The Portland Vintage Racing Festival 2017 was staged July 27-30 at Portland International Raceway in Oregon. The event offered three full days of racing for all Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) race groups on the flat, yet challenging, 12-turn, 1.967 mile track.
Portland International Raceway (PIR) is built on the former location of Vanport, Oregon, which was destroyed in 1948, when a dike on the Columbia River broke and flooded the city.After the flood, all that remained were the paved streets and concrete foundations of destroyed buildings. In 1960, a time of growing interest in sports car and drag racing, the Portland Jaycees saw that the abandoned roads of Vanport had the potential to become a road race course. In 1961 the first Rose Cup auto race was held, won by Jerry Grant in a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (0704TR). The track would go on to host Champ Car, IMSA, ALMS and more.
Willy T. Ribbs served as grand marshal for the Portland Vintage Racing Festival 2017. The road course was the setting for Ribbs’ first victory in 1983 during the halcyon days of the Trans-Am series. The PIR triumph kicked off a streak of 19 career wins, making Ribbs the most prolific Trans-Am winner of the mid-1980’s.
“Willy is a true friend to the SVRA and shares our vision of vintage racing as a mainstream category of motorsports,” said SVRA CEO Tony Parella. “His active participation as a driver in our Brickyard Invitational Indy Legends Pro-Am since 2014 and appearances at other events on our nationwide schedule is a genuine asset to the growth we have experienced.”
Notable and interesting entrants at the 2017 SVRA Portland Vintage Racing Festival included Nick Colonna’s 1958 Devin SS and 1970 McLaren M8C; Thor Johnson’s 1959 Lotus 17, 1974 Schnitzer BMW 3.5 CSL and 1981 Porsche 924 GTR; Kurt Del Bene’s 1998 Benetton B198 and 1960 Lola Mk I; John Long’s 1963 Porsche Special; Greg Heacock’s 1967 Costin Nathan GT; Jean Pierre Molerus’ 1954 Nichols Special; John Hill’s 1972 Lola 292; Pieter Baljet’s 2006 Saleen S7R; Chandler Briscoe’s 1973 BMW CSL; Cameron Healy’s 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0 and Don Crawford’s 1955 Lotus Mk IX; among others.
Similar to 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, Sports Car Digest also documented the 2017 Portland Historics, with Dennis Gray offering the following selection of 170 captioned images from Portland International Raceway.
Portland Vintage Racing Festival 2017 – Photo Gallery (photos: Dennis Gray)
Greg Heacock – 1967 Costin Nathan GT
Don Crawford-1955 Lotus Mk9
Alan Berry – 1964 Volvo PV-544
Dave Franks – 1967 Austin Healey Sprite
Mike Smith – 1967 Datsun Roadster
Jean Pierre Molerus – 1954 Nichols Special
Alan Berry – 1964 Volvo PV-544
Bill Hart – 1957 Devin Triumph
James Alder-11952 Jaguar XK120
