Oregon Raceway Park

WE'VE MOVED

2011-08-09T20:33:00.000-07:00

Please check out our new blog at http://oregonraceway.com/news-general-info/latest-news/

Team Continental School and Race

2011-06-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

The weather was cool and breezy but the overcast produced only a few very minor sprinkles during the weekend. It was the kind of weather that makes horsepower.

Here are some of the statistical highlights.

Eleven new race lap records were set by the following drivers:

Jon Davies in his Mustang running A/S @ 1:54.427
Don Tanner driving his 240-Z in D/Production @ 2:02.963
Mark Hanken and his RX-2 lowered the EIP record to 1:56.484
Kirk Hall in the Ledged Chevy Coup at 2:01.136
Lindsay McDiarmid driving the D-S/R with a 1:43.967
Paul Whitworth lowered his record in Formula-V to 2:15.624
Scott Shobert drove the Mazda RX-3 to a GTL record of 2:03.437
Rick Delamare lowered the ITA record with his CRX to 1:59.288
Ron Tanner set the bar for ITS driving his 240-Z at 2:00.017
Duane Martinsen driving the Mazda Pro-7 set the mark at 2:06.695
Rob Johnston driving the 325-I in R/S came in @ 1:58.804

Of 47 Conference Championship Classes the track record is held by drivers licensing through the following clubs:

C.R.A. 3
Sports Car Club of British Columbia 3
Sports Car Club of America 4
Cascade Sports Car Club 8
International Race Drivers Club 10
Team Continental 16
(All other clubs had one or less).

Of the new race records set five were taken by T.C. Members.

Of current sports car race lap records 26 are below 2:00.000 minutes.

Seven classes are within 2 seconds of breaking into the Under 2 Minute Club.

PDF Photo Document

ORP goes Virtual

2011-05-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

Oregon Raceway Park and Ignite GT are pleased to announce our signed agreement to put the ORP circuit into Ignite GT's on line racing product- http://www.simraceway.com/. Both Ignite GT and ORP customers will be able to race/drive ORP in both directions in the near future.

ORP looks forward to receiving Ignite GT's technical crew for track mapping, data recording and image capture. Moreover, we are thrill to be included in Ignite GT's world class on line racing simulation product and look forward to going live in the virtual world.

ORP written up as Newest and Gnarliest track in the NW

2011-04-04T20:24:00.000-07:00

Track Day With Audi NW

2011-03-30T11:04:00.000-07:00

Audi NW is putting on there first ORP Track Day Saturday April 2nd. Registration is sold out but feel free to check out the waiting list at www.Audiclubnw.motorsportreg.com. Admission is free for spectators so come out and join the action.

ORPC: Private Drivers Club

2011-03-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

2011 Course Support Specialist TRAINING DAY - Sat., March 26th

2011-03-14T21:44:00.000-07:00

OREGON RACEWAY PARK

In Conjunction With

S.T.A.R. Projects Presents our:

2011

Course Support Specialist

TRAINING DAY

“Watch races and get paid for it too!”

We will be presenting our annual turn worker training Saturday, March 26th. This will be an all-day event, with a morning classroom session held in Grass Valley, and a real time on-course practice in the afternoon. Training will provide experience in flagging, communication, event control, safety and response procedures.

This training is the first step in becoming an O.R.P. Course Support Specialist. Training is free, however pre-registration is required.

Course Specialist candidates must be at least eighteen years of age and able to present employment eligibility documentation (Social Security Card etc.). Applicants should be reasonably fit, able to climb ladders, have the ability to be outdoors (sometimes in harsh conditions), possess good verbal communication skills and be able to learn to react calmly and quickly to emergency situations.

O.R.P. strives to bring to Sherman County a wide variety of motorsport activities including; Track Day Events, Auto, Kart, and Motorcycle Races. We promote safety through training.

Participating as a positive business partner in the community, O.R.P. is committed to providing local economic opportunity. We are proud to offer our presenters a source of skilled and competent personnel to staff these events. Please let us know of your availability and intent to attend this training.

