The Ridge Motorsports Park
The Ridge Motorsports Park at a glance
- Location
- Shelton, Washington
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 2.47 mi (3.975 km)
- Turns
- 16
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Elevation change
- 300 ft
- Opened
- 2012
- Owner
- Joe Manke and Rusty Gill
- Address
- 1060 West Eells Hill Road
- Phone
- +1 360-427-7223
- Website
- ridgemotorsportspark.com
Track map and layout
Set in forested terrain on the gateway to Washington's Olympic Peninsula, The Ridge packs more than 300 feet of elevation change into a 2.47-mile, 16-turn lap, giving it a reputation as one of the most physically dramatic road courses in the Pacific Northwest. Designer Steve Crawford routed the circuit through high-speed straights, sweeping turns, heavy compressions and blind, weightless crests, with territorial and mountain views visible from much of the property. A newer configuration adds a chicane, extending the lap to 2.5 miles and 18 turns for events that want to slow the fastest sections. The combination of flow, elevation and a genuinely scenic, forested setting has made The Ridge a favorite for both MotoAmerica-level competition and everyday club track days.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full Circuit | 2.47 mi | Primary 16-turn layout used since 2014 |
| Full Circuit with Chicane | 2.5 mi | 18-turn configuration used since 2020, including for MotoAmerica |
Events and race weekends
The Ridge has hosted MotoAmerica national superbike racing since 2020, its highest-profile annual event, alongside a busy calendar of regional car and motorcycle club racing, vintage racing and time-attack competition. The track does not carry a fixed major car-series date on the scale of the larger national circuits, but stays consistently busy with HPDE, club racing and organized track-day programs throughout the racing season.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MotoAmerica round | MotoAmerica Superbike | — | Held on the Full Circuit with Chicane |
| Global Time Attack round | Global Time Attack | — |
Getting there and parking
The Ridge sits near Shelton, Washington, about an hour's drive south of Seattle on the way to the Olympic Peninsula. Seattle-Tacoma International is the nearest major airport for visitors flying in, roughly 70-80 minutes from the track depending on traffic.
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) · about 80 min drive
Hotels and camping near The Ridge Motorsports Park
Overnight paddock parking is common for track-day and race weekends, though the facility does not offer RV hookups or an on-site dump station; RV pumping can be arranged separately through a local service. Most visitors staying nearby base themselves in Shelton or the wider Olympia area.
Where to look
Shelton, Washington, plus the Olympia area about 25 miles to the southeast.
Camping
Overnight parking in the paddock or overflow lots is permitted for many events, but there are no formal camping amenities beyond parking.
RV
RVs can park overnight in the paddock, but no hookups or dump station are available on-site; RV pump-out can be scheduled through a local contractor.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
The Ridge is a regular stop for SCCA and NASA club racing and HPDE, and Hooked on Driving runs dedicated HPDE track days at the venue for drivers near Seattle and Olympia. On the motorcycle side, 2Fast holds track days at The Ridge, giving riders access to the same elevation-rich layout used for MotoAmerica racing.
Who runs days here
- Hooked on Drivingcar
- NASAcar
- SCCAcar
- 2Fastmotorcycle
Typical cost: HPDE / open track days typically run about $200-450 per day, per regional providers
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Car (Full Circuit) | 1:31.421 | Mark Uhlmann | Stohr WF1 | 2023 |
| Superbike (with Chicane) | 1:39.663 | Cameron Beaubier | BMW S1000RR | 2023 |
| Supersport (with Chicane) | 1:42.308 | Tyler Scott | Suzuki GSX-R600 | 2025 |
Spectator guide
The Ridge's hillside, forested setting gives spectators sweeping views over multiple corners and the surrounding Olympic Peninsula terrain, in contrast to flatter, more enclosed circuits. The park-like feel and mountain backdrop make it a scenic destination even for visitors who are primarily there for the on-track action.
Best places to watch
Elevated viewing areas along the hillside sections of the lap offer views across several corners and the surrounding forest.
Weather
- Jun-Aug: mild Pacific Northwest summer, highs typically in the 70s°F, generally dry
- Oct-Apr: cool and often wet, typical of the Puget Sound region
History of The Ridge Motorsports Park
Founding
The Ridge Motorsports Park broke ground on April 26, 2011, on forested land near Shelton, Washington, at the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula, and opened to competition on May 26, 2012. Owners Joe Manke and Rusty Gill worked with circuit designer Steve Crawford to route a 16-turn lap through the property's natural hills, producing a track with more than 300 feet of elevation change, unusually dramatic for a modern purpose-built American road course, along with blind crests, heavy compressions and sweeping turns framed by mountain views.
Expansion
The circuit's current 2.47-mile Full Circuit configuration took shape in 2014, and the facility added an Olympic Grand Prix scale kart track in 2015 and a motocross facility, Ridge MX, in 2016, broadening the property beyond car and motorcycle road racing. A chicane variant of the main circuit was introduced in 2020, extending the lap to 2.5 miles and 18 turns, coinciding with MotoAmerica's arrival at the track that year.
Present day
Today The Ridge is a MotoAmerica national superbike venue and a busy regional hub for SCCA and NASA club racing, vintage racing and time-attack events, alongside Hooked on Driving's HPDE program for car drivers and 2Fast's motorcycle track days. Its combination of technical, elevation-rich corners and a scenic Pacific Northwest setting has made it one of the more distinctive club-racing and track-day circuits on the West Coast, drawing drivers and riders from across the Seattle-Tacoma region and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
How long is The Ridge Motorsports Park?+
The Full Circuit is 2.47 miles (3.975 km) with 16 turns; a chicane variant extends it to 2.5 miles and 18 turns.
Where is The Ridge Motorsports Park located?+
Near Shelton, Washington, about an hour's drive south of Seattle on the way to the Olympic Peninsula.
How much elevation change does The Ridge have?+
More than 300 feet across the lap, making it one of the most dramatic elevation profiles among modern purpose-built US road courses.
Can the public drive or ride The Ridge on a track day?+
Yes. Hooked on Driving runs HPDE car track days, 2Fast runs motorcycle track days, and NASA and SCCA hold regular club racing events at the circuit.
Is there camping at The Ridge Motorsports Park?+
Overnight paddock parking is common for event weekends, but the facility does not offer RV hookups or a dump station on-site.
What is The Ridge's biggest race?+
A MotoAmerica national superbike round, held on the Full Circuit with Chicane, is the track's highest-profile annual event.
Other tracks nearby
- Pacific Raceways · 53 mi · road course
- Portland International Raceway · 117 mi · road course
- Westwood Motorsport Park · 143 mi · historic circuit (defunct)
- Area 27 Motorsports Park · 214 mi · road course
- Thunderhill Raceway Park · 535 mi · road course
Facts checked against 4 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-09.