Hans Gutmann – 1971 BMW 1602
Rick Carlile – 1969 TVR Vixen S2
Tom Morgan – 1956 Morgan 4
John Woodward – 1962 Morgan 4 plus 4
Mike Denman – 1966 Marcos 1800 GT
Jerry Pillar – 1963 Alfa Romeo Spider
Paul Quackenbush – 1963 Lotus S7
Don Crawford – Haggisped Clubman
Thor Johnson – 1974 BMW Schnitzer 3.5 Liter
John Murray – 1971 Datsun 240Z
Dennis Daugs – 1965 Porsche 911
Kurt Del Bene – 1998 Benetton B198
Kurt Del Bene – 1998 Benetton B198
Pieter Baljet – 2006 Saleen S7R
Chris Schoap – 1970 Titan Mk 6
Tom Kreger-1971 Titan MKE
Chris Schoap – 1970 Titan Mk 6
Edward VanTassel – 1970 Titan Mk6
Greg Pickett – Ford Mustang
Oli Thordarson – TA Chevrolet Corvette
Steve Streimer – TA Dodge Viper ACRX
Chris Cook – TA Chevrolet Camaro
Joe Napoleon -TA Chevrolet Camaro
Shane Lewis – TA Chevrolet Camaro
Brian Richards -TA Cheverolet Camaro
Steve Streimer – Dodge Viper ACRX
Cameron Healy – 1974 Porsche RS 3.0
Jacqulyn Mincheff – 1972 Chevrolet Corvette C3
Norman Daniels – 1968 Chevrolet Camaro
Kadie Casey – 1966 Lotus Elan
Steve Thayer – 1969 Porsche 911E
Cameron Healy – 1974 Porsche RS 3.0
Cameron Healy – 1974 Porsche RS 3.0
Kadie Casey – 1966 Lotus Elan
Dennis Daugs – 1965 Porsche 911
Deborah Briscoe – 1973 Alfa Romeo GTV
Curt Kallberg – 1972 Chevrolet Corvette
Steve Pike – 1967 Alfa Romeo Duetto
Deborah Briscoe – 1973 Alfa Romeo GTV
Steve Thayer – 1969 Porsche 911E
Arthur Cook – 1965 Elva Mk8
Greg Heacock – 1967 Costin Nathan GT
John Murray – 1971 Datsun 240Z
Norman Daniels – 1968 Chevrolet Camaro
Arthur Cook – 1965 Elva Mk8
Dennis Daugs – 1965 Porsche 911
Thor Johnson – 1959 Lotus 17
Kurt Del Bene – 1960 Lola MK1
Kurt Del Bene – 1960 Lola MK1
Greg Heacock – 1967 Costin Nathan GT
Curt Kallberg – 1972 Chevrolet Corvette
Cameron Healy – 1974 Porsche RS 3.0
Eve Mincheff – 1969 Chevrolet Corvette
Oli Thordarson – Chevrolet Corvette
Tim Brown-Ford GT4 Mustang
Oli Thordarson – Chevrolet Corvette
Steve Streimer – Dodge Viper ACRX
Ron Bonham – Titan Mk6
Dave Sweeney – 1965 Brabham BT-14
Darrell LeBlanc – 1969 Winklemann WDB2 FB
Neil Shelton – 1985 Swift DB-1 FF
Dave Sweeney – 1965 Brabham BT-14
Dave Sweeney – 1965 Brabham BT-14
Don Stern – 1981 Van Diemen RF81
Rick Lee – 2002 Swift F/A
Kurt Del Bene – 1998 Benetton B198
Norman Daniels – 1968 Chevrolet Camaro
David Schroeder – 1970 Porsche 914 6
Dave Kunicki – 1969 Chevrolet Corvette
Eve Mincheff – 1969 Chevrolet Corvette
Cameron Healy – 1974 Porsche RS 3.0 three wheeling through turn three
Image 6. Long lens to compress the cars. Polarizing filter to enhance the colors. Back light to add impact. Yellow morning light bouncing off the tire wall to add interest to an otherwise boring pile of tires. Exposed to hold shadow detail with out burning out the colors. 200-500mm set to 200mm. 1/250 second at f 11, ISO 800. I used the mono pod for this image.
Mike Woolsey – 1970 Ford Mustang and Norman Daniels – 1968 Chevrolet Camaro
Jeff Gamroth – 1973 Porsche 911
Thor Johnson – 1974 BMW Schnitzer 3.5 Liter
Paul Quackenbush – 1963 Lotus S7 and John Murray – 1971 Datsun 240Z
Thor Johnson – 1974 BMW Schnitzer 3.5 Liter
Dennis Daugs – 1965 Porsche 911
Ron Hornig – 1965 Lotus Elan
Richard Thomas – 1972 Jensen Healey
Paul Gaudio – 1968 Porsche 912
Chandler Briscoe – 1973 BMW CSL
John Murray – 1971 Datsun 240Z
Charley Mitchel-1969 Triumph TR6
Paul Quackenbush – 1963 Lotus S7
Steve Link – 1968 Datsun Trans Am 510
Chandler Briscoe – 1973 BMW CSL
Jacqulyn Mincheff – 1972 Chevrolet Corvette C3
Steve Beckham – 1992 Roush Ford Thunderbird
Thor Johnson – 1981 Porsche 924 GTR
Matt Parent – 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Frank Marcum – Ford Taurus
Tom Cantrell – 1998 Ford Penske Taurus Stock Car
Chandler Briscoe – 1973 BMW CSL
Jeff Mincheff – 1969 Chevrolet Corvette C3
Del MacKenzie – 1965 Ford Mustang
Ken Sutherland – FFR Factory Cobra
Ken Davis – Chevrolet Corvette
Buzz Dyer – 1970 AMC Javelin
Steve Thayer – 1969 Porsche 911E and Dennis Daugs – 1965 Porsche 911
Jeff Gamroth – 1973 Porsche 911
Curt Kallberg – 1972 Chevrolet Corvette
Randy Dunphy – 1965 Ford Falcon
Tim Brown – 2008 Ford GT
Pieter Baljet – 2006 Saleen S7R
Rick Lee – 2002 Swift F/A
Jim Catchot – 1977 Ralt RT-1
Jim Catchot – 1977 Ralt RT-1
Pieter Baljet – 2006 Saleen S7R
Nick Colonna – 1970 McLaren M8C
Arthur Cook – 1965 Elva Mk8
Tim Brown – 2008 Ford GT
Doug Donkel-1994 Toyota WSR
Ernie Spada – 2008 Riley Porsche Daytona
Mark Jaremko-1975 MARCH 75B
Nick Colonna – 1970 McLaren M8C
Tim Brown – 2008 Ford GT
Pieter Baljet – 2006 Saleen S7R
Jim Catchot – 1977 Ralt RT-1
Arthur Cook – 1965 Elva Mk8
Dave Rugh – 1982 Ralt RT5
Mark Jaremko-1975 MARCH 75B
John Hill – 1972 Lola 292
Rick Lee – 2002 Swift F/A
Jason Perkins – 1987 Swift DB-2
Dave Sweeney – 1965 Brabham BT-14
Darrell LeBlanc – 1969 Winklemann WDB2 FB
Darrell LeBlanc – 1969 Winklemann WDB2 FB
Bob Morrison – 1969 Titan Mk 5
Ron Bonham – Titan Mk6
Edward VanTassel – 1970 Titan Mk6
Lauren Ridge – Lola T540
Dan Mullin – 1973 Lola T340
Neil Shelton – 1985 Swift DB-1 FF
Don Queen – 1959 Austin Healey Sprite
Kadie Casey – 1966 Lotus Elan
Kevin Shaha – 1967 Toyota Sprinter and Tom Morgan – 1956 Morgan 4
Mike Denman – 1966 Marcos 1800 GT
Trevor Pearson – 1962 Triumph TR4
Kevin Shaha – 1967 Toyota Sprinter and Rick Carlile – 1969 TVR Vixen S2
Thor Johnson – 1959 Lotus 17
Bill Simer – 1962 Lotus 23
Nick Colonna – 1958 Devin SS
John G Miller – 1961 Hatch Park Special
Brian Waters – 1960 Mini Cooper
Kadie Casey – 1966 Lotus Elan
Karl Krause – 1967 Beach Mk4B-II
Rick Carlile – 1969 TVR Vixen S2
John Long – 1963 Porsche Special
Greg Heacock – 1967 Costin Nathan GT
Karl Krause – 1967 Beach Mk4B-II
David Sweet – 1962 Austin Healey Sprite
Andrea Hart – MGB
Mike Denman – 1966 Marcos 1800 GT
Ralph Zbarsky – 1967 MGB GT
Trevor Pearson – 1962 Triumph TR4
Dave Franks – 1967 Austin Healey Sprite
Jean Pierre Molerus – 1954 Nichols Special
Steven Smith – 1965 Volkswagen Bug
Brian Waters – 1960 Mini Cooper
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