Registration: Jessica Pikl: 541-333-2452

jessicapiklorp@yahoo.com

Event Coordinator: Bill Murray: 503-358-2617

starprojectsevents@gmail.com

ORP Certified for Competion Motorcycle Events

2011-03-11T14:22:00.000-08:00

Oregon Raceway Park is pleased to announce that we are officially certified to hold competition Motorcycle events in the clockwise direction. This completes our quest to be certified for three different types of Motorsports events: Automobiles, Motorcycles and Karts.

Never complacent, ORP is turning our attention to tri-certification for counter clockwise. Stay tuned.

Regards

Oregon Raceway Park

Northwest Road Racers Kart Opener

2011-03-01T12:49:00.000-08:00

Just like last year, the NWRR kick off the first competitive race for the 2011 at ORP. Come join the action on Saturday April 30th.

ORP/ProFormance instructional video

2011-02-22T12:36:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxUdfsZtRzc&feature=player_embedded

ProFormance Racing School Signage at ORP

2011-02-09T16:58:00.000-08:00

ProFormance Racing School @ ORP

2010-10-12T13:38:00.000-07:00

Fastest Man at ORP

2010-10-03T21:57:00.000-07:00

OREGON RACEWAY PARK and S.T.A.R. Projects salute JAMES BLACKWELL, THE SECOND DRIVER TO WIN THE TITLE FASTEST MAN AT O.R.P.

1:37.187 Clockwise

Set at a I.C.S.C.C. Race Presented by Team Continental on October 3rd, 2010

JAMES BLACKWELL

OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

DRIVING A REYNARD 93-H FORMULA LEBRE

Volvo S60 Launch at ORP

2010-09-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

Volvo Cars of North America selected Oregon Raceway Park to highlight the new S60. In 4 days, over 120 automotive journalists visited ORP to sampled the power and prowess of the new S60. The first two days, the journalists ran ORP clockwise. Keeping things fresh, journalists ran the course counter clockwise for the last two days.

To highlight the new S60's superb characteristics, Volvo brought the 2010 Speed World Challenge championship winning KPAX/3R race team. Famed professional race drivers Randy Pobst and Andy Pilgrim treated the journalists to some eye popping hot laps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29sW1HZ4Igk

Oregon Raceway Park thanks all who made this complex event possible. Being selected as a venue to demonstrate the superb new S60 is a real honor and we appreciate it. A special thanks to the following for visiting our facility and graciously overseeing the S60 launch activities:
-Doug Speck, President and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America
-Geno Effler, Vice President, Public Affairs of Volvo Cars of North America
-James Hope, Senior Manger, Product Communications, Volvo Cars of North America
-Frank Vacca, Product Spokesperson, Volvo Cars of North America
-Lennart Raneklint, Manager, Volvo Car Corporation
-Jim Haughey, Owner of KPAX Racing
-Bob Raub, Owner of 3R Racing
-Randy Pobst, Professional Race Driver, KPAX/3R Racing
-Andy Pilgrim, Professional Race Driver, KPAX/3R Racing

Finally, an extra special thank you to Randy Hanson and all the staff at Summit Events. It is a real pleasure to work with such skilled, competent professionals.

Sincerely

Oregon Raceway Park

Grand Prix - $1,000.00

2010-08-25T12:45:00.000-07:00

STAR Projects Division of Master Mechanics Incorporated is posting a $1,000.00 prize fund and you (and that dubious ride of yours) have just as much chance of winning it as the big spenders (maybe better)...

Gumpert Apollo at Oregon Raceway Park

2010-08-24T01:47:00.000-07:00

On Sunday August 22, Evolution Motorsports of Tempe AZ brought the Gumpert Apollo to Oregon Raceway Park for a private demonstration and test. This car’s serial number is #001.

The car ran flawlessly all day, only requiring fuel and torque of the wheels for safety. According to Todd Zuccone and Matt Carrick of Evolution Motorsports, this is typical for the car. After months of non-stop demonstration days, they should know.

