OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

My fear is the Tree-Huggers and politicians get involved and the track is sold to a developer for new homes or a mall!

http://www.pacificraceways.com/index..._For_Sale.aspx

http://www.auburn-reporter.com/news/277274671.html

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

If only me and Powerball got along better.

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

I agree. That's some pretty choice land. A developer would probably pay more for it then a track operator. Maybe it's too polluted to be used for residential. Lots of mysterious liquids dumped in that place over the years.

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

I'm exactly half way between Pacific Raceways and Bremerton, but I still would love to see this track stay as a racing venue. With Spokane going back to IHRA, NHRA would have to take it's Nationals and the Lucas Oil Series out of Washington State without the facilities provided at Pacific.

One ace in the hole is the use of the road coarse by State and local police for pursuit training. We'll see how this plays out. The track has good car counts for the S/SS Combos and a lot of great bracket cars there too. It's no dead zone.

Dale

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

I certainly hope that if the track does sell, it continues as a race track. Pacific is the only track in the Northwest that I am aware of that has enough parking and pit space to host a NHRA National event, and with Sonoma so far away from the greater Seattle area, there would be NO nat`s in Div 6, while most other divisions have several.

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

I can remember standing on the starting line in '78 at a driver's meeting and signing a petition to keep the track open at that time as homes were closing in already. I'm surprised it has lasted this long. I'll keep my fingers crossed,, but I'm not holding my breath this time around. I would definitely hate to see it go away, being in "my back yard".
Danny Durham

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

Definitely would hate to see it go to a developer. Though I'm east of the cascades these days (@ goathead central), I grew up just down the road from there. I know people have complained about the place being a dump & not worthy of a national event, I LOVE racing there.

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

Track would opened in 1960 and no houses were within earshot back then so they have all been built afterwards. The 1964 aerial pic shows just a few houses but the 1968 shows almost as many as current. http://www.historicaerials.com It's hardly a new noise nuisance, maybe just new people in those houses.

I think moving the nitro pits closer to the houses and cutting down 3/4 of the trees was a very bad idea. Turning the track end for end would have been a good idea but nothing became of that.

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

Although I'm sure the folks in the area have been a pain for quite some time and it's getting to be old for the owners, this is about money and lots of it. That's several hundred acres of commercial zoned land. To convert it to housing wouldn't be the best return for an investor. The Soos Creek people always used the environmental impact of the track as an argument in trying to get it closed. I wonder how many of them keep track of their water use and read the labels on the stuff they dump on the nice green grass?

Disclaimer: Self professed hippie and long time member of the National Wildlife Federation. I compost my years waste and have a worm box for my kitchen scraps.

And a Super Stocker in the garage.

Dale

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

:(:( This saddens me, but I am not surprised. It is a matter of economics, and they are doing what they think is best. I am sure funding is a big issue for running a track as big as Pacific Raceways.

The 1st time I ran a car down the fabled track was in 1970. I still go there for many events as a spectator or helper for anyone needing it.

As long as I can remember there has been issues between the track and the property owners surrounding the track.

I won't hold my breath on this one, but I do hope it stays a racing facility for many years to come. We need one drag strip within this area and looks like the others are having issues as well. Ridge Motorsports Park near Shelton still doesn't have a drag strip (hopefully next year?). I have heard that Bremerton Raceway is possibly not going to be around much longer. That has been in the rumor mill for several years, but looks like the Port is taking over quickly with a new road next to the drag strip.

Like I said, I won't hold my breath, but these are decisions out of my hands (and ours), so let's hope for the best in this situation.

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

Too bad the Fiorito family wasn't able to deliver on the track improvements they promised for years (probably not all their fault given the economy) it might have made for bigger allies at NHRA. It would be interesting to see historical attendance figures for the national event. Know they made some updates, many of which were aimed at improving the road track and they sure have the BMW, Porsche, etc car clubs keeping that venue busy but must be tough to make that large of a facility make money year after year.

Hope D6 can keep racing there. Disappearing tracks make for longer tows which hurt everybody.

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

We recently heard that the issue between the parties involved with The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton has been resolved, and that the earliest the dragstrip could be up and going is 2016.
Bremerton will supposedly start late next season, due to the new "in & out road" getting completed for the future industrial complex rumored to be coming.
Should Pacific sell to a developer, I could see a lot of cars being parked,,, possibly for good. With all that land available, I could easily see hundreds of homes put in and they would all provide a sizable increase in taxes to King county over what a race track must pay,, so I'm guessing theres no incentive for the powers that be to search out a buyer group that would keep motorsports in the area.
The elder Fiorito family members that developed the track in the late 50s and early 60s did us all a great service. This latest generation of the family just wants to wash their hands of the situation and move on. I hope the best for all of us needing a place to play, but we may be rethinking this 'ol pastime of ours in the near future. My 2 cents.
Danny Durham

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

Let's hope that some of the members of the SOVREN (www.http://sovrenracing.org/) group that race vintage cars, put their money together and buy the track.

The group even puts a muscle car show too.

http://sovrenracing.org/muscle-car-show-new-location/

Many of their members are prominent wealthy people that enjoy having their vintage races at the track. Many doctors, Microsoft and high tech people. The memebership also includes Bruce and Craig McCaw who are owners of vintage race cars too.

