The 24th running of SOVREN's Columbia River Classic took over Portland International Raceway on September 5–6, 2026. More than 100 entries filled the grid, from Austin-Healey Sprites and Porsche 911s to a Bill Thomas Cheetah, a Jaguar E-Type and a 1965 Brabham BT14. Sunday also hosted the 12th US Bugatti Grand Prix, and scheel-mann fielded four cars of its own.
The All-British Field Meet also shared the grounds, and it brought a wealth of remarkable cars out of the woodwork. Jaguars, MGs, Bentleys and rarer British marques lined the grass beside the paddock, many of them seldom seen in public.
Saturday: Cool, Dry, Ideal
Saturday delivered near-perfect racing weather. Cool air and a dry surface gave drivers consistent grip from the first session to the last. Across the grid, the cars ran as they were built to run: clean lines through the corners, full commitment down the straights.
Sunday: A Test in the Wet
Sunday morning changed the picture. Rain soaked the circuit, and the early sessions ran on a very wet track, rewarding patience, smooth inputs and careful car control. By afternoon the surface had dried, and the final sessions of the weekend ran in the dry once more.
The Pre-War Bugattis
The weekend's rarest sight was the 12th US Bugatti Grand Prix, hosted with the American Bugatti Club. Thirteen entries took the grid, among them Type 35s and 37s from the mid-1920s, a 1931 Type 51, a 1934 Type 59 and a 1936 Type 57C, joined by a 1934 ERA R2A and a 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza. They raced through Sunday's wet morning and again once the track dried, narrow tires and open cockpits a reminder of how racing was done nearly a century ago. Seeing them driven with that commitment in the rain was a privilege.
Four scheel-mann USA Cars on Track
scheel-mann USA fielded four cars spanning three decades of production-based racing:
- 1966 Ford Cortina, fitted with scheel 101 seats
- 1966 Alfa Romeo Giulia, fitted with scheel 101 seats
- 1976 Volkswagen Mk1 Golf, fitted with scheel 101 seats
- 1994 Spec Miata
The feedback from our drivers was consistent. Over two days of sessions, including a wet Sunday that demanded constant small corrections, they reported noticeably less discomfort in the car. They felt supported through every corner, and none finished the weekend with the soreness or stiffness that long track days usually leave behind. The result was what every driver hopes for: a focused, enjoyable weekend, start to finish.
Until Next Year
Our thanks to SOVREN, the volunteers and every entrant who made the Columbia River Classic what it was. We look forward to returning to the grid. Until then, welcome back to Seats, Perfected.
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