Needless to say, everyone had a stupendously good time. Hopefully, Evolution Motorsports will come back next year and attempt to set an all out closed course lap record. We really hope that happens.

Meanwhile, feel free to check out the cool stuff at www.evoms.com

"Live from the Track" Update

2010-08-13T19:26:00.000-07:00

The first ever "Live from the Track" Update. (And the weekend has just started)!!

93 sunny degrees and a cooling breeze. The meteor shower begins in earnest around 10:00 p.m.just after the moon sets. Come on out tonight and see natures incredible light show. Call on the gate radio until 1:00 a.m. for access.

Saturday and Sunday: Porsche Train!

Please help Josh

2010-08-13T00:08:00.000-07:00

Josh Higgins works corners at Oregon Raceway Park. He is a volunteer firefighter and was seriously burned while working on a Fire Department Vehicle. See story below.

Grass Valley, Oregon –South Sherman Fire & Rescue

Firefighter Josh Higgins was seriously burned while working on a department vehicle on Tuesday July 27, 2010 at approximately 4:30pm. Several firefighters were transferring an antique fire engine from the Kent sub-station to the main station in Grass Valley for a restoration project. The vehicle had broken down approximately three miles outside of Grass Valley, Firefighter Higgins was working in the engine compartment attempting to get the vehicle started again when a fire erupted engulfing him in flames. Captain Hendrix, as well as Firefighters Atkins and Liddicoat came immediately to his aid and helped extinguish the fire and administer first aid.

Sherman County Ambulance responded and transported Firefighter Higgins to Mid-Columbia Medical Center where he was later air lifted to the Oregon Burn Center in Portland with severe but non-life threatening burns. Captain Hendrix and Firefighter Atkins also suffered minor burns while extinguishing the fire. Firefighter Higgins has been with the department for seven months. He moved from New Hampshire to start a new life here in Sherman County. He is highly respected among fellow firefighters and loved in the community. This has been an extremely difficult time with our tight-knit firefighting family.

The members of South Sherman Fire & Rescue would like to thank Shaniko Fire Department and Moro Fire Department for covering calls during this time, Sherman County Ambulance for taking care of one of our firefighters, and the community for their support. A fund in Josh Higgins’ name has been started at the Bank of Eastern Oregon in Moro; however funds can be dropped off at any branch, or the Country Café in Grass Valley and the Tumbleweeds store in Shaniko.

We please ask that you do not call the Oregon Burn Center to respect Firefighter Higgins’ privacy, as he has a long road to recovery.

Team Continental Announces William D. Murray Grand Prix October 2nd and 3rd 2010

2010-08-12T01:05:00.000-07:00

This race is sanctioned by ICSCC under the 2010 Competition Regulations and will be held at Oregon Raceway Park.

Entries Open: Upon receipt of this announcement

Entries Close: Postmark, fax or register on-line by September 24, 2010

1st entry: $ 275 Includes 1 ticket to Saturday night social

Special Race Group TBA $ 275 and dinner; additional tickets $10 each.

Additional entries: $ 125

Late entry fee: $ 50

Crew and Spectators: FREE

Submit Entries To: www.motorsportreg.com

Or contact:

Team Continental Race Registrar

Linda Blackburn

2600 NE Minnehaha St. C39

Vancouver, WA 98665

360-695-6335 (day)

360-258-6812 (to 8pm)

360-735-7938 (fax)

raceregistrar@teamcontinental.com

** RACE ROTATION 3 – MANDATORY TECH GROUP 2 **

Race Chairman Steve Leonard may be reached at 503-320-1028 until 9 pm.

JOIN US!

Please join Team Continental and the City of Grass Valley

Saturday October 2nd at the Pavilion to celebrate a fantastic season of racing!

