Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

Anyone planning on doing the Seattle National Event should read this;

http://nhraracer.com/content/general...164&zoneid=175

If I read this correctly this year we cannot drop our trailers in the field where we normally stack until Wednesday morning, the same day we park.

Reading the short notice it appears to be King County creating this disaster not the NHRA.

Here is the details from the Pacific Raceways site;

http://pacificraceways.com/nhra-nw-n...arking-policy/

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

Hi Bill, how are you doing? Looks like another group (SCAR) putting a thorn in the side of racing here in the Northwest. Looks like stacking and parking all on the same day, sounds great, ha ha. Should prove very interesting for those coming from any distance.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

Sounds like this "SCAR" really has it in for Pacific Raceway according to their website.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

So how long is the line gong to be from hiway 18 off ramps to pacifics gate at 7am ? Looks like a mess to me .

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

King county is a cesspool of liberal activists.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

Everyone please try to put on your best face and deal with this as best you can.

This is the result of a citizens group in the track area (Soos Creek) forcing King County to strictly enforce the Conditional Use Permit that governs operation of the track during special events like the NW Nationals and the Lucas Oil regional/divisional weekend. If this group can document violations of this Permit, they can go to King county and try to have it revoked, thus killing the big events here, and to them, the track itself.

If you haven't read the formal notice on the Pacific Raceways website, please do. A link is posted earlier in this thread.

I have gone through historical land photos of the track area dating back into the 70s and the encroaching housing developments have damaged the environment more than the track. Used to be in the middle of the forest.

Also, if you are involved in the stacking and parking procedure and see people with cameras photographing your rigs and activities, please question them (politely, one might be me). No one can photograph you or your stuff if you say no photos.

I'm not that worried about the long time D6 racers who have dealt with this before, but I am concerned that the out of the area racers please pay attention. Not everyone loves the sound of a BBC (or SBF) before 9am...

Enjoy the weekend. I'll be the old dude in the safari hat with a camera bag.

EDIT: Also be aware that the track's liquor license prohibits outside alcohol. I'm sure Liquor Enforcement Officers (beer cops) will be around. Beer sold at the track is in color coded cans by day. No, I don't know the code. If I did, I'd have enough money to get my trans out of the shop and race.

Dale

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

Don, I don't know if that would help, but I see your point. Could be total congestion for many hours, if not controlled smartly.
I am sure NHRA will have a great plan by the 5th.


In re-reading the article on NHRARacer I see that this issue only effects the Sportsman racer. I assume that the PROS will go in as usual and set up. Is this another way to frustrate the sportsman racers??


Anyway, good luck to all and I hope this situation goes smoothly for everyone.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

47 Pro entries, 235 Sportsman entries. Figure three rigs per Pro and an average of 1.5 per Sportsman, so that's 141 and around 353 in terms of vehicles. Vendors would not be be constrained by the restrictions - they relate to the no camping on "Quiet Days" provisions of the use permit. Monday and Tuesday in this case. Vendors don't camp.

The NHRA doesn't hate or wish to frustrate Sportsman racers, but the Pros are the ones who fill the stands and should get preferential parking. This event probably pays the bills for the season's Sportsman and bracket races.

I have hit all of the Lucas Oil races here for the past two years and had my pick of the stands. That's what needs to be fixed to start with and a great show from the Sportsman at the Nationals will help.

Dale

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

Who exactly are these "beer cops"? What kind of authority to they have?

Do they work for the state or does the track hire them so they can sell more alcohol?

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

I'm talking about "Limited Authority Law Enforcement Officers" who work for the State Liquor Control Board. The do undercover and educational work to enforce liquor sales permits. Those people who bust convince stores for selling beer to underage kids and bars for selling after hours are "beer cops".

They would have the authority to suspend the venue's liquor license. If the drinker is underage, it's a County Sheriff or State Patrol matter subject to arrest. Both have a presence at the NW Nationals. Pacific Raceways is a training facility for law enforcement pursuit driving. It has a road coarse.

Dale

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

I can't believe that there would be that big of a problem there for a couple weekends a year that the state has to go to that extent.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

The State has no issue with the operation of the facility. It's the local homeowners group, all of whom built or bought high dollar homes near an active race track, using a fine tooth comb to try to make it go away. Kind of like people who move in next to a dairy farm and complain about the smell to the farmer.

