About the Rose Cup Races

The Rose Cup Races were the first event held at PIR way back in 1961.

Wikipedia succinctly summarizes the Rose Cup Races as “The first races took place on these old city streets in 1961 during the Portland Rose Festival. Since then, the Rose Cup has become an annual event. Racing at “West Delta Park”,^[6] as PIR was known back then, was quite dangerous. Racers leaving the track unexpectedly could collide with leftover concrete foundations or fall into ponds.”

While racers no longer have to deal with leftover concrete foundations or fall into ponds, they do battle to get their name on the Rose Cup trophy. Notable past winners include Jerry Grant in a Ferrari 250TR, Monte Shelton (8-time winner), John Greenwood, George Follmer, John Paul, Bob Tullius, Doc Bundy, Willy T. Ribbs and more. Many of today’s competitors were in the stands as kids back when these legends raced at PIR. It’s no wonder many competitors are already hard at work building and upgrading their cars for the next Rose Cup event July 13-14, 2024 at PIR.

Friends of PIR is proud to be the event organizer since 2016. As a non-profit committed to the preservation and enhancement of PIR, ensuring that the legacy of the Rose Cup Races lives on is a key part of our mission.

For more information, go to www.rosecup.com.