Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races Will Commemorate Shelby Mustang GT350R

Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races Will Commemorate Shelby Mustang GT350R at Portland International Raceway
HMSA: Portland news 2005-03-02
Racing series VINTAGE
Date 2005-03-02

PORTLAND, Ore. - March 1, 2005 -- The Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races will commemorate the legendary Shelby Mustang GT350R at this year's 29th annual vintage racing event, July 8 through 10 at Portland International Raceway, 1940 N Victory Blvd. Other racing highlights include a field of historic Winston Cup stock cars, and Vmoto vintage motorcycles.

The Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races features high-speed racing by 250 prestigious vintage cars that are divided into groups according to age and horsepower. The races run daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets cost $40 for all three days; $10 for Friday; or $25 for Saturday or Sunday. Tickets are available at www.portlandhistorics.com and at the gate. Children under 12 are admitted for free.

The Mustang GT350 and its lightweight racing derivative, the GT350R, were introduced by Carroll Shelby in 1965. The GT350R model was lighter than its streetcar version by 300 pounds and featured a 360 horsepower engine, racing suspension, and a fiberglass airdam that replaced the bumper. Only 36 competition models were built; 34 were raced by the public, and two prototype cars were raced by the factory team. The GT350R won the SCCA B-Production national championships from 1965 to 1967.

Additional highlights to this year's event include the return of the Historic Stock Car Racing Series, an organization dedicated to the restoration, preservation, and continued competition of historic Winston Cup stock cars. A field of nearly two dozen historic stock cars will race, including Jeff Gordon's Dupont Rainbow Warrior car, Richard Petty's #43 STP car, Bill Elliott's #94 McDonalds car, and Ernie Irvan's #4 Kodak car.

Another returning feature is Vmoto, a group of motorcycle enthusiasts dedicated to the restoration, preservation and racing of historic, classic and vintage road racing motorcycles.

The Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races features an open paddock, which allows the public the opportunity to view these legendary vintage cars up close and interact with the drivers. The event also presents a display of more than 900 collector cars and hot rods, and a vendor midway.

The event is produced and sanctioned by the Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA). Established in 1977, HMSA is an organization specializing in race events that feature historic cars through 1972. HMSA emphasizes the preservation and proper use of historic racecars. The association is also the sanctioning body for the world-renowned Monterey Historic Automobile Races.
-www.portlandhistorics.com.

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