Portland International Raceway

In the months following Pearl Harbor, an area of swampy land north of Portland, Oregon, was transformed into shipyard housing, and within six months, Vanport became the fifth-largest city in Oregon. But in 1948, the Columbia River levees burst, and the entire town was washed away. When the waters receded, only the streets of the town remained. Throughout the 1950s, these streets were known for clandestine racing. In the spring of 1961, the Portland Rose Festival Association and Cascade Sports Car Club decided to hold a sports car race on the old blacktop. The Rose Cup races established the viability of West Delta Park as a road racing circuit. Over time, the track was improved and extended by the local racing community, and its name soon changed to Portland International Raceway (PIR). What followed was the development of the only major road racing circuit located inside the borders of a major American city. Trans-Am, IMSA, CART, Champ Car, ALMS, and, of course, NASCAR have all raced at PIR, and the Rose Cup is going strong into its sixth decade.

Portland Speedway, also known as Union Avenue Speedway, opened in the summer of 1936 and enjoyed a 66-year run as the leading oval track in Portland. Originally built as a dirt track on a farmer's field in the far north of the city, the track was known for track roadsters based on Ford's Model T, sprint cars, and stock cars. As returning servicemen discovered a love for racing, the track exploded in popularity after World War II. The track was paved in 1946 and flourished as a center for racing; it even included a drive-in movie theater. Many notable racers, such as Len Sutton, Rolla Vollstedt, Greg Biffle, and Mike Bliss, either started their careers at or visited Portland Speedway. But the real story of Portland Speedway is told in the hundreds of people who made a living or simply enjoyed the racing life while competing at the Pacific Northwest's finest track.

Insiders' Guide to Portland, Oregon is a beautiful full-color guide and the essential source for in-depth travel information for visitors and locals to this ever-growing city. Written by a local (and true insider), Insiders' Guide to Portland, Oregon offers a personal and practical perspective of this location that makes it a must-have guide for travelers as well as residents looking to rediscover their hometown

Your Travel Destination. Your Home. Your Home-To-Be. Portland, Oregon Savor outdoor adventure, culture, and everyday civility. Linger in parks, neighborhoods, bookstores, cafes, and pubs. Smell the roses in America’s most livable city. • A personal, practical perspective for travelers and residents alike • Comprehensive listings of attractions, restaurants, and accommodations • How to live & thrive in the area—from recreation to relocation • Countless details on shopping, arts & entertainment, and children’s activities

This intimate pocket-sized guide to the City of Roses features quirky eccentricities known only to locals, such as weather machine in Pioneer Courthouse Square, the International Rose Test Garden, and the only three-door elevator west of the Mississippi. Also included are details about a bookstore that occupies an entire city block, bus routes, and sites for science fiction aficionados.

In this second edition of 100 Things to Do in Portland, Oregon Before You Die we've added some of our favorite old haunts as well as a few newly discovered gems. Regardless if it's tried-and-true or up-and-coming we promise if it's in here, it's worth your time. We Portlanders love craft beer, bike lanes, and all things vintage. We pride ourselves on being hipsters, foodies, and major league soccer fans. It's our goal to represent all facets of the city in this book: from the gardens to the shops and the festivals to the bars. If you're in Portland on vacation, this collection of greatest hits is sure to get you beyond the typical tourist hot spots. If this is home, we challenge you to uncover something in these pages not yet on your Portland bucket list.

Rocky’s Road By: Jim Rockstad With more than three decades of experience in the world of hot rods, drag racing and funny cars, Jim Rockstad has a million and one stories of the races, drivers and good old days of drag racing in the Pacific Northwest. He was there in the pit when Ed “Ace” McCulloch put the Northwest racing scene on the map with his momentous win in the Northwind dragster in 1965 and from there the rest is history. Rocky’s Road is a trip down memory lane through the milestones of West Coast racing from one of the sport’s premier managers and promoters. Rockstad’s story isn’t just sports trivia—it’s also a personal memoir, showing that anyone with enough passion and luck can find success in chasing their dreams.