Last year Craig purchase a vintage Ferrari 250 at an auction for which he paid 35 Million dollars.

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

Hope you're right but the Ridge offers the same basic venue; fairly technical and elevation changes with the big benefit of better run-off in case you lose it. I've attended some of their races, incredible old iron with unbelievable collector value out there mixing it up.

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

You are correct Jim. The advantage of Pacific Raceways is the closeness to the city of Seattle and airport. The airports nearby don't have commercial flights and the only high end hotel is Alderbrook Resort and Spa.

The last time I attended the vintage races, Vic Edelbrock and his daughter were there with their vintage road racing cars. Carol Shelby was also there. There were some high dollar pieces including several former F1 and Indy cars that were being driven by the owners. When I mean driven, they were out for a Sunday drive in the track, not full bore! :)

Q and A from Jason Fiorito
 

From the Pacific Raceways website:

http://pacificraceways.com/index/14-09-29/Q_A_Regarding_Proposed_Raceway_Sale.aspx

Dale

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

In reading the latest posting on the website, (www.pacificraceways.com) there is a ray of hope for the track. Jason Fiorito says they are willing to work with the new owner or owners to help the transition when it happens. There is also no price stated for the property, leaving the situation open for the "right" investor(s) to come along and purchase the property.

The property is zoned as industrial so it would be easier for it to stay a business. I know zoning can be changed, but this is one reason for hope.

With the facility being used for so many things besides a drag strip leaves endless possibilities for the future of the property. The road course, Driving School and my other uses that are available at this time.

Let's not forget that we need a place for the kids to race, and not on the streets. There is, also, an awesome outdoor go kart track which is open nearly everyday. Almost forgot there is a motocross track which is very popular with the local riders.

All in all let's keep our fingers crossed that things happen for the good of the area and not just what the neighbors want.

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

What is the "Project of Statewide Significance", the "legislation" that passed & the "tech campus " spoken of in the Q & A ? I haven't heard of any of this before.

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

Dave, I am not sure of what those things mean and hope someone that does will jump on here and explain the meanings.

Just as a point of interest, I just checked the 2015 NHRA schedule and the Northwest Nationals @ Pacific Raceways is listed. Probably a formality, but does show hope for us here in the northwest.

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

Info hound here:

Title 130 WAC
Last Update: 9/26/13
COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OF
(TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT)

Chapters

130-10 Public records—Disclosure.
130-14 Child care facility fund rules.
130-16 Industrial development—Revenue bonds—Financing eligibility.
130-20 Washington motion picture competitiveness program.
130-30 Projects of statewide significance.

WAC 130-30-010
Agency filings affecting this section

Purpose.
(1) The department of commerce may designate certain private sector investments as projects of statewide significance to expedite the permitting and environmental review process. These projects will bolster the economy at both the local and state levels.

(2) The purpose of this chapter is to prescribe the form and manner of the application to be used in requesting designation as a project of statewide significance.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.157.030. WSR 13-20-064, § 130-30-010, filed 9/26/13, effective 10/27/13.]

Link:

http://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=130-30&full=true

I believe it means that the State has determined that the existence of Pacific Raceways property as a motor sports related complex is financially significant to both the local and state governments. An organization wishing to continue the vision of the Fiorino family would receive preferential treatment over an entity wishing to, say, rezone it and build housing. Find a Google Earth map of the place and zoom out. It's an extension of the family sand and gravel operation. Legend has it that when the locals tried to get the city to close it due to noise, the owners showed up at the meeting and threatened to move in their rock crusher and run it 24/7 if the track was closed.

Dale

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

No need to rush if you want to buy a track. Shop around. I bet there are a lot of them for sale. Perhaps this is an exception. But, most tracks that go away is mainly because the property becomes more valuable for another use.

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

Truly depressing..:(

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

After NHRA let Dallas Intl. close without making an offer and loosing one of the best facilities in the nation in a large motorsports marketing region one would think NHRA would consider purchasing the Seattle track. After all they are a not for profit organization and could use funds there as they did at the Indy and Gainesville and several other NHRA owned tracks. It's hard enough to keep smaller venue local tracks open but to loose a major track is almost impossible to replace.

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

I’m not quite as optimistic as some of you. IMHO in the Seattle market the land is probably worth more as houses. Think of it; probably 1500+ half million dollar homes. So just shooting from the hip ¾ Billion dollars in homes. Considering Washington is not the best business environment around that would be an awful big addition of industrial/Commercial space (so don’t count on all the space being filled). Having said that CBRE told me earlier this year that this market is tighter than it has been in years. Also, that particular city has no B&O tax so I’m sure they would be more than happy to rezone to residential and count on the constant flow of property tax rather than partially filled commercial space.
Just my opinion, I could be way off base.
Also, I thought they were going to be able to pay for the new facilities with the money from the gravel mining operation to build the new runway at SeaTac??? Or at least that was the story a few years ago.
Ultimately it’s their land to do with as they please and to me it looks like they are getting out of the racing business so why not take a big as a profit as possible on the sale? And to me that won’t be selling it as a racetrack.

Hope I’m wrong.

Re: OFFICIAL: Pacific Raceways For Sale
 

Sounds better for this year but who knows about long term...


http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-...ure-owner-says