Up next Feed the County 150

Episode 428

June 24, 2023

Maine Outlaw Midget Series

A new racing series is making its debut in 2024 under the leadership of Thorndike’s Barry Tweedie. The veteran racer feels that folks want to race a car that does not require a large investment in time and equipment yet yields excitement galore.

Tweedie purchased a host of Pro Sprints from Canada and has converted them to conform to the series rules. They feature 550 cc air-cooled snowmobile engines, typically Polaris, which drives a solid rear axle. Adjustable springs and shocks at each corner allow adjustments similar to what a late model may have.

With 7-inch racing slicks and an adjustable roof mounted wing, the cars can be tuned to stick to the track allowing laptimes similar to the super late models at most tracks according to Tweedie.

Despite a wet track at the monster truck show, the Maine Outlaw Midget Series cars that were at the track put on a lively show which seemed to be enjoyed by the fans.

Five racers will be at the Spud Speedway Feed the County race July 2nd. Tweedie is building another which he hopes to have ready for the September 17th race at Spud Speedway.

Coming next weekend

On the local scene more and more news is coming out of Spud Speedway. The track has lingered in relative obscurity for the last 8 years since stock cars were regulars at the track. The past several years have seen the Pro All Stars Series become regulars as funds for Feed the County have become the focal point for racing at the Caribou race track.

With the success of The Snow Bowl in March, it seems like the one-third mile oval is getting some attention with the recent Monster Truck Nitro Tour with 2 shows on June 17. Despite cold weather with rain showers, over 1400 monster truck enthusiasts came out to see the show.

Though not a Spud Speedway staffed event, the monster trucks seemed to bring a degree of excitement to the County. It is almost like a warm-up for future motorsports and related events at the Thompson Road location.

The weekend of July 1st and 2nd at Spud Speedway promises a broad spectrum of happenings which will appeal to young and old including Saturday’s Brian’s Ride Cancer Fund Motorcycle Ride and Show, Bounce House, multiple food trucks, concert by the ever-popular Star City Syndicate and fireworks show.

Sunday motorsports takes center stage with the return of the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models for the Feed the County 150 lap feature and the fan favorite PASS Modifieds 50 lap race. The Maine Outlaw Midget Series will be making their Spud Speedway debut. The ever popular Enduro class will bring the crowd to their feet with hair-raising action on the track.

The fall season will feature the first Dust Bowl sponsored by Outlaw Mowing September 14-17, 2023. The list of events seems to grow weekly and will probably change before you read this episode. So far:

Rave X Stunt Show Drive-In Laser Show Zip lines Axe throwing Food trucks Fireworks Enduro Races Snowmobile grass drags Truck and Tractor pulls Burn Out competition Demo Derby finale Maine Outlaw Midget Series race and probably more

Updates on Sting Ray Robb 

Rookie IndyCar driver Sting Ray Robb record so far in 2023:

Season opener St. Petersburgh Qualify 23 Finish 16

Texas Motor Speedway Qualify 23 Finish 23

Long Beach Grand Prix Qualify 21 Finish 18

Barber Motorsports Park Qualify 23 Finish 27

GMR Grand Prix at Indy Qualify 22 Finish last

Indy 500 Qualify 31 Finish 31

Detroit Street Course Qualify 26 Finish 22

Road America Qualify 22 Finish 25

Kody Swanson Updates

Another driver that UpNorth Motorsports continues to follow is Kingsburg, California’s Kody Swanson. I first met him and his wife Jordan in the late 2000’s. The way I met was through his membership in the National FFA organization.

USAC Silver Crown results

May 20 Belleville High Banks, Brady Bacon winner, Swanson 2nd

May 26 Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, winner Bobby Santos III, Swanson 19th

June 17 Port Royal Speedway, winner Logan Seavey, Swanson 5th

June 23 Madison International Speedway, winner Kody Swanson

USAC Silver Crown points

Logan Seavey 256                                Kody Swanson 235

Justin Grant 164                                    Matt Westfall 163

Mario Clouser 160

500 Sprint Tour Series

Glen Niebel Classic, Anderson Speedway April 8, Swanson Q 1 Finish 5 (winner Kyle O’Gara)

Berlin Speedway, June 10, Swanson Q 3 Finish 4 (winner Tyler Roahrig)

Toledo Speedway, June 18, Swanson Q 1 Finish 1

Points

Tyler Roahrig 605                                              Kody Swanson 601

Dakoda Armstrong 565                                      Bobby Santos III 561

Kyle O’Gara 552

Next race Saturday July 6, The Gene Nolan Classic at Anderson Speedway

Contesting The Great Race from Maine

While in Bangor, Maine attending a Christian concert on the waterfront, I noticed a commotion on the street bordering the venue. Driving by me were participants in The Great Race 2018. They started in Buffalo, New York and were on their way to Halifax, Nova Scotia. I was excited to see the colorful variety of antique cars competing in a Time Distance Rally (TDR).

I did not pay a great deal of attention until I wrote about New Sweden’s Lance Lagasse in Episode 419 February 5, 2023 and his experience in the Restoration Science program at McPherson College, McPherson, Kansas. When I asked if he knew any grads from McPherson who were back in Maine, he mentioned Philip  Reinhardt.

Philip Reinhardt, 26 years-old, went to work in a restoration shop in Massachusetts for a couple years after graduating from McPherson College. He then opened Mechanical Arts restoration shop in Tenants Harbor in a former boat shop.

John Harris, South Bristol, Maine, connected with Reinhardt and conversation ensued about Philip going along with Harris’ car in this year’s race. Rinehart is the navigator/riding mechanic on the 1931 Reo driven by John Harris’s son Charles from Damariscotta. Charles is an antiques dealer.

The race runs from St Augustine, Florida to Colorado Springs, Colorado June 24 to July 2, 2023.  The support/transport trailer is driven by John Harris. Once the car gets to Colorado Springs the driver and navigator will fly back to Maine while John Harris and his wife transport the racer back to Maine.

On Friday the Maine Boyz II competed in the warmup race trophy run.

The 2024 version of the Great Race will begin in Kentucky and end in Gardiner, Maine at Peter Prescott’s business EJP.

Let’s go racing,

Tom Hale

Soli Deo Gloria (Matthew 5:16)