The 61st Rose Cup Races, slated for Saturday and Sunday, July 9 & 10 will return this summer to celebrate 61 years of tradition and high-speed racing. The Rose Cup Races will take place at Portland International Raceway (PIR). Auto enthusiasts and their friends and family will enjoy six different race groups, as well as a special salute to this year’s event Grand Marshall, and local legend/racer, Bob Ames. Gates open at 7:30 a.m. daily, with cars on course by 9 a.m.; races run until late afternoon. Admission ranges from $10 to $25; tickets are on sale now at RoseCup.com.
Originally a Portland Rose Festival event and now presented by Friends of PIR, the Rose Cup Races was the first major event ever held at the fabled 1.97-mile PIR in 1961 and has taken place annually ever since, with the exception of 2020. The event features amateur racing competitors from both the Oregon Region Sports Car Club of America and the Cascade Sports Car Club. This year offers six race groups, including Open Wheel/Sports Racers. The full lineup of race groups includes:
- Big Bore FOPIR Rose Cup Feature Race: Large displacement engine cars like Corvettes, Camaros, Mustangs, Shelby GT350s, Cobras, and Porsches. Four classes within one race called RC1, RC2, and RC3. depending on performance level.
- Vintage: A Rose Cup Races tradition with a wide variety of brands and iconic models that will have fans reminiscing about their favorite cars growing up.
- Spec Racer Ford: Open cockpit identical sports racer cars powered by 1.6-liter Ford engines put the focus on the drivers in this highly competitive group, with multiple lead changes per lap a common occurrence.
- Small Bore Production: Small displacement engine cars from Nissan, Honda, Ford, Austin Healy, Mazda, Alfa Romeo, MG, and more. Four classes within one race called SB1, SB2, SB3, and SB4 depending on the performance level.
- Spec Miata: Famous for tight battles and finishes that are just inches apart, these Mazda Miatas are also in a fight for a season-long championship in the Northwest Spec Miata Tour.
- Open Wheel/Sports Racers– Open Wheel (Formula) race cars and Sports Racers are purpose built single seat race cars and are the primary entry point for road racers’ careers around the world.
New for 2022, FOPIR has announced a $10.000 purse for the Big Bore Rose Cup Feature Race (RC1, RC2, & RC3 classes). The $10,000 purse breaks down in the following: $1,000 for the Pole Award; Overall winner: $4,000, 2nd place overall $2,000, 3rd place overall $750. Other class winners $1,000 each and the Hard charger award winner will receive $250.
Fans can look forward qualifying all day on Saturday, July 9th and a full day of featured races on Sunday, July 10th. Bridge City Autosports will run an autocross both days of the event in the north paddock, where fans can watch the thrill and adrenaline of pushing cars to their limits. Beyond racing, look for a visual display of Rose Cup Races history/FOPIR tent, alongside car club corrals; car club parades; and vendor booths and displays.
Learn more at RoseCup.com
