August 23, 2009

News & Features

Car stars: 'Pinks All Out' races into town, bringing fame and fortune

By Jeff Layton

Special to NWautos

A cameraman for "Pinks All Out" shoots the start of a race at Pacific Raceways in Kent on Aug. 15. (Jeff Layton)

With a sickening crrrrack, the white Dodge Duster lurched and died, dropping its entire drive shaft onto the starting line. Meanwhile, the flashy red GTO in the next lane popped a wheelie and ripped down the quarter-mile track in 10 seconds.

Drag racing highs and lows happened en masse last week at Pacific Raceways in Kent during the filming of a Pacific Northwest edition of the Speed Channel's hit TV show "Pinks All Out." More than 450 amateur drivers took part in the races, getting a chance to burn rubber in front of a national television audience and win $18,000 in cash and tools.

The majority of racers hit times between 8 and 13 seconds, but don't expect to see the fastest cars in the finals when the show airs in November. "Pinks" producers select the field of 32 from the middle of the pack based on results from the preliminary rounds. All of the cars had times within two-tenths of a second from one another.

Tune in

The Seattle episode of "Pinks All Out" is tentatively scheduled to air on the Speed Channel during the second week of November. The network reruns "Pinks" frequently, so the episode should air several times during the winter.

For the thousands of spectators that showed up at Pacific Raceways, the most popular match-ups were between atypical dragsters, such as a VW Beetle versus a Honda Civic, or whenever old beaters were paired against showy contemporary models.

For "Pinks" racer Zac Cain, of Port Angeles, the weekend was filled with mixed emotions. A few days before the event, he found out that his wife was pregnant with the couple's first child. While it was hard to stay focused, he said, the excitement of possibly being on TV focused his competitive spirit.

Between heats, he made small adjustments to his Camaro Z28 from a grassy staging area, replacing the frayed alternator belt, tweaking the timing and rebalancing tire pressure. He also helped the driver parked next to him adjust the fuel ratio and replace a cracked spark plug in his '62 Nova.

"It's a really communal event," Cain said. "Lots of the newer guys are surprised by how nice and helpful everyone is."

Cain made the final 32 to earn a spot on the show, but he false-started in his heat. Nevertheless, he seemed pleased that he ran a respectable 10.48 and was thrilled that host Rich Christensen gave him the thumbs up at the starting line.

"Oh well, that's racing!" he said.

His attitude was typical of that among the grass-roots racers at the event: It's not about the prize money, but the adrenaline, the camaraderie and pleasing the spectators with huge clouds of burn-out smoke.

"I had a great time," Cain said, "and can't wait to strap in and go for another ride at home again!"

35 Comments

Comment on this

By Karrie Walter on September 7, 2009 4:34 PM

I would like your schedule for the 2010 season. I love drag racing & want to attend one of your races.

By Karrie Walter on September 7, 2009 4:35 PM

I would like your schedule for the 2010 season. I love drag racing & want to attend one of your races.

By Lori Stewart on September 19, 2009 7:56 PM

Would love the schedule for 2010 racing for pinks all out. My family and I would love to attend. Please send me a schedule for 2010. Thanks, Lori

By Nicole Majors on September 20, 2009 8:00 PM

I would like a schedule for 2010 ..

Thanks

By vince dunaway on September 23, 2009 5:30 PM

need a schedule 2010 got 2 cars ready . need a place to race 77 vega 800 horse and 85 monte carlo 500 horse. thanks for your show it has to be one of the best on tv and to watch .seen it montgomery it was a wild time

By vince dunaway on September 23, 2009 5:32 PM

need a schedule 2010 got 2 cars ready . need a place to race 77 vega 800 horse and 85 monte carlo 500 horse

By Terry Walls on September 30, 2009 1:17 AM

Trying to get a car ready for the 2010 season and need a schedule . Best show on TV. Thanks for the drag racing where you don't have to be rich and famous.