The track complex is on an extension of an industrially zoned sand and gravel mine.

As far as the lacquer control goes, it's no different than any stadium sport with a sales license like the Seahawks or Mariners.

Dale

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

The track has had an ongoing conflict with homeowners/ activists for over 30 years. It gets better and then gets worse. This group (SCAR) is fairly new and definitely has it in for the track from what I have read.


As long as I can remember there has been a no outside alcohol deal in place. That's all I will say on that.


I hope the track, the county and these "groups" can all come to grips some day. I am not going to hold my breath on that. I just hope the track is still around for me to attend events for several more years.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

So....Marijuana is legal in Washington State, but you can't bring a cooler of Beer into a race track?...go figure.

Sad to say, but that happens to a lot of tracks when homeowners get closer.

Maybe all the homeowners just need to go on vacation this weekend. They could even rent out their houses for the racers and fans to stay in like the folks around Bristol do to make a little money. Then they don't have to worry about what happens at the track.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

The pot thing is funny. You can buy it legally for recreational use but you can't use it in public or even a bar. They haven't worked out a license for that yet.

Any stadium that sells lacquer prohibits outside alcohol. Even bars don't allow BYO. You don't have Pro sports in West Virginia, but try taking a six pack into a Mountaineers game.

I'm from Ohio and have visited West Virginia more than once and can tell you the car culture out here in the Northwest is very utilitarian.

Dale

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

Well come Wednesday next week these fools will be knee deep in a problem of their own creation. I expect traffic problems to be epic on Wednesday because of this ruling.

If I read the notice correctly the main gate located on 304th just at the end of the highway off ramp will be closed until 7AM so what's going to happen in the area when 300 odd rigs all show up at the same time???

Maybe they should all just go buy houses next to SeaTac Airport and have some real noise to deal with.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

WVU's stadium sells beer and wine now if you can afford it. Our previous athletic director thought if the university sold it, it would cut down on the trouble with all the drunks at the game. He is in top management at the NCAA in Indianapolis now. Imagine that.

I've just never been to a race track that they enforce this. Even if they have a sign up saying you can't bring your own, I never imagined it was enforced.

Sounds like they will have a traffic jamb.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

We aren't talking stadium sales. Outside alcohol. Most stadiums sell beer/wine.

Regarding signs, there is one at the ticket booth to Pacific that reads "The Neighbors are No Longer Free"

Dale

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

Bill, I live not far from the track in Fife, so I am probably going to drive out on Monday and/or Tuesday to see what is happening.


I know it won't happen exactly like this on Wednesday due to racers coming from all directions. Can you imagine a line out to 304th and onto the off ramp from Highway 18 all the way down to the bridge next to the Auburn/Black Diamond road exit???? I know it wouldn't extend that far, but I am sure the King County Sheriff or other law offices would stop that quickly, What do you think???? Can you say major traffic congestion.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

Ron, you sound a little more optimistic than me. I may do the same thing, I need to visit our Auburn office on Tuesday so maybe I will swing by the track to see if guys from Sonoma are already there.

Just doing some math on the worst case scenario lets say 300 vehicles with trailers an average of 70 feet of space between their length and the space between them and the next vehicle that's 21,000 feet or just about 4 miles. I think that would put the line up over the Green River Bridge.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

On Sunday in 2013 I was in line as a spectator on Hwy 18 at least 4 miles from the track at 7 AM.

I'd like to go up on Thursday just to watch tech, but I don't know if they would let a non racer in. Anyone know?

Dale

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

Call Trump, he'll fix it !!

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

Dale come on in you're not required to have a credential until Friday.

Holding pen opens at 7AM Wednesday. Parking in pits starts at 10 AM same day this really shouldn't be that big of a deal.

If a line starts forming early the fuzz will ask that you leave and come back when they open.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

You make a good point Jody. With a 3 hour spread between opening the gate and pit parking starting should help a little. I am sure everyone wants the great spot so will want a low number for parking, if that is the way it is done. Anyway, I hope this deal goes well, but I just envision a snarl / snag somewhere.


Side note, Please say Hi to Martha for me. Good luck to all the locals and hope you send the out-of-towners packing. I want to see Div. 6 win every class possible.


