Discover the History of Portland International Raceway

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Sept. 23, 2013 - PRLog -- Portland International Raceway is Arcadia Publishing’s newest historical race track book to be published as part of a licensing agreement with the NASCAR® Library Collection, which provides a high level of authentication and quality to NASCAR-licensed books.    

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.

Highlights of Portland International Raceway include:
•   A collection of rarely seen before images, the majority of which were sourced from the PIR Archive and the estate of Bob Dunsmore.
•   Showcases images of notable drivers such as Monte Shelton, Paul Newman, Willy T. Ribbs, Mario Andretti and many others.
•   Illustrates the evolution of the track through a series of maps and aerial photographs.

Available October 7, 2013 at area bookstores, independent retailers and online retailers, or from the publisher at (888) 313-2665 or online.  

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. For more information visit www.arcadiapublishing.com/NASCAR.

NASCAR® and the NASCAR Library Collection are registered trademarks of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc.