Portland International Raceway

Portland International Raceway is located on the site of the WWII city of Vanport, which was flooded out in 1948 and abandoned. The City of Portland purchased the site in 1960; the roads of the defunct city were then used for the first "Rose Cup Races" in June, 1961.

Drag racing at PIR started in 1965; the SCCA Trans-Am series came to PIR in 1972. IMSA brought their GTP series to Portland in 1978, and CART (now ChampCar) came in 1984.

The "Festival Turns" were added  to the main straight several years ago; previously the track had been 1.915 miles with 9 turns. Most sanctioning bodies use the track with the new chicane. For 2005, the gravel traps around the festival turns have been paved over.

2007 PIR improvement plans

Assuming we get budget and financing approval from the City Council, PIR will undergo major improvements in the fall of 2007. All on-track activity will end on September 16, and nothing will run on the track until the first car rolls through the Holiday Lights at Thanksgiving.

That time is reserved for a complete repave of the racing surface. PIR has just completed a study of the thickness of the asphalt and base all around the track (nearly 30 twelve-inch holes were bored). Next, the track management will evaluate the results to determine if there are areas that should be completely dug up and rebuilt in the process.

Several projects are being studied as part of this process. First there is the repave itself, including the option of adding a ¼ mile inner loop in the west end. This loop would turn right between Turns 5 and 6, with a slow hairpin, followed by three different left-hand turns, rejoining the current layout before Turn 7. The current layout will stay in place, which allows us up to four different track configurations for races: the current track with and without the chicane and the new longer track with and without the chicane.

Also, PIR is studying the addition of pieces of linking pavement that would essentially create two separate tracks. One track would turn right at the exit of Turn 3 right and join the new loop headed toward Turn 7. The shorter course would simply be a training/testing course that uses Turn 4, 5, the new hairpin and two left handers, and then a hairpin back onto the main straight at the entrance of Turn 4.

This would allow two groups to use the facility at one time. For example, a club day could run on the longer track and a school on the short track.

In addition to the repave, PIR is pricing the vehicle-pedestrian bridge, which current plans have going from the north berm near the Turn 9 station in the middle of the back straight, across the slough and landing to the west of the motocross track.

Also, the South Broadacre grassy field paving is being estimated, which would yield about 8 acres of asphalt for slaloms, drifting and police training. The area would be lit for night use, according to current plans.

The last project being estimated at this time is the West End motorhome park, which is planned as 100 improved spaces for year-round (but not long-term) rent. Included in this project would be a caretaker/shower and restroom/store building and two other restroom/show facilities. This area would be available to the general public at all times except during big pro events.

All of these projects are based on PIR borrowing $5-7 million. Final figures will be available when the estimates are completed. Management hopes to complete the repave, bridge and Broadacre pavement in 2007-2008, and the RV park in 2009.

Mark Wigginton
PIR Manager

Pacific Raceways

The Fiorito family built Pacific Raceways in 1959, and held the first race there in 1960. In 1976, they leased the track to Seattle International Raceway for a 25 year period. On the expiration of lease the at the end of 2000, they resumed control and restored the original name.