Finished my first lapping day at Oregon Raceway Park (ORP) yesterday - day two of the Proformance field trip.
Portland International Raceway (PIR) on Thursday and ORP on Friday.

ORP is simply awesome!
By far the best track in the NW.
If you are a skier, ORP is a double black diamond ski run -- constant elevation changes, blind corners, decreasing radius corners, off camber turns, etc.
There is no place to "take a break" mentally -- normally you can "catch your breath" on the straights but the ORP straight (running clockwise) has a bit of a hairy entry and a table top at the end right before the braking zone for T1 -- and the straight is not that long (I was seeing 111-115 mph)
I can only really liken it to a roller coaster that you drive.

the only drawvback -- 5 hours door to door from Magnolia to ORP with one gas stop in a truck with trailer.

however -- worth the trip.

I have not run at Spokane or Mission (BC) but I can assure you that ORP is the cat's a$$ when compared to PR and PIR.

Accomodations -- I stayed at the Three Rivers Inn in Biggs, OR (at the intersection of 97 and 84 right on the Columbia River) and you can get a motel in Moro, OR which is a bit closer to the track.

There is a roughly 2 mile gravel drive to get to the track but I hear that it will eventually be paved... and for the time being, bring gas unless you know the on site tank will be full and selling.

In a word -- marvelous!

Get out there... you will love it.

 

agreed.

 

How is that Three Rivers Inn, anyway?
I'm surprised to hear that Don didn't switch it up to run CCW in the afternoon.
That access road is scheduled to be done with chip sealing next week.

 

PJ glad to hear you had fun, but is no surprise after hearing what Roman had to say while it was being built

 

Totally fine... clean, cable, showers, etc...
I would stay there again.
It looked better than the option in Moro.

Although I hear from the canucks that the hunting lodge place is the best... and closest to the track.

 

love it PJ!!

 

I have heard unanimously that the lodge is a great place to stay out there. And yes, it's only 1 - 2 miles down the road.

 

nice, i may have to give you a call to get some more details. btw, mission is not that great. Its a track that will just eat up your brakes. I am more than sure ORP is better.

 

ORP is definitely the best track out of Pacific or PIR. I second everything PJ said except that I was only just shy of 100. The entry to the main straight is blind and the turn is just a little off camber to make you a little cautious going in.

I stayed at the Tall Winds in Moro and it was just a 12'x12' room with a little bathroom. Not one frill but it was serviceable. I'll probably stay in Biggs next time. I'll definitely be going again.

 

I'm hoping to go again in the next couple of months.

I posted this elsewhere, but I slept on the tarmac under the stars, the last time I was there. Next time I'll stay in a less austere environment. The lodge sounds inviting.

 

I am here right now at the Three Rivers Inn, driving with Palatov Motorsport tomorrow. This is a classic roadside motel, and I'm happy to see McDonalds next door. Can't beat it for $49.95.
Trailered my car down tonight instead of driving it down, so I can carry backup stuff if needed. I will post any interesting happenings from tomorrow.

 

$49.95?????
IIRC I paid $65!!!


Here are a couple travel pics taken with Iphone

On the way to the track at 6 am - southbound 97


On the way home -- I84 West around 8 pm

 

You slept on the tarmac with the near constant 20mph wind?? Brave Omdurman.

 

From ORP today at the Palatov Motorsports track day (bikes and cars), I bring you the coolest track toy I have ever seen: an original (but restored) 1939 Ural sidecar motorcycle built for the Red Army. When the driver went around the track, he stood up for balance whenever he went around an off camber turn. Not only did he drive it around the track a few times, he did it with technique.

 

That thing sooo needs a dog to ride in the sidecar.