It’s a well-known fact that time, like an ever rolling river, moves on endlessly. Time and history go hand in hand with the latter becoming a record of life’s events as time passes. But for local area race fans and racing history buffs, the hands of time not only stopped for a while Sunday, but virtually turned back some 30 years.
Under some of the finest weather of the summer, 600 to 700 race fans and enthusiasts turned out to view the more than 50 vintage race cars and many displays at this year’s Summerfest Vintage Race Car Show at Beech Ridge Speedway.
In what can be best described as a milestone for vintage motor sports in Maine, the restored race cars of Dick 1960s – started the on-track activity at 2:30 by stepping out of the pages of history to circle the 1/3-mile oval slowly together for several laps in a three-wide procession to pay tribute to three of the Pine Tree State’s top racers and hall of famers.
Behind the wheel of the long awaited and much talked about Drew/Bushley P-38 was owner/rebuilder Phil Foster of Gray. Driving the “Blue Deuce” #2 of Dick Garrett was owner/restorer Steve Pellerin along with passenger Linda Garrett Feurgenson, daughter of Dick Garrett.
In the reworked and repainted Libby #99 was son Steve Libby. Representing six championships and hundreds of wins, the historic race cars slowly circled the track to cheers from the crowd. Judging from the emotional reactions, everyone was pleased.
From its humble beginnings four years ago to the state’s largest gathering of vintage race cars, the event has grown dramatically, a testament to the rise in its popularity. Thus there was no one else on hand Sunday who more appreciated the festivities more than 96-year-old J.B. McConnell, the “Father of Racing” in Maine. In 1948 it was McConnell who bought a piece of land in Scarborough on Holmes Road where there stood an overgrown horse race track formerly called Ling Raceway.
Despite being tossed out of 13 banks, McConnell eventually built Beech Ridge by himself and opened Maine’s first auto race track in 1949. No doubt he was very pleased and proud that so many remember.
Sunday’s lineup included antique race cars from the Maine Vintage Race Car Association, the Wicked Good Racing Association of Central Maine, as well as cars from the reactivated NESMRA Supermodified Group, New England Antique Racers and Senior Tour Auto Racers.
Additionally, some two dozen street rods and rat rods were on hand. Race cars came from Massachussttes and New Hampshire and from the far northern reaches of Maine. Modifieds, supermodifieds, bombers, late models and jalopies were everywhere to be seen. Cars like the famous Rocket #98 of Unity Legend Blackie Hilliard along the #1 1932 Ford Coupe of Bangor’s Wild Bill Carleton.
Many newly restored race cars were on hand making their debut including the Gassett Family #62 Bomber, a 1948 Ford Coupe along with the #24 Supermodified of Rick Hannon of North Saco. The children of the late Phil Libby not only had their dad’s redone car there, but also brought his huge collection of racing memorabilia.
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Steve Pellerin is a member of MVRCA, NEAR, and Wicked Good Assc. Additionally, a selection committee member for the Maine Motorsports and New England Auto Racing Halls Of Fame, he is the owner of 9 vintage race cars.
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