GT-49, come early and stay late!

Reid Trummel
President, Columbia Gorge MG Club

We have outlined the climate, the venue, the roads and the features of this year’s GT based in Welches, Oregon, July 15-19, and how all of that combines to produce an ideal location for a GT. Hosted by the Portland-based Columbia Gorge MG Club, we described this area as “sports car heaven,” and now it’s time to provide some additional proof!

If you arrive in the area early, and especially if you’re driving down from points north (we’re looking at you, British Columbia and Washington state), you could attend the Western Washington All British Field Meet (wwabfm.com) on Saturday, July 13, on your way to GT. The “WWABFM” is held on the scenic grounds of Saint Edward State Park in Kenmore, Washington, just about 14 miles north of Seattle. Typically attracting over 400 British cars of all marques, the WWABFM is one of a constellation of “field meets” for British cars in this region, and it is typically an excellent celebration of the cars we love so much. The day following the WWABFM, Sunday the 14th, is an ideal day to then make the 220-mile drive from there to Welches for the GT.

However, if club racing is your passion, perhaps you’d like to visit Portland International Raceway for the two-day Rose Cup Races (rosecup.com) on the weekend before GT, July 13-14. Fans from across the country will gather to enjoy high-speed racing by seven different race groups, special salutes to the cars, exhibits, displays, vendors and more. The raceway is just 50 miles west of Welches where you could arrive Sunday evening, after the races.

Or perhaps lingering after the GT, prolonging the glow, is more your style. We’ve got good news there too. The day after GT concludes on Friday the 19th, the venerable Cascade Sports Car Club (cascadegeargrinders.org) will host one of their time-speed-distance rallies based in Portland. Billed as “the game that takes you places,” their rallies are scenic drives on country roads with a competitive element. Just how competitive is strictly up to you!

But we’re not done yet – far from it! On Sunday, July 21, is the Forest Grove Concours d’Elégance (forestgroveconcours.org). Held on the beautiful tree-shaded campus of Pacific University just about 25 miles west of Portland, the concours offers a day of relaxed browsing among a fabulous and wide variety of wonderful cars. There’s something for every automotive interest among the more than 300 cars typically participating. And more than that, there’s also the ever-dangerous cars for sale lot, and spectators enjoy live music, food, a beer garden, and a wine pavilion. Featured cars this year include Chrysler, Mustang and Porsche “Outlaws,” with a special display of automobiles designed by Marcello Gandini, which includes the Lamborghini Miura and Countach, and the Alfa Romeo Montreal.

GT-49 runs Monday-Friday, July 15-19, and there are two days of great events before, and two more days of great events after the GT. Come early and stay late for a potential nine days of the sports car heaven we enjoy here in the Pacific Northwest.