Portland, Ore (PRWEB) June 12, 2009
Race drivers hailing from across the western United States converge this weekend for three days of racing and enthusiast activities that highlight the City of Portland’s Rose Festival.
The annual Rose Cup Race, the oldest amateur road-racing event west of the Mississippi River, has been popular with West Coast racing enthusiasts for five decades. The 49th running of the Rose Cup Race features several hundred amateur drivers in various classes of racecars.
Key racing championships being contested this weekend include the MiataCage.com Spec Miata Series, the Victoria Express F500 Championship with drivers competing for the Victoria Express Cup, and the Fluge Global Adventure GT1 and GT2 Championships.
Spec Miata is one of the Sports Car Club of America’s most popular classes with cars prepared to similar specifications so that emphasis is placed on driving skill. It is not unusual to see long lines of Miatas running nose to tail, drafting closely, and pulling out for a slingshot pass. The MicataCage.com Special Miata Smackdown at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday and 11:00 p.m. Sunday are sure to be among the most exciting races of the weekend.
Formula 500 race cars are exotic open wheel, single seat thoroughbred racing machines designed with only one purpose in mind: to go fast. F500s run small displacement, two-stroke engines like those found in snowmobiles, and are one of the least expensive classes to run in SCCA. Because of their low weight in comparison to horsepower, these cars are frequently much faster than their larger displacement counterparts. The Victoria Express Championship races are Saturday at 11:15 a.m. and Sunday and 4:40 p.m.
GT1 and GT2 race cars are purpose-built, highly modified “silhouette” replicas of series-produced sports sedans. GT cars are permitted tube-frame chassis with performance being equalized by allowing cars with smaller engines to compete at a lighter weight. The Fluge Global Adventures GT1 and GT2 classes take the green flag on Saturday at 11:50 a.m. and Sunday at 9:40 a.m.
Just as important as the race activity are the hundreds of SCCA volunteers it takes to organize and safely run high speed races at P.I.R. Both Flat Out Racing and MiataCage.com are sponsoring barbeques each night of the Rose Cup weekend to show appreciation for the volunteer workers’ long hours and hard work.
The Oregon Region Sports Car Club of America organizes and sanctions the road racing events during the Rose Cup weekend. These races are round four in the seven race Fluge Global Adventures Road Racing Championship that are held annually from March through October.
Other race activities this weekend include:
Muscle Milk Trans-Am presented by Fluge Global Adventures
Porsche Cup racing, presented by Carrera Motors
Spec Racer Ford racing, presented by Pro Drive
The Wemme Cup vintage racing, presented by AAA of Oregon
A Cruise-In, presented by Beaches Restaurant and Bar
Friday and Saturday night drag racing
Portland International Raceway is owned and operated by the City of Portland through its bureau of Parks and Recreation. The raceway is operated as an Enterprise Fund, meaning that its operating expenses and capital improvements are covered by the revenues that it generates, as Portland International Raceway receives no general fund tax dollars. The raceway’s varied, year round activities bring between 30 and 40 million dollars into the surrounding community each year.
About Victoria Express
Victoria Express operates two vessels providing seasonal foot passenger service with up to three trips daily between Port Angeles, WA and Victoria, British Columbia, along with San Juan Island, WA.
The Victoria Express and the Victoria Express II are constructed of aluminum and are gyro-stabilized for a smoother ride and are propelled by turbo-charged, eco-friendly HE (High Efficiency) class diesel engines, enabling the vessels to travel at a cruising speed of approximately 20 knots. Biodiesel is used aboard both vessels.
Aboard the vessel travelers find a friendly, knowledgeable crew ready to assist; a galley is available for snacks, soft drinks, and adult beverages; and often the trip is enhanced by sightings of porpoise, sea birds, and the magnificent Orca whale. Currency exchange in our ticket office and duty free shopping on board the vessel are available.
