|
Written by Jeff Zurschmeide
|
|
TOOELE, Utah - Cindi Lux (Aloha, Ore.) has found a new appreciation for two things in 2008; her No. 2 Mopar Dodge Viper Competition Coupe and the intense competition of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) SPEED World Challenge. Since being named as the only road racer on Team Mopar in April, the combination of the 12- time road racing champion and Chrysler's parts division has proven formidable. Last weekend at Miller Motorsports Park (MMP) in Tooele, Utah, Lux set a personal best finish in the road car-based series of fifth. The top-five came from her highest-ever starting position in the SPEED GT of third and on the heels of her 2008 debut, and previous best, ninth in Long Beach, Calif. on April 20.  Lux Racing Her Viper - Image by Jeff Boerio
Lux continues to set new standards for herself and female drivers in the World Challenge. While in only the second race of her second season in the SCCA Pro Racing-sanctioned series, the 1999 American Le Mans Series' Women's Global GT Champion now holds claim to two significant achievements in SPEED GT. In qualifying for the one hour event, Lux sped to third starting position after holding second until the final minute of the session. In starting third she became the highest qualifying female driver since 2003 (Shauna Marinus, SPEED Touring Car, Puerto Rico) in World Challenge. Even more impressive is that, with today's fifth-place result, Lux ranks as the highest-finishing woman in SPEED GT history and the highest-finishing woman in all of World Challenge since Marinus finished third in Touring Car (2003). To accomplish this in the high-powered and intensely demanding GT machines is an inspiring feat. For Lux the achievement is satisfying as a race car driver, not a female race car driver. Her gender is meaningless behind the wheel, she only wants to win.
|
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 22 May 2008 )
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Jeff Zurschmeide
|
|
Portland Speedway opened as a new race track in July of 1936. Some legends say that the track dates from the 1920s, but I’ve got a copy of the newspaper article announcing the opening day event. Over the years it went by several names including Union Avenue Speedway, Rose City Speedway, and then Portland Speedway again. And over the years, anyone who made it big in NASCAR raced at Portland.  Craig Armstrong
In 1988, Craig Armstrong took over day to day management of the speedway. “In the early part of the 1980s, a bunch of guys who were involved with NASCAR organized to buy out the lease. I started there doing TV spots and it turned into an announcing gig. Then in early 1988 I got a call from the leaseholder who aked me if I’d like to get into the race track business. It was a golden opportunity,” Armstrong says. |
|
Last Updated ( Monday, 19 May 2008 )
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Jeff Zurschmeide
|
|
The biggest and most exciting rally racing event on the west coast returns to Portland next weekend. The Oregon Trail Rally happens each spring, and offers some of the most thrilling driving of any racing series that visits our region. Rally racing takes place primarily on gravel roads, but the Oregon Trail event also offers a chance to see rally driving up close on custom-built “super-special” dirt and gravel roads at Portland International Raceway and at the Washington County Fairgrounds.  2006-7 National Champion Travis Pastrana
The event gets underway Thursday with a display of rally cars at Pioneer Courthouse Square from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fans can get up close to the cars and meet the teams downtown. Rally organizers will also be on hand to distribute free spectator guides to the weekend attractions. Then on Friday evening, PIR is the location for spectator-oriented rally racing. Admission to the PIR stages is $10 for adults, 12 and younger are free.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Jeff Zurschmeide
|
|
The Western Automotive Journalists organization gathered this week in beautiful Monterey, Calif. to test drive the 2008 sports and luxury car field from virtually every automaker doing business in North America. Journalists from up and down the west coast arrived to test the full fleet of 2008 cars on the winding mountain roads of Carmel Valley and at speed on the track at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Nissan GT-R and NISMO 350Z Yes, that's the new Nissan GT-R parked next to the NISMO Edition 350Z in the photo to the right. Yes, they're as good as you think they are.
Events such as this serve a number of purposes, including a rare chance for side-by-side tests of comparable cars from different automakers, and also to allow a relaxed atmosphere to talk shop with the manufacturer representatives. But I wouldn't lie to you and tell you it was anything like working - this event is big-time fun. |
|
Last Updated ( Saturday, 26 April 2008 )
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Jeff Zurschmeide
|
|
Welcome to Northwest Auto Review! Our focus is simple - drivers in the Pacific Northwest face unique conditions and need cars that perform well in our wet winters, yet are fun to drive on our beautiful back roads and during our glorious summers. We drive the latest cars from every manufacturer and give you the benefit of our experience. If you want a bland listing of statistics, options and prices, that information is available all over the net. But if you want to read the real experience of driving a car in the Northwest, that's what we've got.  Reviews with a Pacific Northwest Focus |
|
Last Updated ( Monday, 31 March 2008 )
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 Next > End >>
|
| Results 19 - 27 of 28 |
Editor's Blog 