Choose from multiple on-site restaurants for your dinner (Included with your $10 admission ticket)
No-host beer and wine
Live music provided by the TC Blues Band
Meet Sherman County officials and residents that support racing
Race Officials Division recruitment presentation and information
Presentation of Lap Record Awards and more…

Only $10! Buy tickets when you register at www.motorsportreg.com

ORP Update June 27/28

2010-07-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

Lapping Day with Palatov Motorsport: June 28th

2010-06-21T14:39:00.000-07:00

Oregon Raceway Park in Grass Valley, Oregon
June 28th

Registration for the June 28th event is now open for general registrations.

www.palatov.com/events/index.html

This is a new facility and a very technical track. The event is open to INTERMEDIATE and ADVANCED drivers/riders only. Registration is limited to a total of 40 participants (20 cars and 20 bikes). The emphasis of this event is on maximizing tracktime.

The event is open to both CARS and MOTORCYCLES - there will be two run groups, one for cars and one for bikes (cars and bikes will not be on the track at the same time). We anticipate seven 30 minute sessions for each group. Registration is per driver/rider. Participants can bring as many cars and/or bikes as they can haul (all cars and bikes must pass tech!). Race cars are welcome.

We are now offering motorcycle transportation to and from the track in our transporter. Space is limited so contact us early to reserve your spot and get all the details.

Advance registration: $200 per driver/rider
Day-of-event registration: $225
Motorcyle transport fee: $50

DINNER CANCELLATION

2010-06-16T07:14:00.000-07:00

THE TEAM CONTINENTAL DINNER SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEKEND AT OREGON RACEWAY PARK HAS UNFORTUNATELY BEEN CANCELED.
Team Continental regrets any inconvenience to those who were planning to attend.

Oregon Raceway Park is a track of dreams for some Oregon racing enthusiasts

2010-05-28T14:07:00.000-07:00

Original article written by Quinton Smith and published by the Oregonian on May 19, 2010.

GRASS VALLEY -- Bob Caspell drove around central Oregon for two years looking to buy land for a racetrack when he finally stepped foot on the wheat field atop a ridge two miles east of here.

There had been close calls. Interest, then political resistance in Madras. Bad timing on a former radar station in Condon. A couple of willing sellers suddenly raising their prices. Then after a year of driving up and down U.S. 97 in Sherman County, someone pointed him to the property on Blagg Lane with a view from Mount Jefferson to Mount Rainier.

Five years after buying 463 acres of dryland wheat, a group of Portland-area racing enthusiasts will stage their first Sports Car Club of America-certified race this weekend on what many of its users call one of the top road race tracks in the United States. It matters little to racers that the $3.2 million Oregon Raceway Park is literally in the middle of nowhere.

"This is very much a 'field of dreams' for us," says Tom Miller of Portland, a longtime racer, retired garbage man and board chairman of Pacific Motorsports Management, the investor group that built and operates the track. "We think if we build a great track they will come."

Track developers do not envision 100,000 people watching NASCAR in central Oregon. Their dream is to attract the hundreds of private racers and car club enthusiasts who each weekend challenge themselves on a handful of West Coast road race courses.

For Portland-area road racers used to driving nine hours to Willows, Calif., three hours to Seattle or six to Spokane, there has been little hesitance making the 130-mile trip to Grass Valley because the track delivers the challenges and thrills they seek.

"I've driven hundreds of race tracks across the U.S. and it's in my top two or three," says Scott Adare of Spokane, who trains drivers and trucks their custom cars to tracks around the country. "We don't view it as a remote location, but we ask: 'Does it make sense going there?' The answer is 'Yes'."

How it started

The track has its roots in the 1950s with the formation of two Portland-area car clubs: first the Cascade Sports Car Club and then Team Continental. Cascade was awarded territory in western Oregon, making Portland International Raceway its home track.

If Team Continental wanted to organize races it was left to rent little-used airports around the Northwest. Eventually that lead Caspell and other Team Continental members to dream of a track of their own.

In 2002 Caspell started prowling around central Oregon. Two years later he found the land -- second-tier wheat land with gullies and draws and lots of basalt rock that could be mined for the track's gravel base and asphalt.

There was skepticism at first. A race track seemed like another wild idea for one of Oregon's declining counties. But track investors kept talking and locals kept an open mind.