Victoria Express is proud to offer several different vacation packages in and around Victoria, B.C. From day trips to weekend getaways, Victoria Express helps visitors create a truly unforgettable experience. For a relaxing Harbor Cruise or a trip to the San Juan Islands, the Victoria Express boats are available for charters around the Olympic Peninsula. Some examples of charter excursions include trips to Victoria, Christmas are available. A menu from Downriggers restaurant is downloadable at http://www.victoriaexpress.com. More information on pricing is available at (360) 452 -8088.
About MiataCage.com
Since 2001, Portland-based MiataCage.com has become a nationwide supplier of Spec Miata and Mazda parts for professional and amateur racing series. They design, fabricate and market more than 40 key Miata components, and are the leading designer and supplier of custom roll cage kits. The company also provides support to a wide variety of individual drivers and teams. For more information please visit http://www.MiataCage.com.
About Fluge Global Adventures
In 2007 Fluge Global Adventures (FGA) won the prestigious Rose Cup at Portland International Raceway, captured the Improved Touring E (ITE) class championship with the Oregon Region Sports Car Club of America, competed in a 3,000-mile cross country race rally, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and to the Base Camp at Everest, competed in professional Las Vegas poker tournaments, and went “Nessie” watching in Scotland.
In 2008, (FGA) tackled some exciting new challenges. Besides winning the Improved Touring E (ITE) championship, the FGA team participated in the World Series of Poker, challenged world class bikers in a 200 mile Cycling Classic, took part in the Duel in Death Valley in the fall, and competed in The Million Dollar Race in Las Vegas.
In 2009, FGA began the year with a very strong finish (Final Four Tables) in the World Poker Championships in February and launches their SCCA GT1 assault in March in sports cars. In April, FGA is sponsoring 45 elementary students to attend a vibrant outdoor school, and then complete an essay entitled: “One World, Infinite Adventures,” which features an adventure or dream that each student would like to fulfill in their lifetime. More intriguing adventures remain to be scheduled for the summer and fall of 2009.
For more on these events and adventures, go to http://www.flugeglobaladventures.com.
About Flat Out Racing
Flat Out Racing provides service, support and rentals at Portland International Raceway and at racing destinations across North America. As one of the leading stables for Spec Racer Ford competition, many drivers either rent race cars or have theirs serviced and maintained by Flat Out Racing. The organization is an authorized dealer for Spec Racer Ford, Formula SCCA and MoTeC Data Acquisition. For more information please email flatout@wa-net.com or call 503-970-9871.
About Oregon Region SCCA
The Oregon Region of the Sports Car Club of America was established in the 1960′s and has grown to its present membership of over 1,200 members. The Region obtained its charter from SCCA in 1962. It is a member oriented, member operated club with the primary purpose of “promoting, maintaining and improving automobile sports and interest in the ownership, operation of, and safety of sports cars.”
The roots of SCCA and Oregon Region run deep in racing history. The origin of SCCA can be traced back to the pre-World War II “Auto Racing Club of America” which disbanded because of World War II. Originally, the State of Oregon was included in the territory of Northwest Region, SCCA (NWR), and it remained that way until the official creation of Oregon Region in 1962.
From its beginning, Oregon Region SCCA has been organizing and administering sports car/club racing events at Newport, Goshen (South of Eugene) and Portland’s West Delta Park (now Portland International Raceway – PIR). The Region’s first race was held at the Newport municipal airport (an ex-WWII air base) in 1962.
Currently, Oregon Region has active programs in Club Racing, Vintage Racing, Road Rally, Rallycross, and in Solo II – SCCA’s autocross program where competitors compete against the clock in a controlled atmosphere. The Oregon region also provides workers and officials to major professional international racing competitions here in Oregon and across North America. Their Web site is http://www.oregonscca.com and may also be reached at 503.224.9469.
Media/Marketing Contact:
Oregon Region SCCA: Randy Unsbee, ABC
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