Return To Pelican Park Speedway!

wb0s · June 17, 2025 10:06 am

wb0s
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Topic: Return To Pelican Park Speedway!

It had been one year since my last visit to Pelican Park Speedway. This trip was just a visit for me. Racing was not on my agenda. Walking though the door of the faciltiy is like stepping back in time! Nostalgic pictures, posters, and models are everywhere!

But let's start with what is new. The track is now in full use of a computer lap counting and timing system! Gone are the days of a manually operated timer and toggle switch for controlling track power! Now I was told that they had been using this system for years, but upon checking past photos (from just a year ago) I became aware that some peoples memories are no better than mine! The obvious indicator was the monitor mounted for the racer's view, which was not present last year! They even have a printer in use now!

But other than the computer system Pelican Park remains true to its roots! They still race the hardbody scratchbuilt brass chassis cars they have always raced. And the racers are still the friendly guys one always finds at the track. I had a great time visiting and catching up with everyone!

Proof of the computer system now in use!

The usual group of Pelican Park racers.

wb0s · June 17, 2025 10:24 am

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Re: Return To Pelican Park Speedway!

The inside walls of the Pelican Park facility are covered with posters and old photos of not only past Pelican Park events, but many photos of old tracks and events from throughout the Northwest. The Northwest has a long history of racing hardbody scratchbuilt cars, and the Pelican Park track is the oldest surviving track still holding events!

Everytime I visit I see photos I had never noticed before! This red track that was originally built and used in a commercial raceway in Lake Oswego, was later purchased by Tim Barnes and set up in his basement in Fairview. NASTE races were held on this track for a couple of years. The track was eventually sold and moved to somewhere in California. It's current location or status is unknown.

This blue track was built by Larry Cockerham in Carlton. The track hosted OSCAR, PASER, and NASTE events for a few years. The track was then sold to Jeff Courtney who set the track up in the upstairs part of his shop. Jeff held NASTE races on the track and hosted the annual NASTE Halloween races. Thetrack was eventually sold to Rob and moved to Vancouver where he currently holds PASER events.

This is an early photo of Pelican Park Speedway probably taken not too long after it was moved to Eugene and set up in its current location. In this photo the track still has the original copper tubing controller hookups designed by Hugh Ellsworth. Hugh came up with thsi type of controller connections when the track was originally restored in Portland around 1988.

wb0s · June 17, 2025 10:36 am

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Re: Return To Pelican Park Speedway!

I appologize for the poor quality of these photos. I took pictures of the pictures posted on the walls with my phone.

This photo shows Glenn Heath and Lee Dundas Sr. racing at Pelican Park.

This is another early photo of Pelican Park after it was moved to Springfield. I would estimate this to be pre 1990.

Lee, Basil, Bob, and Glenn racing in the early days of Pelican Park. In this photo the track's lower staright has not been widened, and the old controller hookups are still in place.

Another early photo. Notice the lack of diorama items around the track.

wb0s · June 17, 2025 10:43 am

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Re: Return To Pelican Park Speedway!

Glenn Heath (left) with one of his winning cars.

Two of the most famous Northwest racers, Bob McFarland and Jerry "Geraloose" Palfenier.

There is no doubt that Doug Haynes was the founder and driving force behind the creation of Pelican Park.

I'm not even sure, but I believe this is an old photo with Tom Street..........

wb0s · June 17, 2025 10:48 am

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Re: Return To Pelican Park Speedway!

There are some early photos of the tracks that were located in the upstairs of Lee Dundas' barn. This photo is of the 3 lane big track as I remember it. I am guessing this was sometime in the early '80s.