see >

Now the next point it does not matter who is to blame for lack of entries who don't show up, the race track will suffer bottom line and threir customers will not . Just My Opinion for whati t is worth with my money . I am going fishing like others LOL

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

Come on Sean Kennedy I mean Cour !!!! The rain random pairing Bull**** has happened at other tracks you roll with it. As Captain Cour would say " I could give two ****s if you show up" you are one less good racer I'll have to beat!

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

To all the racers who don't care when they park and call those who do whiners , let me know who you are and I will let you park in the dirt and I will tell the parkers to do that so i can park where I want . I have never seen whiners in drag racers just racers who speak up for our rights . which all will benefit from the results >

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

Oh Tommy-

I remember Indy. Backing out of our freshly mowed, edged and trimmed pit spot. Onto a very well maintained blacktop, with a somewhat straight shot right up to the massive staging lanes. Last year I also remember Seattle, you know, the pit spot you went running from the first chance you got. Correct me if I'm wrong, "GENIUS." The pit spot I had last year in Seattle was like backing out of the pasture grass my daughters horse grazes in, onto a rock quarry, with potholes the size of the golf cart. They actually resembled small swimming pools after it rained. At the end of this "finely" prepped road, you hooked a hard left, only to head down, up, left, right along the 7/8th of a mile road course, dodging all of the Superclass racers pitted on both sides. And to think, this was just for first round. At 8 pm Sun. evening for random pairing. With dew piling up inside and out of the car, only because they would have to refund money for entries if they didn't run you on the allotted dates for the race.

Tommy, you wonder why not everyone loves racing in Seattle?

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

Yeah it was pretty jacked up down there! I just remember I.I.'s family camped in the back of of a short bed dodge for 4 days! God I love it !

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

First off the DDs have nothing to do with parking at national events, they can request things from the crew, but is a team from the national event staff that layout and decides who parks where.

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

All you can do is accept what pit spot they give you,or stay home. If you really want a bad place to pit at a National Event,come up to Denver,where 90% of the Sportsman racers are pitted past the turnoff. It`s a mile and a quarter to the staging lanes,and that`s no exageration. It doesn`t matter what class you run,everyone is down there. It`s far enough away that you hear the ET of a Top Fuel car announced on the PA before you hear the car make the run. So,being pitted at past the finish line doesn`t sound so bad afterall.

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

I can understand the fact that pit space is limited in Seattle, but what really got me was the fact they parked 70 or so golf carts, and 5 EMPTY semi trailers in spots that could have been used for stock, super stock or any other racers for that matter. Those should have been parked where the stockers where instead, and when I asked about it the guy who's idea it was told me basically tough ****. I did manage to get a spot up by the pro stockers, (amazingly enough after I told me golf cart guy that that was B.S.). So my next question is, where were we going fishing?

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

we didnt have the grade points last year but watched in horror, at the fiasco that they called parking last year , with the pros now getting both sections of upper pits.
we have the grade points and are not going to waste them this year, but if things remain the same this year , then we will recam the car and put a real carb and intake on it and go where the racing is fun.
if the track puts in speakers that work, or ups the output on the radio, to hear the call to the lanes it might have been workable , but i dont expect either to happen .

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

Lane :

I hope all is well with you. by the way since Denver is at grade point 2 and there is only 7 Super Stockers and only 20 stockers to park in the dirt or where ever Denver parks us ,then maybe The Decisions makers need to rethink their parking situation. . I will never go back to denver to park where they put us i would rather go fishing . Now if the decision makers would park us where we should be parked i might go back to race there ,but i now can decide where ,and when ,and who treats us the best on the place to race or go fishing.

The time has come for the decision makers at race tracks needs to treat the sportsman as a huge profit center or deal with the lack of income ,we can always go fishing at this time and econimic times

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

Well said don i agree 100% i am going fishing seattle was a nice place to race.

Re: Pacific Raceway National Event Parking
 

In E-Town right now, Stockers are parked at finish line right hand side, sounds good? Staging lanes are on the lefthand side, 3/8 mile to crossover road behind tower, 1/4 mile on crossover road make a 180 degree turn in to lanes and 300 more feet up to the lanes. nice country drive. Ohh yeah all the spectators in the pro pits you have to go through.