Z Fast

Well it finally happened. Oregon got its new road course - 'OREGON RACEWAY PARK in Grass Valley Oregon. The paving was just completed and had its first official track day Nov 23rd. The facility has a long way to go, but they got the important part done, the paving of phase 1. Hope by spring of next year, we will have some open test days. Turrent configuration is 2.3 miles and can be run in both directions(hopefully not at the same time)

Here is a link to the tracks home page;
http://www.oregonraceway.com/

Here is a link to a video from the 1st day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm83o0tXMUk

There are more videos on the home page.

Nobody seemed to be going all out. A technical track with lots of elevation changes and some very intersting series of turns - like the 'Half Pipe'. I don't think anybody was running all out that day. The first 3 minutes of the video was a preview lap followed by laps at speed.

This is good news for me since this is the closest track to me - about 2 hours away. I look to get the Z06 out on this track early next year and also hope to race my spec miata there too. The is some talk of SCCA trying to put together an event for 2009. I'm sure I will volunteer to instruct as often as I can at this track to get lots of experience.

Tom

dvandentop

i am not seeing an overhead shot of the track on their site?

OCCOMSRAZOR

WHOOO HOOO!

Another place to run!

0Randy@DRM

What a cool track. I hate flat tracks and this one is full of interesting things. The half pipe is about the coolest thing on any US tracks.

Have fun out there!!!
Randy

varkwso

cool region for a track...

There was not much for road racers in WA, OR and ID when I lived there.

dagon138

Wow, that's a wicked track. I love the fact that's not flat.

mikahb

Awesome!! That place looks like it's going to be a blast. The Half Pipe looks VERY cool!

Thanks for sharing!

CHJ In Virginia

That track looks like a bunch of fun - very technical !! Wish it was not on the other side of the country !!

c4cruiser

There is also another track being build near Boardman Oregon just off I-84. In Spokane WA, the county just took ownership of Spokane Raceway which has a road course and is looking for a company to run it.

Hopefully these tracks will offer some sort of open track days or allow clubs to host HPDE's.

By next summer there will be 5 road race courses all within a day's drive from each other!

varkwso

I used to run Spokane Raceway in the late 70's and early 80's when I was stationed at Fairchild.

Z Fast

Look on the home page left hand column near the bottom under 'photo update'

Here's a link to one;
http://www.oregonraceway.com/index_files/Page349.htm

Tom

Z Fast

Somebody should arrange a 5 day, 5 track Northwest DE package. I'd bet there would be alot of people from allover making the trip.

Tom

Z Fast

I lost touch with what was going on up there. Is the Boardman track still a reality? The last I heard is it was questionable.

c4cruiser

The website for Pacific Nothwest Motorsports PArk is still active and looks like it's getting updated.

It says the facility will be open in the summer of '09. It's being billed as a "country club" and private facility and that may make it too exclusive in these economic times.

c4cruiser

Maybe something should go up over in the Pacific Northwest section. I can just imagine a WA/OR version of a Cannonball Run

OCCOMSRAZOR

What a brilliant idea!!

Count me IN!!

Z Fast

Here's some really nice arial shots of the new ORP track in Grass Valley Oregon.

http://albums.phanfare.com/6614175/3...ageID=55089551

These pics will give you a good feel for the elevation changes and sections like the half-pipe. This is a slide show. If the slide show gets stuck, use the controls to advance to the next frame.

Tom

Last C5

Right now I think the best shot at that happening will be if the other northwest clubs, BMW, Shelby, Lotus, Alfa, Rose City Corvette, etc.,
wrap one of their HPDEs around the already scheduled two day event the Porsche Club is putting on June 20-21(Sat-Sun) at ORP.

c4cruiser

I would bet that any club that hosts an HPDE at ORP will fill up very quickly simply because it's a new track. For you Orygun guys (and Vancouver guys too ) it shouldn't be a long drive to get there.

The track is 92 miles from Portland and about 40 miles from The Dalles. At this time there is apparently not much in the way of accommodations so going back to The Dalles or somewhere along I-84 for overnight stays may be necessary.

It will be interesting to see what the track will charge clubs or groups for track days. There is a forum on their website but so far there is not a lot of info.