Snowmobile Drag Racing at Northern Maine Fairgrounds Saturday

Episode 127

October 16, 2016

Work on the surface to be used by the Central Maine Snowmobile Race Association (CMSRA) on the pulling track at the Northern Maine Fair. Rick Guerrette photo

Work on the surface to be used by the Central Maine Snowmobile Race Association (CMSRA) grass drags to be held on the pulling track at the Northern Maine Fair. Rick Guerrette photo

Snowmobile Drag Racing Coming to Fairgrounds

The sound of high performance snowmobile engines is coming to the Northern Maine Fairgrounds Saturday October 22 at 3 pm. Racers will notice that the truck and tractor pulling surface has been extended into the fourth turn area to allow snowmobile racers more room to slow down their sleds after making a run.

In conversations with Rick Guerrette of Presque Isle, one of the race organizers, the extended track will allow the grass drags to run at the Fairgrounds and have a safe runoff area. The race length will be a full 400 feet as a results of the modifications.

A view of the race track as it extends into turn four area of the horse racing track. This will be the stopping portion of the track. Rick Guerrette photo

A view of the race track as it extends into turn four area of the horse racing track. This will be the stopping portion of the track. Rick Guerrette photo

Guerrette said, “Snow sled drag racing will be Oct 22nd at 3:00 PM under the lights at the Presque Isle Fairgrounds. There will be 100% payback rain or shine. Sponsored by Harry’s Motorsports, Mike Cowett Autobody, Big Cheese Pizza, The Sled Shop, Townsquare Media, and Nichols Earth Design.”

” The lineup of classes being run at the Presque Isle race includes, Stock 500-600-700-800-1000, Improved Stock 500-600-700-800-1000, and Pro Stock 600.”

Vintage Single Cylinder, Vintage Multi Cylinder. Vintage is 1986 and older. Both engine and sled have to be pre 1986.”

“Kitty Kat/120’s also will run”.

“Tether switches are MANDATORY in ALL classes.IS 700,800 and Pro Stock 600 will be run as shootout classes.”

Admission is $10 and children under 12 free. The gates will open at noon on race day. Food vendors will be present.

Oxford Native In NASCAR Round of 8

With the Kevin Harvick win at Kansas Speedway, Oxford native Michael "Shrek" Morneau once again finds himself in Victory Circle. The win secured the team's appearance in the Round of  8 and better his chances to be on the Sprint Cup Championship winning team. The Maine native is the rear tire carrier for the Stewart-Haas Kevin Harvick #4 car. Photo courtesy Mike Monroe

With the Kevin Harvick win at Kansas Speedway, Oxford native Michael “Shrek” Morneau once again finds himself in Victory Circle. The win secured the team’s appearance in the Round of 8 and better his chances to be on the Sprint Cup Championship winning team. The Maine native is the rear tire carrier for the Stewart-Haas Kevin Harvick #4 car. Photo courtesy Mike Morneau

Update on Brenda Sue Carver

Brenda Sue Carver from Seguin, Texas was severely injured on her racing motorcycle in an 140 mph off-course excursion on September 4, 2016 at Loring Timing Association’s Harvest Land Speed Event.

As reported last week she is in the rehabilitation phase of her recovery from multiple broken bones, abrasions, and amputation of her right leg just above her knee.

According to her daughter Shanna Carver-Hunter, Brenda Sue is being discharged from Eastern Maine Medical Center on Monday (October 17) and will be flying to Nashville, Tennessee to spend three days with Brenda’s sister.

Her home in Texas is being modified to accommodate her medical condition which requires a wheelchair to get around. The family hopes she will be admitted to in-patient rehab while in Texas to continue to heal.

Such a traumatic injury is not only difficult for the injured person, it is extremely stressful for the family members who will be caring for her in the short-term as well as long-term.

I would guess that most readers have had to deal with either aging parents or relatives or with someone who has been injured.  You probably know many of the necessary decisions that must be made to ensure adequate care. This takes much time and money as well as many tears.

