The Portland, Oregon Flat Track that wasn't flat. As you can see it was built on the side of a hill which made it spectacular for riders and fans alike. Opened in 1956 in Clackamas, which was at that time a little country burg, ten miles from downtown Portland, it closed in 1986 after 40 years of furious flat tracking. It succumbed to the real estate boom that has not ceased to this day in, keep it weird PDX.
Friday nights the place was packed through the Summer months. The start was in the infield where they drag raced to the tight left and out on to turn four and then up the hill through one and slide turn two ,down the hill to a tight four.
One of the best spectator vantage point tracks ever. You could stand next to the fence all the way around the track. Looking down from above Turn 1 and 2.
The owner, promoter was a genius. 1/2 gallon buckets of Beer !
They had special events to capitalize on the Pros coming through on the West Coast swing.
Cal Rayborn, Jim Odom, Gene Romero lead No. 1 Gary Nixon.
Rider intro.
Mark Brelsford, Dick Mann and Dusty Coppage
Coppage, Haaby, Gene and Nixon.
Local Heroes often showed the Pros the way around the 3/8s circle of speed. Wild Bill Elder was one of them.
This must be some crazy victory side-saddle celebration. From his toe angle it looks like it might be going not quite to plan.
Sidewinders was Triumph Country and there was no better way to sell bikes than have a whole field of them screaming around and spraying dirt on your potential customers.
Victory Wheelies are a must.
Close up action for the Fans
Mark Williams cut his racing teeth at Sidewinders.
They had classes for 250s, 500s and 650s. Rider turn out was huge.
I have been fortunate to go to a lot of tracks through out the country and I never witnessed one that had close to the character of Sidewinders. The close up action, the cheering crowds, the happening that was this track and the huge family of folks who raced here and came to watch and be part of it all. Gone but definitely not forgotten.
