  We study the absorption lines present in the spectra of the long-period
cataclysmic variable GK Per during its quiescent state, which are associated
with the secondary star. By comparing quiescent data with outburst spectra we
infer that the donor star appears identical during the two states and the inner
face of the secondary star is not noticeably irradiated by flux from the
accreting regions. We obtain new values for the radial velocity semi-amplitude
of the secondary star, Kk = 120.5 +- 0.7 km/s, a projected rotational velocity,
Vksin i = 61.5 +- 11.8 km/s and consequently a measurement of the stellar mass
ratio of GK Per, q = Mk/Mwd = 0.55 +- 0.21. The inferred white dwarf radial
velocities are greater than those measured traditionally using the wings of
Doppler-broadened emission lines suspected to originate in an accretion disk,
highlighting the unsuitability of emission lines for mass determinations in
cataclysmic variables. We determine mass limits for both components in the
binary, Mk >= 0.48 +- 0.32 Msolar and Mwd >= 0.87 +- 0.24 Msolar.
