Can-Am cars at Portland historic races

Historic Can-Ams will roar at The Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races.

PORTLAND, Ore - June 28, 2002 - The great historic Can-Am cars of the original 1966 through 1974 Canadian American Challenge Cup Series will race once again at the Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races at Portland International Raceway July 12, 13 and 14.

The Victory Lane Historic Can-Am Feature will highlight 18 cars at the Portland event, ranging from a Burnett MKII to a Ferrari 312P to four different types of Lola Ts, three different McLarens, a Porsche 917/30 and a Shadow. The Can-Am cars will be on display in the paddock throughout the weekend, and on the track two times each day.

These exciting racecars of up to 1500 horsepower were from an era when "excess was barely adequate." Can-Am cars were the fastest cars in the world in their time, faster than Indy cars or Formula One. The cars were unlimited in concept and design, and the series featured virtually no rules.

The cars are part of the Historic Can-Am Association (HCAA), which was formed in 1987 to bring historic Can-Am and the great unlimited sports racing cars of that series back to North American road racing circuits. HCAA maintains a registry of cars, crew, drivers and participants involved in the original Can-Am series as well as current historic cars and owners.

The Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races features fun for the entire family with high-speed racing by more than 200 vintage and historic cars from the early 1930s to the 1970s. Special guest celebrity Ernie Irvan of NASCAR fame will sign autographs on the Saturday and Sunday of the race. The event also presents more than 700 collector and specialty cars on display; a hot rod show; a vendor midway; an upscale food and wine pavilion; and a family zone.

The event runs Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Three-day admission is $40; Friday only is $10; Saturday or Sunday only is $25. Tickets for children 12 and under are free. Discounted $5 off tickets are exclusively available at all Baxter Auto Parts locations. Regular price tickets are available through Ticketmaster (503/224-4400 or ticketmaster.com). Parking outside PIR is free; an inside parking pass costs $10 per day.

The Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races is one of the top vintage racing events in the country, and is the second largest event at PIR. For more information, call 503/228-3119 or visit portlandhistorics.com.

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