Caspell and investors formed Pacific Motorsports Management in 2003 and bought the land in 2005. Still a small, volunteer operation, it would be three years before the start of construction.

Pacific Motorsports asked the county to rezone the land for racing. They pointed to Thunderhill Raceway Park near Willows in northern California as a model of what they wanted to do. A county delegation visited Thunderhill and came away convinced that operation could be replicated in the wheat fields of central Oregon.

Thunderhill, started by a San Francisco-based car club 14 years ago seven miles west of Interstate 5, now boasts two tracks, permanent support facilities and is booked nearly every day of the year.

Oregon Raceway Park took shape as Caspell and others walked the land and planted stakes. They wanted it longer than two miles, they wanted lots of turns and elevation changes and they wanted other racers -- like karters and motorcyclists -- to like it as well.

To finance construction, the investor group expanded to 27 people, new investors putting in a minimum of $100,000. Grading started in June 2008 and by November the 2.3-mile road course was finished -- two inches of asphalt 40 feet wide laid over a 16-inch base of gravel. There are 14 turns, several off camber. Each lap has 400 feet of elevation change -- twice that of most road race tracks.

The track's signature area is a 330-yard stretch containing two tight turns, one of which is banked 14 degrees. The track is constructed so it can be run clockwise or counterclockwise, giving it twice the variety because every turn is different driven the opposite way.

"If you build a track so you can run it in both directions you really get two tracks for the price of one," says Jonathan Clark of Vancouver, director of business development.

Can it succeed?

Oregon Raceway Park quietly opened to car clubs, private drivers and other renters in November 2008, but was not certified by the Sports Car Club of America until August 2009 to hold official auto races. The track is also sanctioned by the International Karting Association and investors are working to get the track certified for motorcycles.

The track rents for $3,500 a day during the week and $6,000 per day Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Racers must retain fire and ambulance services, which can run $2,000 a day, and also pay for timers and 12 course marshals. This weekend, for example, Team Continental will charge each car $275 for a set of four races plus $125 for any additional races. Organizers expect 225 entries.

Clark said Oregon Raceway Park was rented 27 days its first year and so far has more than 40 days booked between May and October, enough to break even. Miller and Clark say growth in rental income will pay for the next round of improvements such as a permanent gasoline facility, upgrades to electrical and water systems, permanent restrooms and another paved paddock area.

Investors are betting there is enough business for a new track in the Northwest. Portland International Raceway in Portland is booked much of the year. PIR is a flat, fast course and Oregon Raceway Park's owners believe drivers will be drawn to their slower but more technical track. Owners have also priced their rents 10-20 percent lower than PIR.

Mark Wigginton, track manager of PIR, believes there is room for another road race track in the Northwest, but says the biggest question is whether a new track can operate profitably in a down economy that has hit the discretionary sport of racing very hard.

"Two years ago I had eight open days in the whole year," Wigginton says. "Now there are months with that many open days. The economy has been tough and they'll face the same issues."

PIR both benefits and is hurt by being the only track on the West Coast inside an urban area. It is near hotels, restaurants and other racing services but is subject to restrictions to mitigate noise. And because PIR is operated as a park by the city of Portland, it could theoretically be closed if it somehow became a problem.

Grass Valley, population 160, has two small cafes and a run-down RV park. The nearest motel is nine miles away in Moro and has 12 rooms, which fill quickly on race days, pushing visitors to facilities in Biggs, 27 miles to the north.

"They've done a tremendous job acquiring the land and getting it built," says Todd Butler of Yamhill, who sits on the SCCA's national board. "But I think they're going to have to make it a destination and it will take time for them to develop the amenities that we take for granted at PIR."

So far, racers say they are willing to put up with roughing it a bit if the track delivers the challenges and if they can see infrastructure improvements on the horizon.

Blair Nelson of Seattle organized a karting race at Oregon Raceway Park last month, drawing 63 racers from as far away as Alberta, Canada.

"It's an extremely challenging course; one of the most technical in the country," says Nelson. "Everything about the event was better than we hoped. I'd go back there in a heartbeat."

