Hey Fellas, how is everyone doing?

I just accepted a position with Boeing so I will be moving to the Renton area from Tulsa Oklahoma probably in 1-2 months. I'm looking forward to getting to know the PacNW scene! I grew up in Portland, but I am not as familiar with the Seattle area.

At the moment I mainly have two questions, but I'm sure I'll think of more.

1) Obviously with an S2000, I need a garage. And I know housing prices are huge compared to Oklahoma, so I'm looking at getting an apartment or perhaps renting a home. Are there any good (safe, clean, etc) apartments with a garage in the Renton area (or somewhere nearby)? Doesn't have to be attached to the room, it can be a stand alone building. I'm looking for a 1 bedroom and I'm probably going to budget somewhere around $1k for the rent, I think that sounds reasonable.

2) I track my car when I get the chance to do so. Are there any local tracks and/or groups that allow S2000's without roll bars? I think PGP is one of them, but is there anything else within ~4 hours of Seattle? I prefer track day to autox, I want to live my life more than 30 seconds at a time

Looking forward to meeting everyone!

 

Congratulations on the new job. It's a lot more comfortable here than it is in Tulsa!

One really great thing about Boeing is that you can join BEAC (Boeing Employees Autosports Club)

They have some National Champion level autocrossers in that group and their practices are awesome. You can run until you don't have any tires left.


PGP - no problem with no roll bar.

The big track right next to PGP is Pacific Raceways and some groups are ok without a roll bar and some are not.

Not sure but I think it's similar at Portland and Spokane as well.

I've done lapping days and even more fun - Time Trials at Bremerton without a roll bar.

Stop by Tacos when you get to Seattle.

I'm not up on rents so I'm sure others will be able to fill you in on that. I would try looking around the Newcastle area. It's close and it's pretty nice.

 

Sweet! My current company doesn't have an auto club so that definitely sounds like a plus!

 

I think that pretty much all of the local tracks have some groups that allow you to run without a bar in an s2k. A great starting point is PGP as you listed. You will be hard pressed to find a track with better seat time for your money. It is complicated and technical enough that you will be entertained, and the track surface is perfectly smooth.

The big track next door is fun too. Just be careful n the wet, that place turns into an skating rink.

 

Can't add anything to what Lig said, but I will

Congratulations on the new job and welcome (once you get here) to the area!

Other places to look for housing - Kent, Suburbs of Renton, Mercer Island, West Seattle <-- these seem to be where folks that work in Renton live, but it'll also depend on how much of a commute you are willing to put up with.

Come out to Taco Tuesdays (thread is stickied) when you're out here. There's some cool people there.

 

What do people do about front plates up here? Do the cops care? Is it a primary offense that they would pull you over just for not having a front plate? (I guess my windows are also tinted to 20% so that's two strikes against me).

I'd hate having to put the front plate on.

 

Plates are required. Got pulled over last week for not having mine on the CR. Cop was bored I guess, but no ticket. A lot of people dont have the front plate, but its a risk you have to be willing to take. Ive never run front plates on my cars. Dont act like a jerk on the road and you should be fine

Welcome back to the NW!

 

Definitely want to get a spot with a garage and some seat locks as well.

 

Haven't had a front plate on an S2000 since moving back from MI (no front plate law there) in '08. I know people get pulled over / ticketed for it, but I've chosen to live with the risk, as have many S2000 / sports car owners in WA. Because it's that 'type of car,' I think police are a little more lenient. ...They aren't down with the speeding though, I've gotten like 7 tickets in the last 3 years.

 

Ok, that's what I figured. I'll probably just live with no front plate on the S and pay if I get a ticket, and I'll put a plate on the Fit since that's my DD.