Nitromater
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Seattle track problems?
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I just got back from work (in Tacoma) and it has been perfect weather for great runs. It's around 67 degrees right now with a marine layer overhead..
The conditions are right but it sounds like the track has issues. Kinda glad I went to work today and not to the track.
Pacific Raceways has some real issues that have been going on ever since the present owners took it back. If they can't pull it off (what they have been talking about for several years) turn it over to somebody who can. I love the place but haven't been there in a few years because it's just not like I remember it in years past.
The conditions are right but it sounds like the track has issues. Kinda glad I went to work today and not to the track.
Pacific Raceways has some real issues that have been going on ever since the present owners took it back. If they can't pull it off (what they have been talking about for several years) turn it over to somebody who can. I love the place but haven't been there in a few years because it's just not like I remember it in years past.
The track has to be in crap shape and I remember whit *****ing about it 10 years ago. No excuse that no one's getting down with what was an 88 track temp for Q1. Not everybody can be missing it like that. Funny Car Q2 needs SERIOUS HELP. You wont find Greg Anderson *****ing about another track this weekend cause that class is flying.
The stars are, I did not know this site edited such a little word, b i t c h i n g
The stars are, I did not know this site edited such a little word, b i t c h i n g
Sounds like Hight lost a tire after a quick pedal job, not sure if the track peeling up has anything to do with it or not. With the conditions today the nitro cars should be flying but the FC's had no luck putting down any decent numbers in the 2nd session. We will see what TF can do.
Buns
Nitro Member
Yep.. Tore up the body and they're breaking out the backup chassis too.
I look forward to comp plus running a story next week about what's really the issue with the track, for now we get to watch paul page tomorrow tell us how OMG, LARRY DIXON HAS NOT MADE A FULL PASS YET type of dramatics, then again why watch a one lane race track and that's one lane 50% of the time.
T.Smith
Nitro Member
Same thing I was just told.
Capps is not happy. He said the track is flat dangerous and an embarrassment.
NHRA driver Ronn Capps calls Seattle track dangerous - ESPN
NHRA driver Ronn Capps calls Seattle track dangerous - ESPN
Kris
Nitro Member
I am no expert on track surfaces nor do I have any knowledge as to the prep of the track prior to the race. I'll see if I can find out tomorrow.
But, I watched every single top fuel and funny car run as well as most of the Q2 pro stock runs.
It was SO weird. First round of funny car was just ugly. And the thing is the conditions we had today as far as weather is not what we'll have the next two days. *shrug* But then there were several solid runs in top fuel in Q1 and pro stock seemed OK, too.
No denying that the left lane was a problem. I think there may have been two good runs all afternoon down that lane. And people around me were complaining, especially during the funny car runs... at least until Hight blew out his tire. Everybody likes a good wreck, I guess.
The Fioritos want to upgrade the entire facility but they've been running into obstacles and frankly, from what King County officials told me earlier this year, they've created some of their own obstacles.
Hopefully things will be better tomorrow. I've got my fingers crossed.
But, I watched every single top fuel and funny car run as well as most of the Q2 pro stock runs.
It was SO weird. First round of funny car was just ugly. And the thing is the conditions we had today as far as weather is not what we'll have the next two days. *shrug* But then there were several solid runs in top fuel in Q1 and pro stock seemed OK, too.
No denying that the left lane was a problem. I think there may have been two good runs all afternoon down that lane. And people around me were complaining, especially during the funny car runs... at least until Hight blew out his tire. Everybody likes a good wreck, I guess.
The Fioritos want to upgrade the entire facility but they've been running into obstacles and frankly, from what King County officials told me earlier this year, they've created some of their own obstacles.
Hopefully things will be better tomorrow. I've got my fingers crossed.
Wayne
Nitro Member
thank you mark!!!
Wayne
Nitro Member
Alot of us were under the impression that Jason had all of the permits 2-3 years ago!!!
And now he's begging us to do his damn job!!!
