SOVREN Pacific Northwest Historics at Pacific Raceways

Today I drove out to Pacific Raceways in Kent for Sunday, the final day of the Pacific Northwest Historics. It’s SOVREN’s biggest event of the year, and this one marked the 38th running. I only made it out for race day three, but the paddock was still full, and there was plenty on track and in the corral to shoot.

The Pacific Northwest Historics is put on by SOVREN, the Society of Vintage Racing Enthusiasts, and it’s grown into the biggest vintage road race on the West Coast. Cars have to be vintage-correct and race-prepared to compete, so what you’re watching on track actually raced in period rather than a modern car dressed up to look old. This year’s event ran Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, and added the Hoosier Tire 2.5 Challenge to the schedule, a new West Coast series for historic B-Sedan cars built around the golden era of Trans Am-inspired racing. Peter Brock was the weekend’s special guest, and SOVREN hosted a Pasta & Conversation evening with him on Friday night. I missed that one, since I only came out for Sunday.

Classic Iron in the Paddock

Away from the track, the paddock and car corral rewarded a slow walk. I found a mix of British and Japanese roadsters, a boxy European sedan or two, and a small coupe tucked between the trailers. This is the part of the Historics I like best. Race cars park a few feet from daily drivers and show cars, and everyone shares the same gravel lot. Nobody’s precious about it, either. You can walk right up and look at whatever catches your eye, and half the fun is guessing which car just came off the track and which one just drove in from the parking lot.

The corral isn’t just for parking, either. Owners who bring a car into the corral can sign up for parade laps during the lunch break. These aren’t hot laps. Cars follow a pace car at low speed, under 60 mph, with no passing allowed. Still, it’s a rare chance to drive your own car onto a track that normally only sees race cars. Each car corral driver also gets a small goodie bag with a dash plaque and event program, and spots fill up fast, so it’s worth registering early if you want in.

I loved getting back to my computer, loading this photo, and realizing this kid was cheesing for the camera!

Racing: Saloon Cars on Track

Sunday afternoon was mostly spent at the fence watching a pack of small vintage sedans dice through the corners nose to tail, a few of the Datsuns running bold red, white and blue period liveries. I can’t call out every chassis and driver from photos alone, but the racing spoke for itself, tight and loud. These photos are from the Hoosier Tire 2.5 Challenge, running Datsun 510s, BMWs, and a coupe of Alfa Romeos.

A Datsun and a BMW running neck and neck.

A good look at the BRE Datsun 510.

The BMW catches some heat from a hard charging Datsun 510.

Finally, a clear backside.

Open-Wheel Cars

The formula cars were a nice change of pace, low and narrow and clearly quicker through the esses than the sedans. There’s a rhythm to vintage open-wheel racing that’s different from the saloon car packs, more about a clean line than banging doors, and Pacific Raceways gives them room to show it.

Visit the Pacific Northwest Historics

Next year’s event should land around the same weekend in early July at Pacific Raceways in Kent. Spectator tickets this year ran $35 for adults and covered all three days. Check SOVREN’s Pacific Northwest Historics page for dates and ticket info if you want to catch it yourself, ideally for the full weekend next time.