Pacific Raceways has been the home track of SOVREN since the club was formed in the late 1980s. The vintage club racing season begins each year with the Spring Sprints held in April.
Those of us who are motorsports fans and racers—but not rain fans—have lamented the absence of a place on the facility under cover. Seattle is a wet city in the spring. For as long as I can remember, it rained yearly during at least part of this event. I have a rain suit for this very reason.
And yet, throughout its existence since 1960, when you come to the track in April, the only anti-rain amenity it offers are these crappy pit wall umbrellas.
In spring of 2022, they were sun umbrellas. As one race fan said: “Oh, YES! Sunshine at the Spring Sprints!!!”
Cars Competing at SOVREN Spring Sprints 2022
This was a terrific event for Porsche 911 fans. A number of beautifully prepared examples turned out. We had a group of competitive vintage Corvettes and Camaros, and contemporary GT1 and GT2 cars. A big grid of Formula Fords competed. We had a sprinkling of GT40, Alfas, an XK120, Triumphs and BMWs.
Of special interest were the 1966 Brabham Grand Prix car and a mean-looking Honda S2000. I had never seen an S2000 in a vintage race. It was fast and it was cool. We had a lot of variety at this event.
The SOVREN Spring Sprints Get Underway for 2022
The back part of the track is scenic, as always: beautiful in morning sunlight punching through the trees, with little to identify it as a road racecourse. In places where the cars pass through patchy sunlight and shade, it looks like a winding hilly country road—a signature of Pacific Raceways loved by drivers, spectators, and photographers.
Sunday qualifying and racing were a great kickoff to the 2022 racing season in the Pacific Northwest. Now, if the rain only holds back for the main event in July! If not, I have my rain suit.
Sr. Jack would have been pleased to see one of his cars so well turned out and driven 56 years after the company built it. I love the GP cars of this era, before they were covered in advertising, fitted with wings and other aero thingies. They were pure. A body suspended between four tires.
I walked to the trailer to have a look at the black S2000. “Is it one of the 9,000RPM models?”
“Yes.”
“This thing is fast,” I said to the man standing next to it.
He pointed at the sign on the side of the car, and said, “He’s fast.”
“Oh, Parker Johnstone” I said (of NSX Championship fame). Yeah, he’s fast. I think the car is, too. Hide your Toyotas and your Nissans, guys. Parker Johnstone in an S2000 is gonna hurt!
I also saw this interesting Lotus for sale on a trailer. Looked a little rough. Nothing that can’t be fixed with a couple of rattle cans. Too bad about the flat tire, though.
Look at that poor kid peeking through the fence at the pits. Those SOVREN people are mean. Somebody should let him in (not me—I’m busy taking his photo).
SOVREN Spring Sprints 2022 Photo Gallery
