The Night of Fire Benefit Car Show In Salem August 5th. The spectacular Night of Fire Benefit Car Show is Friday, August 5th in Salem. (NOTE: DATE CHANGE The annual event is the "circus of all car shows" and is always for a worthy cause. The event has become one of several must attend Summer events that is unique to the Salem area that people look forward to annually. Each year the charitable event helps a family in need or an organization worthy of help.

This year the popular "ring of fire" returns at the end of the show with Ed
"the Outlaw" Jones in the middle of the ring with his Jelly Belly Fire truck
which puts on a spectacular fire show. The 2011 show also includes "Hot SawBill" with his V-8 powered chainsaw, the Pharoe's Merc from American
Graffiti and over 200 of the hottest muscle cars and street rods in the
valley. Plus, there will be a silent auction, vender booths and concessions
provided by Adam’s Rib Smokehouse.

The Night of Fire is an event for the whole family to enjoy and admission is
free! Organizers are requesting that spectators bring a can of food to help
the Marion Polk Food Share.

This year, the show benefits a local family from Dallas, Oregon and has a
special needs child named "Grace".

The event is held at the Salem Evangelical Church Event Center parking lot,
across the street from Applebee's on Liberty Street near the Salem
Parkway, between Pine Street and the North Salem Fred Meyer Store. Gates
open at 2PM.


Car Exhibitor Info - *There is NO pre-registration for this event. The entry fee to display a vehicle is just $15.00 and payable at the gate when you bring your car in. Cars will be let in at 12 Noon and through out the rest of the day and evening. Call 503-370-9164 for further information. www.capracing.com

        Photo by Gary Bannister. Courtesy of Vintage Drift Magazine

SOVREN’s Historics Racing, featuring over 250 of the finest vintage race cars from throughout the West Coast and Canada, celebrates the 23rd anniversary this Fourth of July weekend at Pacific Raceways near Kent, Washington.

This year, the Historics feature Jaguar racing, and the 50th Anniversary of the XKE.

Historics Vintage Car Race is a race weekend (July 1st-3rd) that benefits Seattle Children's Hospital. The Pacific Northwest Historics features many of the world’s rarest and most beautiful pre-1970 race cars. Most have been restored to mint condition and a handful retain the patina earned while racing years ago.

       Photo by Gary Bannister. Courtesy of Vintage Drift Magazine

Fan favorites include Ferraris, Lotuses, Cobras, Corvettes, Porsches, Austin Healeys and some less recognizable names like Elva, Ginetta, and McLaren; many with impressive racing histories.

Some of the cars are valued at over $1 million, but the high values don't hold back the owners and drivers - most cars will exceed 100 mph and some over 150 mph during the wheel to wheel competition. The Pacific Raceways circuit is a challenging 2 ¼-mile road course that includes nine turns, a 300 foot elevation drop and a near ¾-mile straightaway. 
        Photo by Gary Bannister. Courtesy of Vintage Drift Magazine

Spectators are welcome in the paddock area and encouraged to take a close-up look at the cars and visit with the drivers. Qualifying events on Friday are open for race fans with special admission discounts for military and seniors (see below). Friday night is the 2nd year of KART Racing. Full racing on Saturday and Sunday with gates open to the public at 8:30 a.m.

Admission:  Adults: $25 one-day pass Friday, Saturday or Sunday, $40 multiple day pass, Children age 7 - 16: $5 per day. Children 6 years and under are free.

Military (with ID) and seniors (62+) on Friday and Sunday are $10.00 per day.

VIP Parking $5.00 / Field Parking FREE. Tickets are at the gate during race weekend.

For more information about PNW Historics Racing, CLICK HERE  and about SOVREN, CLICK HERE.

For directions to Pacific Raceways CLICK HERE     

The primary sponsor is Phil Smart Mercedes Benz along with many other sponsors and volunteers (see website). SOVREN – the Society of Vintage Racing Enthusiasts, produces this and other Northwest racing events. More information and schedule will be posted on this website, as Northwest Historics, in the coming months.

SOVREN Guild was formed in 1991 with the sole purpose of working with SOVREN to produce and present PNW Historics Vintage Car race as a benefit for Seattle Children’s Hospital’s uncompensated care. Its main roles include promoting the Historics, securing sponsorship, advertisers, vendors, in-kind and monetary donations, coordinating over 250 volunteers, and planning the majority of the hospitality events during the race weekend. The SOVREN Guild has contributed over $7 million to uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s since its inception. Since the Guild joined SOVREN in presenting the Historics, the contribution to the Hospital from the race has increased from $7500 in 1990 to $785,000 in 2008. All proceeds from the Historics Racing is donated to Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Volunteers for both the SOVREN GUILD and the HISTORICS RACING are always welcomed and appreciated. Contact the respective websites for information on how you can participate.

Governor Signs Hot Rod Bill. It's Now Washington Law

According to State Senator Michael Carrell, sponsor of the bill, and collector, restorer and avid car enthusiast in his own right, the new law establishes constancy, and clarifies previously unclear registration requirements, helping to streamline the registering and titling process, making it faster and a whole lot easier to take that creation of yours to the street.

The new classifications break down as follows: Altered vehicles manufactured before 1949 will be categorized as ‘street rods,’ and altered vehicles at least 30 years old and manufactured after 1948 will be categorized as ‘customs.’ Kit cars and replica vehicles will be assigned certificates of title bearing the same model years as the production vehicles they most closely resemble.

The law also acknowledges that original parts may no longer be available, and that technological advancements have created improved materials. The new law allows for the use of non-original components and creates a titling criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. Further, the law exempts street rods and custom cars from a range of standard equipment requirements and emissions inspections, holding them instead to standards applicable to their designated model year. Finally, the use of “blue dot” taillights will be permitted, a favorite among restorers of classic automobiles.

Mike Dingell, director of the SEMA Action Network (SAN), who worked closely with Senator Carrell to draft the original bill, expressed great satisfaction with the new law. “This type of legislation is a top priority for SAN,” he says. “We want enthusiasts to express themselves by building their dream cars and to share them and enjoy them on America’s streets.” Similar laws have been successful in helping hobbyists title their rides in 21 other states, and SAN is working to add more to that list.

Larry Johnson, of Corvette & High Performance and producer of a yearly swap meet in Puyallup, is a great proponent of the law. "I urged my legislators to vote in favor of it," he says. "It offers a much more rational approach to vehicle equipment requirements for hot rods, customs and kit or replica cars.” Johnson added, “We owe a big thank you to Senator Carrell for sponsoring the bill, and to all of those in the hobby and industry who took action to let their legislators know of their interests. It definitely made a difference.”

By Rob Sillence, ©2011 Upfront Images, LLC.

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