Spud Speedway loses big supporter

Episode 379

October 31, 2021

Charlie

“Did you see my post on Spud Speedway Facebook page this morning,” said Troy Haney as I showed up for work last week?

I replied, “I did not look at Facebook this morning”.

“Charlie Michaud passed away yesterday,” Haney said. “Sad day indeed.”

That is how I found out about the death of one of Spud Speedway’s most fervent supporters whether it was as a racer, Tech Man, or track restoration work. Any successful race track must have a group of locals that will be at the track no matter the circumstances. Charlie was one of those.

Charlie was a fierce competitor and multiple feature and heat race winner at his beloved Spud Speedway. This photo with autograph on front and a personal note on back was sent to race fan Janet Bosse who grew up at the Caribou race track but was away from the area that summer. She was one of Michaud’s loyal fans. (Spud Speedway photo)

Track owner, Troy Haney noted, “Charlie was a true racer, from his perseverance on the track as a racer going up against teams that had more resources or being a tech guy and making sure everyone was safe. He was always there to help out any way he could.”

“He also was really fond of working with the kids when we hosted kart races,” mentioned Haney which was reflected by these comments of Galen Morror.

After winning his first race in Kids Karts, four-year-old Gage Theriault, Limestone, is met by Charlie Michaud who was as pleased to be handing the trophy to Gage as Gage was to win it. (Gage Theriault Racing photo)

“Gage always looked forward to heading into the tech shed to talk over his race and get his trophy,” said Galen Morror. “Charlie was amazing and always took time to help with anything we needed. This picture with Charlie will always hold a special place for all.”

Jimmy Jones, Caribou, has been a technical inspector for countless snowmobile races throughout New England. He shared a bond with Michaud, another technical inspector. Jones said, “It was a thankless job for the most part but it was very rewarding personally and Charlie carried on very exemplary. We would talk at times and bounce ideas, questions, and different scenarios off each other. A great person who will be greatly missed by many.”

Jesse Michaud, Caribou, a racer at Spud Speedway all the way back to his kart racing days in the 90’s shared this story. “Here is my Charlie story for you. This would be around 2010-11 time frame. The Late Model Stock (LMS) cars would always be the last feature and I would be on the radio to Jeff (Willette).”

“Charlie always stood down in front of the pit tower and I would always stand next to him so I could hear Charlie’s radio to know how many laps were left or he would radio over and ask for me if they didn’t say.”

“It was about ¾ of the way through the season and Charlie had these fancy go/ no-go gauges for carburetors. Every week we would pull the carb and he would check it. It got to the point when I would walk down from our pit on the far east side of the pits, I would bring the tools with me before the feature even started so after the race I wouldn’t have to walk back down.”

“In hindsight, Matt Reynolds had a really nice cheated up carb he got caught with a bunch. I think Charlie thought it was going to make its way onto the late model.”

“Anyways this particular night I think they started 7 cars. We were starting the feature much later than usual because of a big pile up in the Super Streets where two cars got hooked together in corner two followed up by an oil down.”

“The LMS feature rolled out and it was caution after caution. They just couldn’t get it going. About 20 laps in everyone is stopped on the front stretch for yet another caution and two of the ‘clean driving-challenged legends’ are now playing bumper cars on the front stretch. One drives over the other, complete mess everywhere.”

“The place is just about deserted by now and we still have 10 laps to go. Charlie is showing his disappointment in everything going on and says something to the effect of never getting out the place.”

“We muddle through the last 10 laps. By now there can’t be 30 people in the pits and I think Marcel and Troy are the only two left in the stands.”

“It’s late, everyone is beat, and ready to not be there. As the cars fire to come into the pits I ask Charlie “You want the carb off I assume? ” .

“He said, ‘yes’, took a step and stopped. Turns and says, ‘Just roll it across the scales, it’s too late to messing with this crap'”.

“For whatever reason we both got a good laugh out of that. The next weekend… we had to pull the carb though, hahaha. He will be missed.”

Anyone who has been to Spud Speedway knows it is a “groundhog gathering area attested by the multiple holes that must be filled before race events. Track owner Haney shared this story about Charlie.

” He hated all the groundhogs residing at the track so he asked me if he could go over and sit in the pit tower and be a ground hog sniper. I said sure you have at it.”

“For the next week or two he would head over after work and sit in the pit tower watching for groundhogs to pop out of their holes in the pits and he would pick them off one-by-one and send me a text when he got one.”

He hated that they we causing so much damage that he wanted to get them out of the ‘Groundhog Condominiums’ also known as Spud Speedway. I hate to report the groundhogs have out lasted our efforts but he was sure happy when he took one or two out a night.”

In 2018, Spud Speedway underwent extensive and expensive renovations in preparation for racing that season. Five hundred and five bleacher boards were replaced onto freshly painted frontstretch bleachers. The fence all around the race track was re-enforced as well as tightened and welding done to shore up the protection for spectators.

The racing surface was repaired with asphalt in all the cracks. Fresh paint was added to the track.

Because of his extensive racing background, Charlie was often the go-to-guy when questions arose about an assortment of situations such as, “How far along the fence are spectators allowed to venture while watching the race?” or “Where do the crew members in the pits stand to watch the race?”

Those answers determined the modifications needed for the protective fence or grading of the banks that make up the barrier of the track.

Charlie was the boom truck operator who along with fellow Haney’s employee Chandler Cole did most of the fencing repairs. It helped that Cole was an experienced fencing installer who owned a fence company in Florida. Charlie was able to bring humor to the days at the track when the crew was up against a hard deadline, race day, to perform all the tasks needed to be ready for racing.

Haney Building Specialties Carpentry crew and Grounds crew worked hard to get the Caribou track ready for racing action. From left to right Jeremy Chasse, Charlie Michaud, Chandler Cole, Jeff Chesnut, Brandon Masse, Galen Poitras, and Tyler Raymond. Not available for the photo were Kevin Masse, Chandler Cole Jr., Logan Malm, and Carson Cole (HTF Motorsports photo)

A private family service will be held. Friends who wish to contribute in memory of Charlie may do so to assist his family C/O Mockler Funeral Home, PO Box 27 or Tammy Michaud, PO Box 234, Caribou, Maine 04736.

Let’s go racing

Tom Hale

Soli Deo Gloria (Matthew 5:16)