If you have not yet considered helping the family with medical costs you might want to consider checking out one of the two GoFundMe accounts set up in Brenda Sue’s name to help this family in need. Nearly $5000 in travel costs alone have occurred since the admission to the Bangor hospital in early September.

In addition to financial help would you consider sending get well cards over the next several days and months. Tuck a few handwritten comments in your card. I know Facebook and email is available, however, not much beats a card in the mail during the difficult days ahead for Brenda Sue and her family.

Brenda Sue’s mailing address is:

Brenda Sue Carver

911 Reiley Road

Seguin, TX 78154

She and the family covets your prayers as they venture into unknown territory which can at time be overwhelming and even terrifying.

Team JRT Reaches Goal at Richmond Karting Speedway (RKS)

Caribou High School Freshman Damian Theriault with the checkered flag after winning the RKS Halloween Howler Animal Engine class. Team JRT photo

Caribou High School Freshman Damian Theriault with the checkered flag after winning the RKS Halloween Howler Animal Engine class. Team JRT photo

Caribou based Team JRT had a goal of winning a race at the Richmond Karting Speedway’s Halloween Howler in Richmond, Maine today. That goal was achieved in the Animal Engine Senior Sportsman class. After finishing 6th in the Senior Sportsman class Damian Theriault moved to the front to win the Animal Engine class.

Podium finishers at RKS Halloween Howler Animal Engine class L to r 4th place Chris Dresser, 3rd place Marcel Bossie, 2nd Kate Re, and winner Damian Theriault. team JRT photo

Podium finishers at RKS Halloween Howler Animal Engine class L to r 4th place Chris Dresser, 3rd place Marcel Bosse, 2nd Kate Re, and winner Damian Theriault. Team JRT photo

BAS Racing's Bryan Searles on left being interviewed by You Tube comedian Little Peters of  Words of Wisdom fame prior to the start of his race at RKS. Searles finished the race despite a sheared key. BAS Racing photo

BAS Racing’s Bryan Searles on left being interviewed by You Tube comedian Little Peters of Words of Wisdom fame prior to the start of his race at RKS. Searles finished the race despite a sheared key. BAS Racing photo

Career Day at Presque Isle High School Friday

For the second year in a row I have the privilege to address students interested in “Careers in Motorsports” as part of Presque Isle High School’s “Career Day”. I will be showing the pathways that some people from Maine have taken to pursue a career in the motorsports industry.

I will be sharing words of wisdom from Austin Theriault, Honda’s Philip LaPointe, Michael Morneau of Stewart Haas Racing, Steve Doody formerly with Joe Gibbs Racing and WAR Crew Chief and Hall of Famer Bobby Alexander.. I will be giving away  passes from my sponsor Maine Indoor Karting in Scarborough as well as t-shirts from another sponsor Pyrotect Safety Gear out of Redmond, Oregon.

I hope to have a couple of racing machines present so students can get an up-close look. These race cars  are the same that  some local folks use to  participate in races in Maine, New England, as well as the Maritimes. I look forward to sharing with interested students..

Tailgating With Former NFL Player Joe Jackson

Tail gate with Joe

Saturday at 11:30 am, I along with many men in the area, will be Tailgating with Joe at the Activity Center across from Reno’s Restaurant.in Caribou. I have never had a tailgating experience, at least this type of tailgating with B-B-Q ribs and all the fix ins. I have only met a few NFL players as well.

Joe has a message for the men of our area about our role in society today as well as our responsibilities to our family and friends. If you would like to join in the Tailgate Party, which is alcohol-free, call Caribou Assembly of God at 207 493-3158 or find them on Facebook for information.

Let’s Go Racing!

Tom Hale

Soli Deo Gloria

 

 

 

 

Tom Hale

About Tom Hale

Tom wrote 14 years as freelancer for the Bangor Daily Sports covering motorsports in Maine. Now blogging and concentrating on human interest stories about people and places in racing. He races Champ Karts and owns HTF Motorsports in remote Westmanland, Maine