Feel the Heat at the 48th Annual Portland Rose Festival Rose Cup Races.

2008 marks the eighth year that Temp-Control Mechanical Corp. has joined forces with the Rose Festival as presenting sponsor of this premier event. As the 2nd oldest amateur race event in the country it is a regular stop for over 400 entrants from all over the country.

During the three day event 25 national and over 50 regional classes compete in 16 races throughout the weekend, of which four are considered featured attractions. The first of the featured races is the The Festival Trophy Race presented by Pro Drive Driving School. Each year the Portland Rose Festival Association selects a race group as the Festival Trophy Race. Similar to the featured Rose Cup race, the Festival Trophy Race has formal driver introductions on the front straight prior to the start of the race. After the race there are formal winners activities including a winners podium complete with Champagne for the top 3 in each class. The second and third races are part of the Porsche Club of America's "Porsche Cup" sponsored by Carrera Motors. The final featured race of the weekend is the self titled Rose Cup Race. As usual the featured Rose Cup race will be regional group C, the "ground pounders". Regional Group C, consists of the following classes: SPO, GT1, GT2, GT3, GTA, SPM, AS, EP, and T1.

This year the Portland Rose Festival is excited to announce the First Annual Rose Cup Races Cruise In happening Saturday from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. The Cruise In is a fun way for entrants to show off their Pre-1973 Hot Rods, Customs or Cool Rides and compete for Prizes and Trophies. As part of the event their will be Live Music, Food and a Show & Shine viewing. Those interested in participating in the event as an entrant need only show up at the gate and pay the $10 entry fee.

Sunday gives attendees the opportunity to witness a different kind of racing as the Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association (OMRRA) joins the Rose Cup Races with an exhibition race that is sure to provide some exciting entertainment for the whole audience.

Jerry Grant and Dick Hahn in the car that won the first Rose Cup. (Photographer unknown)

An Annual Racing Tradition for 47 Years.

Following the construction of Portland International Raceway (PIR) on the abandoned site of the old World War II city of Vanport, the Portland Jaycees convinced the Rose Festival Association to include an auto racing event in their annual celebration as a way to commemmorate the new track. The first Rose Cup Races were then held in June, 1961. To this day PIR continues to be owned and operated by the City of Portland using the revenues generated by the various year round track events. To learn more about Portland International Raceway please visit their website at: www.portlandraceway.com