Forum Fest has been THE automotive event to attend in the northwest for the last four years. It combined a large car show, drag racing, and drifting – essentially something for everyone.
This year (because of regulations imposed by King County) drifting was removed and replaced with lead/follow laps around the track. It didn’t seem to change attendance numbers leading up to the event and everyone was optimistic that it would be another successful event despite the lack drifting. It wasn’t until a few days before when the weather forecast was published that people started to have flashbacks of the freak storm that descended upon Pacific Raceways in 2012.
Text by Matt Haugness. Photos by TK Akiyama and Matt Haugness.
Rain or shine, we make every effort to attend events that we plan on providing media coverage for. It was obvious the day before that Forum Fest 2014 was likely to be wet so we planned accordingly and showed up to the track around 9am. Roll-in was smooth and every year we have attended has been better.
Shortly after roll-in, the lead/follow lapping started. Drag racing wasn’t supposed to start until the early afternoon so it wasn’t a big deal that the drag strip was damp. Unfortunately, the rain started around noon and didn’t let up until towards the end of the day. Drag racing was canceled and lead/follow slowed down an hour or so after it started.
Forum Fest had a great turnout this year but the rain definitely hurt the event. Having drag racing canceled and the lead/follow less populated meant that there was little to do besides walk around the show for hours on end.
This is the second year of the last three that has been rained out—do you think Forum Fest should be moved later in the year? Leave a comment below with your opinion.
Forum Fest Winners
Award | Name | Car |
Best of Show | Rob Kothenbeutel | 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo |
NWMotiv Judges Choice | Justin Wallace | 2000 Lexus GS300 |
Fan Favorite | Derek Lewellen | 2009 370Z |
Best Paint | Aric Clapp | 1991 Honda CRX |
Best Interior | Justin Polachak | Scion XB |
Best Stance | Travis VanAusdal | 2003 Volkswagen GTI |
Best Team Overall | Team Xcessive Speedz | |
Best Team/Club/Forum Represent | Team Innovations | |
Best Engine | Eli Anderson | 2010 Subaru Impreza |
Best VIP Build | Jay Owner | 2006 Infiniti M45 |
Best Old School | Sukh Aujula | 1980 Skyline |
Best Vendor Car | Stu Hagen | Toyota Supra – Ishii Motors |
Best Female Build | Katie Smith | 2004 Subaru WRX |
Best Track Build | Mike Phillips | 1989 Nissan 240SX |
Best Toyota / Scion | Amanda Plummer | 2006 Scion TC |
2nd Place Toyota / Scion | Steven Smith | 1977 Toyota Celica |
Best Subaru | Eli Anderson | 2010 Subaru Impreza |
2nd Place Subaru | Katie Smith | 2004 Subaru Impreza |
3rd Place Subaru | Mallory Tatman | 2011 Subaru WRX STI |
Best Mazda | Erick Krewson | 2005 Mazda RX-8 |
2nd Place Mazda | Joe Olden | 2004 Mazda RX-8 |
Best Nissan | Kelly Williamas | 1991 Nissan 240SX |
2nd Place Nissan | Frank Moreno | 2005 Nissan 350Z |
3rd Place Nissan | Mike Phillips | 1989 Nissan 240SX |
Best Japanese Luxury | Justin Wallace | 2000 Lexus GS300 |
2nd Place Japanese Luxury | Kenji Nishimura | 1999 Lexus GS300 |
Best Honda/Acura Hatch/Coupe | Bill Master | 2003 Honda Civic |
2nd Place Honda/Acura Hatch/Coupe | Aric Clapp | 1991 Honda CRX |
Best Honda/Acura 4/5 Door | Andrew Loungphakdy | 1996 Honda Civic Sedan |
2nd Place Honda/Acura 4/5 Door | Dom Costello | 1995 Acura Integra |
Best Domestic | Michael Nanpei | 2009 Dodge Challenger |
2nd Place Domestic | Robert Sutton | 2013 Ford Focus |
Best Mitsubishi | Steve Ishii | 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo |
2nd Place Mitsubishi | Elree Guerrero | 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo |
Best Hyundai/Kia | Marcus Estill | 2004 Hyundai Tiburon |
2nd Place Hyundai/Kia | Mathew Goodwin | 2010 Hyundai Genesis |
Best BMW | Alex Andreza | 2002 BMW M3 |
2nd Place BMW | Taran Johal | 2007 BMW 330i |
3rd Place BMW | Perry Kveton | 1974 BMW Lo Rider |
Best Audi | Alex Ng | 2006 Audi A4 |
2nd Place Audi | Mike Huff | 2008 Audi A5 |
3rd Place Audi | Blake Crawford | 2003 Audi A4 |
Best Volkswagen | Natalie Hobbs | 2004 Volkswagen Jetta IV |
2nd Place Volkswagen | Kenton Shaull | 2006 Volkswagen GLI |
3rd Place Volkswagen | Dion Spina | 2010 Volkswagen CC |
Best European Other | Yimeng Zhao | 2004 Mercedes Benz E-Class |
2nd Place European Other | Eric Warren | 1987 Volvo 244 |
3rd Place European Other | Hunter Sands | 2002 Mini Cooper |
Best Bike / Scooter | John Morimoto | 2011 Ducati 848 Evo |
2nd Place Bike / Scooter | Terry Suvonnarith | 2011 Honda Ruckus |