Adare, the custom car organizer from Spokane, rented the track for two days for 12 clients. The key for Adare was that his customers loved the course and asked to return this year.

"Time will tell if the track is busy enough," Adare says. "It took Thunderhill a couple of years to get going. I suspect it will be the same case here. But the track is absolutely fabulous."

--Quinton Smith, Special to The Oregonian

Full online article can be found here.

Fuel at ORP

2010-05-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

ORP will be selling Premium Unleaded Gas at events in May. Price is $4.50/gal.

We expect to have high octane unleaded and leaded race fuel on site shortly there after.

First Competition Event at ORP: Green Flag

2010-04-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

WE ARE RACING.

Thank you to NW Road Racers for putting on a Double First! It was NWRR 1st event as a club and ORP's first competition event.

Congratulations to Ryan Kurpiewski for the outright official lap record of 1.42

Announcing ORPC

2010-03-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

Oregon Raceway Park Club (ORPC) is a private, prepaid track day package. Details available under the Track Rental and Club Info tab of this website.

More service; better price

2009-12-14T14:41:00.000-08:00

Oregon Raceway Park announces expansion of on site ALS ambulance service at a reduced rate. Through our partnership with the Grass Valley Fire Department, we have two (2) ALS ambulances available for the 2010 season. The daily rate is $500 for one; $1000 for both. This is approximately 40% less than last years rates.

Big News for ORP!

2009-11-19T21:23:00.000-08:00

Oregon Raceway Park is officially certified to hold competition racing events.

Open House Success

2009-09-09T08:10:00.000-07:00

On August 29 ORP hosted its Open House for racers and residents of Sherman County. Over 300 excited attendees were treated to tours of the track, a glimpse of the various support teams, and tempting offerings from a variety of vendors and participants.

Fuel Now Available at ORP

2009-07-30T19:36:00.000-07:00

Running a lot of laps? Afraid you'll run dry? Not to worry, we've got you covered!

Oregon Raceway Park is pleased to announce the availability of 92 octane, unleaded gasoline at the track.

Fuel will be sold in 5 gal. increments for $20. All you need to do is bring a can and a funnel!

ORP Open House! August 29,2009

2009-07-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

Calling all motorsports fans! Pacific Motorsports Management is hosting an Open House Saturday, August 29, 2009 to introduce a new motorsports facility at Oregon Raceway Park in Grass Valley, OR.

When: Saturday, August 29, 2009

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Who: All motorsports fans!

Where: Oregon Raceway Park, Grass Valley, OR

The Open House will feature food and beverage vendors, souvenirs, track tours by car and foot, parades and free admission.

Pacific Motorsports Management began construction on Oregon Raceway Park in 2008 and has since completed the track course. Future construction plans include grandstands, circle track, garages, and more.

Accommodations include the Tall Winds Motel located 20 minutes from the track in Moro, and camp grounds for tent and motorhome camping. Restaurants are located within two miles of the track. Visit www.oregonraceway.com for more accommodation and general information.

Come out and join the fun and see the future of racing!

S.T.A.R. Projects Announces 4th Event

2009-07-06T07:52:00.000-07:00

Track day to set pace for upcoming race at O.R.P.

S.T.A.R. Projects announces their fourth event at Oregon Raceway Park, Sunday, August 30^th 2009. Bill Murray, event organizer for Star Projects, explained “This event will be a full day of high performance driving practice for senior level drivers. The day will also offer instruction for advanced students, and an opportunity for racers to get a leg up on their competition. Due to the technical nature of this track prior experience will pay off in a big way when the drivers of the International Conference of Sports Car Clubs race here in October”.

The first “Conference” sanctioned auto race for O.R.P is scheduled for the weekend of October 9^th thru October 11^th.The Portland based drivers club Team Continental will be the hosting club for that race, which is also the final round of the 2009 Conference Championship Series. Enthusiasm is running high for competitors from Canada to California who are eager to run what many believe is one of the best “driver tracks” in the nation. Many of the top Northwest drivers seeking “end of the year” championship points will be competing.

