Northwest members, have you attended the Pacific Raceways Road Race School?

[RTPTRON]

I have a friend that is interested in road racing and ask if I could find out about the Seattle program.

Have any of you been through the training program and/or done any road racing at Pacific Raceways?

How is the program?

How much fun is it compared to drag racing?

Thanks for your feedback.

[bull]

RallyeMike would probably know something about it.

[hrspwr]

It looks like this outfit no longer offers the road race school. I took the oval track course a few years ago, what a blast. One of the best days in my life, money well spent.
http://www.racingschools.com/rs/Competitive-Edge-Racing-School-c-952.html

[89MOPAR]

 Look up the Intl  Race Drivers Club   [ IRDC ]    it is the home track for them. They offer a full day course for about $200.  Maybe two or three times a year.

I have taken it , and it was Very Fun !  .   After years of drag racing, I wish i had road raced sooner and drag raced less.

I don't know if you have drag raced there, Pacific Raceways, I have, but imagine going down the quarter mile, but starting at about 40mph and acclerating for another 1/4 mile [at least] beyond the normal qtr mile, before you come up to the first fast left hand turn , then entering about a 6 story drop !

They used to have a school on site also. the one I did [ IRDC] was run your own car.  The on site school was use their cars.

[Chryco Psycho]

$200 is very reasonable to bad getting to Seattle isn`t

[89MOPAR]

 Well, you're always welcome to stay at my place Chrycho.  Bigger house this time . But no Charger 
However the Noble should rip up the pavement at SIR/ Pacific Raceways.  It ships out next week ! 

[Brock Samson]

 My Experiance was that In 1998 I attended three days of the Russell Racing School at Sears Point Raceway here in Nor Cal., it cost approx $ 1,700 and because i signed up for a Feb. Class when Biz. is slow and the chances of a rain out are greater that price was a huge discount...
  The first day we 14 students met at 6 AM on the misty track for nearly 4 hours of books inna classrom with a couple movies and the  intros to our half doz. instructors, GREAT PEOPLE who then  led us out on the track, which we walked, and I learned just why that's so important,.. then ride along in seven or so street cars two laps to learn the "Line"...
Then the cars:
  In this class of instruction they were esentually Formula Fords, 4 cyl. open wheelers close to 1000 Lbs with driver,..
the H.P. was about 80-90 which seems perfect. they also had larger CC classes of cars for more advanced instruction.
  It took me awhile to master the really short throw 4 speed and I embarrassed my self rounding off gears...  \ this was very embarrasing especially since I leaned to drive in stick shift cars.
  But I was too nervious and not "In the Zone". The crew was great though, on day two, my instructor an ex-pro rally driver, took me aside early, for nearly an hour session & while the class was back in the books he took me alone out on the wet course in a SCCA Spec. Eagle Talon, and patiently taught me the art of matching the Motors' Revs' to the five speeds' spinning internals of course most enlightening and enjoyable.
The time of year meant that alot of diffrent kinds of Pro. drivers were enrolled to tune up before the real race season resumed,..
besides these 10 their were four novies incl. myself. there was Me, A bubbely Woman from Telamundo with a film crew and two pit crew members being rewarded for their excellance. one of them wreacked his ride... 
It was a humbleing experiance. So much fun, exhileration and TERROR!    
Finally, by the third day i had improved enuff to snatch off a few good laps, a feeling i will never forget. but, as I attempted to better these perfect laps I was infact Black-flagged  a minute for overdriving and "getting in the marbles" on the straight and when calmed and I thought about it, they were absolutly right. my adrenal glands were waaaay too over-amped, I was driving mad cause i was so tired of the hot shoes passing me and i was driving over my head. There's a lesson. 

They eventually awarded me the "Most Improved Driver" award and I got an SCCA road racing licence.. 
If your a speed junkie like I am,  DO IT!   

[89MOPAR]

 Also, at Portland Int'l Raceway [PIR]  you can also go thru the ICSCC - Cascade Sports car club [ home track] for a day of driving and a few hours of class the night before for less than $200.   Again , that is drive your own vehicle price.  Using the schools car would be that much more expensive.  It is cheaper at PIR than SIR because PIR is a public park so rates are cheaper !