Memorial Day, 1948, the Columbia River flooded the city of Vanport, which had been the second largest city In Oregon. Vanport was built in north Portland during World War II to house shipyard workers. After the flood, there was no need to rebuild the city, so the Corps of Army Engineers cleaned up the remaining area and sold it to the City of Portland in 1960 for $187,000, with the stipulation that It had to be used for recreational purposes.
The Portland Jaycees Saw that the abandoned roads of Vanport had the potential to become a road race course and convinced the Portland Rose Festival Association that they should sponsor a race during their annual Rose Festival celebration In June. The first Rose Cup Race was held In June, 1961, starting a tradition that continues today.
Soon after that first race, both go-kart and motorcycle enthusiasts started race programs of their own, with drag racing starting about four years later.
1971: Portland Rose Festival Association borrowed $100,000 to use for paving and other improvements at PIR to keep the facility in operation. Loan paid back by proceeds from rent revenues at PIR in two and a half years. Since that time, operated as an enterprise fund with the City of Portland.
In 1972, the first professional road race was held, part of the 2.5 Challenge Series of the SCCA.
In 1974, a three-storey operations tower was built. The "Blitz Tower" eventually became the "7-11 Tower" under sponsorship from Portland Bottling Company in 1984.
In 1975, the SCCA Trans-Am series becomes the feature of the Rose Cup weekend.
In 1984, the first Indy car race was held, the Stroh's/G.I. Joe's 200. Budweiser became the co-title sponsor in 1986 and remains so to date.
1985: A bridge crossing the track is added with sponsorship from B. F. Goodrich.
1990: The bridge, as well as the tower, switches to sponsorship from Goodyear. This sponsorship remains in place to date.
To gain Its first Indy car race, the Portland Rose Festival Association borrowed approximately $800,000 for improvements, including safety barriers, a new paddock area and more bleachers.
Over the years since, the non-profit Portland Rose Festival Association has invested $2.5 million in further improvements. The chicane was added in 1984, and has been changed twice to its current configuration know at the "Festival Curves".
A new timing/scoring/operations building was completed just in time for the 1996 race. The original and innovative three-story facility was formed with 12 metal shipping containers and received special building code status as an "interim" building which allowed the structure to be placed in an area still classed by the Corp of Engineers as a flood plain.