I probably won't be at the Nationals, but plan to be at the Combo on the 15th and the Divisional a week later. Go get 'em boys and girls.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

You can not fix stupid.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

C'mon Ron,,, at least make it up there on Friday for qualifying! Whats it going to take for you to go up there,, especially as dedicated as you are to Stock/Superstock?
Its the best show of the year up here annually, and you know it,,, don't miss it!
Call me if you have to,, you've got the number.
Danny Durham

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

I was at the track today about 1:30 and saw this sign posted on 304th.


NO NHRA RACER
STACKING UNTIL
WEDNESDAY 7 a.m.


The track photographer Jim Doyle was leaving as I drove up and we visited for about half an hour. Lots of different opinions about the impact of this new situation. Last year guys and gals could get in on Tuesday, before then it had been on Monday.


I see the local police/king county sheriff getting involved if traffic backs up onto Highway 18. It shouldn't happen but you never know. Good luck to all on Wednesday and hope all goes as good as possible. I will probably go back out tomorrow to see if there is anything different.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

Ron: If I understand things right, moving the race one week later to avoid Seafair brought in a conflict with a scheduled "quiet day" in the use agreement that prohibits camping on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Thus the No Stacking Until Wednesday thing. Racers will adapt and this will blow over.

I'm going up Thursday to look at Tech and will post some pics now that my computer is happy with me. If they question me, I'm going to tell them Jody Lang invited me.

Dale

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

First off, let me say Thanks to Bill Edgeworth for starting this thread. It looks like the word has gotten out to everyone concerned.


I was there again today for about an hour. Saw Jim Doyle again and talked to some of the local track staff and saw NO ONE trying to enter the facilities, other than NHRA Safety Safari rigs, venders and other deliveries.


Only 1 Pro rig was there when I left. V. Gaines's rig was there and open to see inside (pretty cool). He had hurt an engine at Sonoma so they were waiting for someone to come pick it up. Saw one of the street vehicles from Morgan Lucas Racing. The upper pits were empty and only the NHRA Merchandise tent was up at this time.


The stacking lot opens at 7 a.m. tomorrow and parking will begin at 10 a.m. The local staff anticipates no real problems, if everyone cooperates. With no Pro rigs there yet, could be quite busy tomorrow morning. Not sure how late the track will be open today for entry of Pro rigs.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

Guess I was completely wrong about how bad this would be. Got here at 7:10 AM and in the stacking lot #48 at 7:20 easy deal.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

Ron,,, please give me a call. I accidently erased your phone #. I want to ask you a question,, thanks.
Danny Durham

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

I probably already know the answer to this question, but here goes. I assume, due to the new policy, no one is parking on property for the 3 race swing?? National event Aug. 7-9, Stock Super Stock Combo Aug. 15th and the Divisional Aug. 21-23rd.


It's too bad that some racers that are going to do all three couldn't be allowed to park somewhere on the facility, so as to save some towing costs. Would make it somewhat easier for the local, sort-of-local racers to have rigs parked, if there was security available.


I am just thinking out loud, which usually gets me in trouble.

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

They might be allowed to leave secured (locked) rigs on the lot during the week. The Use Permit restrictions prohibit participant camping after 10 pm Monday of each weekend. Might even be able to be on-site during the day but no engine firing and out by 6 ish?

Other that the alcohol and big engine cars, I can't think of anyone other than Steve Wann with much to gain by staying until the LO race. California is a long haul for a true Sportsman class racer.

But if he shows for the Combo, we get a shot at him. Just say'n...

I am not the owner (darn).

Dale

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

We get a shot at him?? Does that mean your SS/GT Mustang is ready to go Dale?
Danny Durham

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

If the tranny doesn't blow when I fire it tomorrow I'm going to make the TnT Friday. If it works out OK I'll play the bracket side Saturday. Not ready for the Combo at the moment.

The last thing I raced was my parents Mustang on a Sunday in 1965. I was the staff photographer at Milan dragway and just kinda went in the other gate. Something like 8 cars in K/PS. They even had a class call for gassers. Fun.

Dale

Re: Seattle Stacking not until August 5th!
 

Not talking about camping, just parking rigs to be here for 3 races.


Last year, I believe, we had Jim Meador and Gerald Stein (both from Div. 7) here for one of the combo races. I think the combo race was between the Nationals and the Divisional like this year.


Why not come for one race and stay for three, if possible, to get more seat time, which is important.