Ridge Motorsports Park
Ridge Motorsports Park Notes:
At about an hour ride south from Seattle, Washington, in the typical Pacific Northwest town of Shelton, the Ridge Motorsports Park was built in 2011 to serve as a focal point for racers coming from all around the states of Oregon & Washinton. Designed by Steve Crawford as a motorist oasis in the middle of an evergreen pine forest, this racing track offers magnificent views of the surrounding vegetation. It also adapts seamlessly to the formidable elevation changes in the natural terrain, defying the drivers' abilities to remain in control of their vehicles.
The Ridge Motorsports Park track is 2.47 mi long, with a total vertical gain of 299 ft from start to finish. There are 16 turns in this racetrack, including several closed ones like The Carousel and The Thumb. Another impressive section is the ridge complex, an abrupt descent of 50 ft through a challenging turn combination. Several straight runs compensate for the loss of speed in these sharp curves, leaving the average lap time at 1:55.246 and the average velocity at 77 mph. Given the particular characteristics of the terrain, this track only goes in the counterclockwise direction, which enables vehicles to develop top speeds from top to bottom.
See our Ridge Motorsports Park Track Guide for more information on getting the most out of this track.
Notes:
Ridge Motorsports Park's Current configuration showcases the Pacific Northwest's most dramatic elevation-driven circuit design, plunging 91 meters from start to finish across a counterclockwise 3.980-kilometer layout carved into Washington State's forested hillsides. This 16-turn circuit operates exclusively downhill from summit to valley floor, creating unique braking and cornering challenges as drivers exploit gravity's pull while managing weight transfer through rapid descents. The optional chicane added to the 870-meter front straight in 2020 allows sanctioning bodies to tame superbike speeds when necessary, though most car events utilize the full-throttle straight rewarding aerodynamic efficiency and power.
The track's signature Ridge Complex drops 15 meters through a blind turn combination where commitment over the crest determines corner exit success. The Carousel—a long sweeping constant-radius turn—demands sustained G-loading while The Thumb presents a tight 180-degree hairpin testing slow-speed grip. Cathedral Turn and other named corners blend technical precision with high-speed confidence, all surrounded by towering evergreens that limit visual reference points. Washington's maritime climate creates frequent morning fog and afternoon sun, with track temperatures varying dramatically between shaded forest sections and exposed hilltop areas. Located 40 kilometers northwest of Olympia near Shelton, Ridge attracts Pacific Northwest enthusiasts, national series events, and MotoAmerica rounds seeking North America's most elevation-intensive road racing experience where downhill momentum and brake management separate fast laps from off-course excursions.
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