Is anyone planning on going to Pacific Raceways to check out their new karting track? I headed down there this morning and ran a couple of sessions on their North and South loops. I don't really have any karting experience other than some of the indoor tracks, plus I would go to Malibu Raceway down in Beaverton while in town for the CART races.
I thought the track and karts were alot of fun at Pacific Raceways. The north loop of the track is a more technical section with some cool corners including a wicked banked corner. The south loop is a higher speed section.
The track isn't completely finished yet. They've still got to paint some lines and do the landscaping. They just finished the paving a couple of weeks ago. Everyone I talked to there though seemed to have alot of enthusiasm, and they also seemed to really want to make sure I was having a good time, which I absolutely was. I recognized some of the guys from Speedware Motorsports there too so they must have some involvement with it.
So if you're ever in the Kent area and have any interest in karting, I highly recommend stopping by and running a few laps. I think you'll have a blast. You can find more information at their website.
They have 3 types of rental karts. Category "A" recreational, Category "B" TaG, and Category "C" 125cc shifter. The Category A and B are both single geared. You need 2 hours of running time in a kart before you can move up to the next category.
They only had the Category "A" karts there today. They told me those have a top speed of about 40 mph. The Category "B" karts have a top speed of about 50 mph.
They don't have the shifter karts there yet because they said the asphalt is too fresh. It needs more time to cure before the shifters run there because the G force will break apart the surface right now. They said the shifters will pull 3.5g's through the corners.
Even though they only had the slowest of the karts there today, they were still a ton of fun, and they're faster than the karts used at the indoor tracks I've been to.
Wow did not know the karting track was ready for use. Count me in. prices are on par with the indoor places I go to like Sykart. I propose a group/ event purchase of the track for all that want to to play on. Or maybe that's down the road a little while from now. Thanks for posting this.
I went out to Pacific GP and ran some more laps today. I took a buddy of mine with me and he had a blast. He can't wait to do it again.
They ran the courses in the opposite directions today. That wicked banked corner on the north loop is even more so in the opposite direction. There is an elevation change in that corner too, so yesterday it was banked while going uphill. Today it was a sudden drop-off with banking.
I've got some blisters on my hands from 2 days of lapping but other than that I'm not too sore.
They were setup with photo and HD video cameras today. They remembered me from yesterday and took pictures of me with the owner because they said I had been their first paying customer. So my picture might appear on their website. But I'm wearing a helmet so you can't really see me.
Yeah. I asked them if they'll continue running in the rain and they said they would.
I don't have my Corvette anymore but I'd enjoy participating in a group event. They have several group packages that actually include trophies and stuff too. You can see the group events at http://www.pacificgp.com/index.php?o...=55&Itemid=139
Kart racing is one of the best "spectator' sports ever, and at daytona the "open class" was doing 80 mph 35 years ago!!! My cousin would sit there all morning till the anouncer would say "alright all you crazies" the "open class is staging on the grid now!!! and grasshopper good to see your doing the do!! I hope all is well with your "pops" as i've fallen off the face of the earth lately (about the last year!) but i'll soon be my old "wallflower" self in no time!
Corvette Store
Pacific GP kart track
sports ever, and at daytona the "open class" was doing 80 mph 35 years ago!!!
and grasshopper good to see your doing the do!! I hope all is well with your "pops" as i've fallen off the face of the earth lately (about the last year!) but i'll soon be my old "wallflower" self in no time!
