South Sound Speedway’s three-eighths track accommodates a variety of events every Saturday night. Special events occur throughout the season.
Rochester’s South Sound Speedway races began April 2 and will continue into September.
Bill, Dave, and Stretch hook a car with a blown engine for removal from the first turn of South Sound Speedway during time trials Saturday. The lifting rig is similar to a toy hook in an arcade game.
South Sound Speedway opened up last weekend for its 45th season and the atmosphere was like a family reunion.
Drivers, mechanics, and race fans dusted off the winter blues to get their speed on at the Rochester track. The first race of the season doesn’t necessarily attract a big crowd, according to Lyle Sexton, advertising consultant for the track, but the weather was cooperating Saturday so he couldn’t predict attendance.
With the beautiful Scatter Creek nearby, and easy access from Interstate 5 or points east, the speedway is like a time trip in many ways. The sport hasn’t changed much because the object is move around the track faster than anyone else. The cars may have different categories and styles, but the human factor remains in regards to driving skill, mechanical readiness and fan expectations. What’s constant is that anything can happen at a car race.
Inside the gates of the speedway, it’s like a friendly little city. Everyone is happy to be there. In addition to the oval where the public action takes place, there are a number of unseen amenities pertinent to racing and car owners in general.
First, they are the only track with their own tow trucks, medical aid crew, and street sweeper. They also have a track dryer which is pulled behind a truck. No races are held if the track is not dry.
Second, there is a parts store onsite and repair shop run by Nick Behr, son of owners Butch and Maureen Behr. Nick Behr also takes care of the online presence. What may come as a surprise to some people, he said, is that many drivers and owners of race cars don’t do their own repairs.
Full auto body service is also offered on track property. So a driver could wreck it, blow the engine, or need something as simple as an oil filter and not have to leave the speedway to take care of it.
The track was bustling with activity Saturday during the season’s first time trials. Cars were still arriving and Dave Dix, the pit boss, was in the process of changing the track dryer’s battery. Meanwhile, on the track, a blown engine meant Bill, Dave and Stretch had to snag a car with the tow truck and haul it off. All trials stopped while the track was cleared of spilled oil.
While South Sound Speedway is considered a hobby track, some drivers of its drivers have moved into the NASCAR world, including Greg Biffle, from Camas, Washington, who cut his racing teeth on short tracks in Washington.
There are special events through the season, including discount prices for mothers in May, fireworks in July, Monster Trucks in August and several days of free kids and teen admission.