I was totally embarassed today for any newbie @ the track!!! Wilk told me after Q1 that the left lane problem wasn't "the bump" that has been there forever. It was before that, between 330' & 660'. & the right lane really wasn't much better!!!
Both fuel sessions just stunk!!!
We're supposed to be warmer the next 2 days so hoping it gets better!
I wonder if this will be Seattle's last National???
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.
Nitro Member
Ron Capps: NHRA n safety safari are gonna work all night if they have to get the track the best it can be for Sat and Sun...gonna b a long night
Terry McMillen: Looks like it's going to be a 1 lane track. Lane choice may be biggest goal. Left lane is less than desirable #NHRA60
What a fiasco.
Taken by Roger Richards:
Terry McMillen: Looks like it's going to be a 1 lane track. Lane choice may be biggest goal. Left lane is less than desirable #NHRA60
What a fiasco.
Taken by Roger Richards:
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RebilasPhoto
Nitro Member
In the 20+ years I have been attending drag races the only other time I can remember such a crappy track was at the 1991 or 1992 race in Phoenix that the track came apart and after numerous crashes they finally postponed the race to the next week so they could fix the track surface. Here is a closeup shot of the track in the left lane about 200 ft out...
Kris
Nitro Member
Alot of us were under the impression that Jason had all of the permits 2-3 years ago!!!
And now he's begging us to do his damn job!!!
I was totally embarassed today for any newbie @ the track!!! Wilk told me after Q1 that the left lane problem wasn't "the bump" that has been there forever. It was before that, between 330' & 660'. & the right lane really wasn't much better!!!
Both fuel sessions just stunk!!!
We're supposed to be warmer the next 2 days so hoping it gets better!
I wonder if this will be Seattle's last National???
Well, they've done a number of things on the property but not the big changes Jason envisioned in his master plan -- they did repave the pits, they did put in the kart track in 2009, they did start construction (or at least had permits to start earlier this year) for the new drag strip, so, it's been piecemeal thus far rather than phased.
I ran into Jason on Thursday at the pre-race press conference and he said he wants to update on me what's going on -- I've been really busy lately so I've not kept up the past six months -- because apparently there's another hearing coming up with King County.
Given the weather conditions those were not good sessions but since I haven't been to a race in a year for me, it was just nice to smell some nitro and feel some thunder in my rib cage.
Knowing the NHRA, I doubt this is enough to make it yank the event away from Pacific Raceways.
In any case it will be interesting to see how today goes. I may not head over to the track until a little later because I want to shoot sportsman today after shooting the pro rounds. Despite the track I got some decent shots yesterday.
clwill
Nitro Member
Wow, what an embarrassment that track was. Sat next to some newbies from Canada who were unbelievably frustrated by the end of the day. Not sure they'll ever come back.
Then to top it off they pushed Super Comp to after the fuelers, and only dragged the starting line. After two pairs got so loose they almost crashed, they decided to drag to half track. (Not sure why saving the extra 30 seconds of not dragging the whole thing was worth it.) You would think that nearly killing Steve Iverson in an identical situation two years ago would have taught NHRA the lesson: fuel cars put clutch dust all the way down the track and running fast cars behind them requires a full track drag.
On the upside, the new counter-rotating slick tractors (two of them) seem to do an amazing job of cleaning the track in a hurry. Even after the predictable Terry Haddock track spew, it only took about 10mins to clean it up. Congrats to NHRA for that amazing improvement.
Then to top it off they pushed Super Comp to after the fuelers, and only dragged the starting line. After two pairs got so loose they almost crashed, they decided to drag to half track. (Not sure why saving the extra 30 seconds of not dragging the whole thing was worth it.) You would think that nearly killing Steve Iverson in an identical situation two years ago would have taught NHRA the lesson: fuel cars put clutch dust all the way down the track and running fast cars behind them requires a full track drag.
On the upside, the new counter-rotating slick tractors (two of them) seem to do an amazing job of cleaning the track in a hurry. Even after the predictable Terry Haddock track spew, it only took about 10mins to clean it up. Congrats to NHRA for that amazing improvement.
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