Just a mile or four out of Hermiston Oregon lives Race City USA, 1/4 mile high-banked paved oval with a lot of heart.
My connection with the track goes back a generation.
Seems my mum was a bit of a rebel (gasp) and had a boyfriend or two that raced both on the street and on the track.
Saturday Night racing at its finest.
We moved away, but I returned in my teens and , wouldn’t you know it I ended up with a boyfriend (or two) that raced on and off the track.
By this time I was a fair mechanic in my own right so it was logical for me to get involved .
I have owned ½ of a car (or two) over the years and still have an interest in my friends Street Stock car. (see older post)
My son was involved before he moved, and my daughter is very much bitten by the racing bug.
Track imagery
image from TeraServer USA
Schedule
Race City USA runs 5 classes this season every other Saturday Night.
They used to run 3 classes (alternating) every Saturday, but for whatever reason (poor attendance I think) they have changed the schedule.
Late Models
A) Any V-8 American standard production or after market metal, fiberglass or mixture body. No Vans, 4X4’s, station wagons, etc.
B) Front engine and rear wheel drive only
C) 4 inch ride height
D) Approved 5 point seat belt, quick release type
Super Stock
A) Any V-8 American manufactured passenger car or pickup
B) 104” wheel base minimum
C) No vans, 4X4’s, station wagons or sports cars
D) Front engine and rear wheel drive only
E) No fiberglass bodies. Steel or aftermarket metal bodies only
Street Stock
A) Any steel bodied V-8 American manufactured passenger car. No aluminum. No fiberglass.Rubber front and back ends OK
B) 104” wheel base minimum
C) No vans, 4X4’s, station wagons, or sports cars
D) Front engine and rear wheel drive only
Mini Stock
A) Any four-cylinder passenger car or pickup
B) Front engine location. Front or rear wheel drive
C) GM to GM, Ford to Ford, Datsun to Datsun, Etc.
D) Partial tube chassis ok
2400 cc maximum. No rotary engines
Mosquitos
A) Any 4 cylinder, steel bodied car with a complete stock body, frame and suspension
B) Front engine location, front or rear wheel drive
C) GM to GM, Ford to Ford, Datsun to Datsun, etc.
D) Maximum 103” wheelbase
No turbo, super-charged, or rotary engines.
Gates open at 5:00pm Time trails at 5:30 Racing at 7:00pm
Adults $8 Seniors/Students $6 Children $2
Family Pass $20 Good for 2 adults and up to 3 children
VIP Parking $10 Plus admission tickets
Race City,USA
81236 Hwy 395 North
Hermiston, Or 97838
541-564-8674
Pit gates open at 3pm
Pit pass fees:(per evening)
Late model drivers $35
Mini stock, Street stock, Super stock drivers $30
Mosquito drivers $15
Pit Crew $15
Factor in the registration fees
Registration fee is $25 for car and Driver. Mosquito’s $10.
Pit Pad Renewals are $50 for the year.
New pads are $100 for the year.
Pit Pad per night is $10 per night if available.
And need I mention fuel prices.
(paying to race is a pet peeve, hell we don’t get a cut of the gate and the payout ain’t great)
Season Opener was May 17th
Fast times
Mini Stock - #9 Billy McAdams - 17.44
Super Stock - # 1 Rick Mulbourn - 17.33
Late Model - #42 Dan England - 16.31
It ain’t much, but it’s ours!
If you are ever in my neck of the woods, make it a Saturday Night!
Here are some pictures
from 2006
from 2007
Looking forward to reading about ‘your’ tracks.
Thanks to Forensic2 and the GGW Racing crew for making me sit down and think about this.