The S.T.A.R. Projects track day, set for Sunday, August 30th, will follow the O.R.P. Open House to be held on Saturday. According to the organizers; The S.T.A.R. event has two functions, one is to “stress test” the operating procedures prior to full scale competition and it will also serve as a fund raiser to help supplement the Team Continental equipment fund. A good turnout for both events is expected. Dry camping will be available at the track Saturday night for those that are staying over for Sunday’s event.

Driver registration is open to current and past senior level license holders and graduates of prior S.T.A.R. Projects events. For those that prefer to have a driving coach, or have not held racing credentials, one entire group will be reserved for training. An experienced STAR certified instructor will be assigned to each student.

For S.T.A.R. Event 4 Entry Application, Supplemental Regulations, and Schedule: Please e-mailstarprojectsevents@gmail.com. Bill Murray may be reached @ 503-358-2617.

Open Track day Event at ORP- July 27

2009-07-03T17:13:00.000-07:00

General registration is now open for the second Palatov Motorsport Club track day at ORP.

This is a new facility and a very technical track. The event is open to INTERMEDIATE and ADVANCED drivers/riders only. Registration is limited to a total of 50 participants (30 cars and 20 bikes). The emphasis of this event is on maximizing tracktime. Bring plenty of gas!

The event is open to both CARS and MOTORCYCLES - there will be two run groups for cars and one for bikes (cars and bikes will not be on the track at the same time). We anticipate 6-7 sessions for each run group. Registration is per driver/rider. Participants can bring as many cars and/or bikes as they can haul and can run in more than one group (all cars and bikes must pass tech!). Race cars are welcome. Cost will be $200 per vehicle.

We will hold a Palatov Motorsport club member only online vote to determine if we want a course change (clockwise vs. counter clockwise). Log in here to vote: http://www.palatov.com/club.html

Barriers Around Turn Stations

2009-06-23T20:22:00.000-07:00

"Jersey" barriers have been placed around the base of each elevated turn station.

Barriers Along Pit In

2009-06-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the hundreds of barriers that have been placed along the hot pits and the main straight.

June Construction Update

2009-06-23T20:11:00.000-07:00

Some exciting things are happening in Grass Valley!

Many updates and new safety features are being added to ORP this summer.

Hundreds of "Jersey" barriers have been added along the main straight, and between the hot pits and the main paddock.

Barriers have been set around the bases of all the elevated turn stations.

FIA curbing is being installed at each turn, and will soon be painted.

Grass has been planted around the periphery of the track to reduce dust and dirt from getting on the track.

Be sure to check our calendar to see when your favorite club or group is holding an event at ORP, and come on out and see what we have been up to.

Construction and Improvement Update

2009-05-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

ORP has been undergoing a lot of exciting changes this spring. Come on out to an event and see what we have been up to.

First, there is the addition of new office/meeting spaces. Two 10X30 foot mobile trailers have been placed in the main paddock area. These mobile structures will be available for drivers meetings, registration, and other uses.

Second, the installation of raised turn stations has been completed. These structures provide unobstructed views for turn workers and event support personnel over the entire course. The addition of these structures will greatly improve communications with drivers during events.

New cement barriers have been placed between the hot pits and the main straightaway, along with perimeter fencing around the main paddock to improve safety.

Also, a new ABM timing system has been installed.

Keep watching this web site for more exciting developments.

Open Track Day Rescheduled & Price Reduced

2009-04-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

The Palatov Motorsport track event at ORP in Grass Valley, Oregon has been moved to a new date- May 29, 2009.

Due to circumstances beyond our control we have had to move our track day to a new date. Based on the feedback we have received we have also made some changes to the format, including a new lower price!

If you've already paid the earlier fee you can choose to either receive a full refund or transfer your registration to the new date and receive a $100 refund. Please contact us with your preference as soon as possible.