By Diane Jackson on October 1, 2009 10:51 AM

DId you ever receive the 2010 schedule of what cities they plan to go to? Or did they say when they were posting it?

By kevin harrison on October 1, 2009 9:07 PM

please send me 2010 schedule thank you

By Loretta Collum on October 6, 2009 6:26 AM

Hey want a 2010 schedule for my husband and i to attend a showing.

By Adam Hoogendoorn on October 8, 2009 4:48 PM

I'd love to have the Schedule for Pinks all out anyone have it yet?

By Carolyn Bradley on October 13, 2009 7:03 PM

Would like to get the new schedule for 2010 of Pinks All Out. Enjoyed US 131 Martin Michigan would like to attend it and the one in Indy.

By Chris Vine on October 13, 2009 10:40 PM

Hi.
Watch your show from northern Ontario, Canada. Going south for winter(husband retiring) and want to surprise him with tickets( he never misses a show, even repeats) . Please send 2010 shedule, would love to see the look on his face. Thanks.

By Kandice on October 15, 2009 9:28 PM

Would like to know where the races are going to be in 2010 me and my husband love watching the show and want to attend one live......Thanks so much!

By John Guy on October 16, 2009 1:52 PM

Woud also love a 2010 schedule. Please send one. Thank you

By Amber on October 18, 2009 11:33 AM

I would also love to have a Pinks All Out 2010 Schedule.... please send me one!!! Thanks!!!!

By lori on October 18, 2009 8:42 PM

would love to have a 2010 pinks all out schedule

By Michael Poole on October 18, 2009 9:13 PM

Would like a 2010 schedule so I may take my husband to his favorite show in person. Thanks. We watch it every time its available.

By Jacque on October 19, 2009 5:08 AM

Please send me a copy of the 2010 pinks all out schedule. thanks

By rjc on October 20, 2009 11:25 AM

ok come on guys you know you have invented a killer show that will even out sale the nhra and the ihra at the local tracks, so where is the schedule for 2010 plz , I need to know everybody is talking about running all out

By Jane Keller Watson on October 20, 2009 11:36 AM

So far, the schedule for 2010 has not been announced. Check back herefor events in 2010.

Check out the main Pinks Web site for show times.

-- Jane Keller Watson
NWautos editor

By Travis on October 22, 2009 5:30 PM

Bring the show back to Denver! I need a 2010 schedule too, please email me one or a link> Thanks in advance

By R A potter on October 24, 2009 6:50 AM

i would like the 2010 schedule. thank you.

By gramps48 on October 24, 2009 12:58 PM

we are retired and would like to have 2010 track schedule so we may be able to go to a few on our who knows where journeys next year. had a blast at st. louis in 2008 , thanks

By Karyn Csaszar on October 27, 2009 4:21 PM

I would love to have the new schedule for 2010, thanks a miilion.

By ken ledlie on October 28, 2009 10:13 AM

would like 2010 schedule also would like to try out for this event

By tommy on October 29, 2009 4:14 PM

would like a 2010 schedule , and info so i could race my car at a event..

By kip rishel on October 30, 2009 6:36 AM

pinks all out is a great show & I have a 1955 chevy 4-door that I took my drivers test in it & I hope you would E-mail me A 2010 schedule when it comes out so can take my 55 chevy to race it THANKS kip

By KF on October 30, 2009 4:59 PM

2010 on-location filming schedule please.

By James Bishop on November 1, 2009 6:12 AM

Raced this year and want to race again in 2010 cant fine schedule. Please help.

By Roy Ritter on November 1, 2009 7:43 PM

Please send me the 2010 schedule. Thank you.

By Roy Ritter on November 1, 2009 7:45 PM

Please send me the 2010 schedule. Thank you.

By REGINA WALKER on November 1, 2009 8:19 PM

2010 schedule pleASE

By Al on November 1, 2009 9:12 PM

Please send me the 2010 schedule. We hope you will come back to Ennis, TX.