PORTLAND, OREGON (April 13, 2009) – The Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races will highlight a field of 20 International Motorsports Association (IMSA) Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) cars as the feature of this summer’s event. The 33rd annual Portland Historic Races will take place July 10 through 12 at Portland International Raceway, 1940 N Victory Blvd.
The sleek, aerodynamic IMSA GTP racecars will be part of a celebration of 40 years of IMSA. As IMSA’s initial series in 1969 was Formula Vee and Formula Ford, the Portland Historic Races will also be inviting Formula Fords from around the country to participate.
Local racecar champion Parker Johnstone of Wilsonville, who drives a 1988 Spice/Acura GTP/L, has been tapped as the race’s Grand Marshal. Other racing legends scheduled to attend include Jim Busby and Rick Knoop, teammates who made motorsports history in 1984 when they drove their Lola T616 Mazda racecar to the first 24 Hours of Le Mans class win for a Japanese manufacturer; Tom Maloy, whose Eagle MKIII Toyota GTP platform helped cement the IMSA Manufacturing Championships for Dan Gurney in 1992; and Bruce Leven, who has won a number of IMSA GTP races.
The Baxter Auto Part Portland Historic Races features an annual entry list of more than 250 prestigious historic racecars, representing a wide variety of manufacturers. The restored cars are divided into groups according to make, age and horsepower, where they are raced at high speeds close to or at their full potential.
Boasting an open paddock, the Portland Historic Races allow enthusiasts the opportunity to see racecars up close and interact with the drivers and crew. The event also features a visual display of more than 700 collector cars and hot rods; the Fred Meyer Food and Wine Pavilion; the Pepsi Kid Zone; an autocross; and a vendor midway.
The Portland Historic Races run daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets cost $40 for all three days; $10 for Friday; or $25 for Saturday or Sunday. Children under the age of 12 are admitted for free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available at www.portlandhistorics.com and at the gate. Advance discount tickets are available at all Baxter Auto Parts locations.
The event is a fundraiser for the Community Transitional School, a Portland-based organization that provides important educational services to children who are homeless or otherwise at risk of school failure.
The Portland Historic Races are produced and sanctioned by the Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA). Established in 1977, HMSA specializes in race events with historic cars, emphasizing the preservation and proper use of historic racecars. For more information about the Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races, call 818-249-3515 or visit www.portlandhistorics.com.