Registration is limited to a total of 35 participants. ADVANCED AND INTERMEDIATE ONLY. There will be no novice group and no instruction will be provided. The emphasis of this event is on maximizing track time. Bring plenty of gas!

The event is open to both motorcycles and cars- there will be two run groups for cars and one for bikes. All groups will run 20 minute sessions. We anticipate 6-7 sessions for each run-group. Participants can bring as many cars and/or bikes as they can haul, and can run in more than one group. ALL CARS AND BIKES MUST PASS TECH BEFORE BEING ALLOWED ON TRACK. Race cars are welcome.

We will run the course clockwise in the morning, and counter-clockwise in the afternoon, so this will be like two track events in one. This will be a great way to become familiar with this exciting new facility.

Due to limited registration and extended track time late arrivals are not a problem, however we ask to please let us know in advance if you will be arriving after 8:30 AM.

Please email us with any questions: m@palatov.com

Registration is $200.

Open Track Day Event at ORP

2009-03-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

Palatov Motorsport will be hosting a track event at the new Oregon Raceway Park in Grass Valley, Oregon, on April 16, 2009.

Registration is limited to a total of 25 participants, ADVANCED ONLY. Race cars as well as motorcycles are welcome. There will be no novice or intermediate groups, and NO INSTRUCTION will be provided. The emphasis of the event is maximum tracktime.

Alternating sessions with bikes and cars will be run, with 40 minutes per session for cars, and 20 minutes for bikes. We anticipate 6-7 sessions for each group with adjustments possible towards the end of the day. This will assure plenty of tracktime for all! Participants may bring a car and/or a bike, or as many of each as they wish- but ALL must pass tech!

We will be running the course clockwise in the morning, and counterclockwise in the afternoon- it will be like two track events in one day. It will be a great way for you to become familiar with this exciting new facility!

Please email any questions to: m@palatov.com

Registration is $300.

ORP Update - Construction, Operations and the Future

2009-02-08T14:30:00.000-08:00

It has now been eight months since ORP started moving some dirt, and it seems like a good time to give an update on what we are doing at ORP.

Track Construction:

Track construction began in earnest on May 2008. This process included the following:

Put the project out to bid;
Revised and expanded the road course distance and configuration, pavement now totals 2.5 miles, including two cross-over roads, enabling us to run both a North course and a South course, each can be run either clock or counter-clockwise;
Engineered a “Half-Pipe” corner, which should prove to be a “signature” corner for ORP;
Ran the course through a simulator engineer program;
Designed drainage systems;
Drilled a new on-site water well;
Broke ground by blasting over 68,000 cubic yards of rock on-site;
Completed two months of grading around the road course;
Paved a large paddock, pregrid and hot pit;
Installed gates and set restrictions up to protect our assets on site;
We are still adding on and improving.....stay tuned as we evolve

The track has caught the attention of the motorsports world, as indicated by email inquiries, blog entries on our website, and the more than 9,000 hits on the YouTube video of the track as of this week.

Operations:

In addition to a celebratory Owners’ Day on November 25th, we had our first two paid events in November 2008, which included both cars and motorcycles. Although our 2009 season will be bare-bones (as all good tracks historically have started out and then evolved as demand dictates), we feel 2009 is a good time to test the track and begin our operations-prudently. We currently are licensing out a few days to use the road course to various companies and groups in 2009.

Summary:

Through a lot of teamwork and persistence, all of this work was completed in less than 6 months! We are proud of what our team has accomplished. This road course is owned and being built by motor enthusiasts for your enjoyment-please come visit us soon.

Over the coming months we are planning, building , or installing:

FIA Curbs: Design, construction, & painting
Fencing for Paddock & Spectators
Cement Barricades
All Entrances: Gated, Guard House
Start/Finish Tower
Observation Tower
Paint Line on Track Edge
Shut Down Markers & Brake Markers
Runoff Areas: Construction & Landscaping
Emergency Vehicle(s): Location
Medical: Facilities and Equipment
PA-Radio Station
Install AMB Time/Scoring
Land Lines for Turn Stations
Paving of the access lane Blagg Road