Ruth,
You can stay at any hotel on Hastings and can catch a hastings bus to the PNE/Pacific Col. I recommend either staying downtown (pricey) or in Burnaby. Don't stay in East Van. You'll need to check the beds for syringes. :P
Here are two hotels RIGHT AT the PNE that are decent.. and shouldn't be too pricey.
Best Western Exhibition Park
3475 Hastings Street East, Vancouver, BC V5K 2A5, Canada
(604) 294-4751
Holiday Inn Express Vancouver
2889 Hastings Street East, Vancouver, BC V5K 2A1, Canada
(604) 254-1000
Here is a link to see their locations. Hastings Park Raceway is at the PNE.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=hotels...0.129089&hl=en
HTH, Ivy.