Episode 376
September 19, 2021
Motorsports activity in Ashland proves a point
This summer Aroostook County experienced several motorsports events including RC racing at Loring, two Loring Timing Association races, Cumberland Motor Club Mega Autocross at Loring, and the Northern Maine Fair. After witnessing the Big Woods Grass Drags put on by Ashland Snowmobile Club and Portage Lakers, I was thoroughly impressed with the preparation put into the venue and the race personnel. (And unlike winter racing, I did not freeze my tail off!)
Upon arrival, as a media member, I was introduced to Alecia Rafford, PR Director for Big Woods, who answered some questions and promptly provided information such as results, entrant numbers, and crowd estimates. That does not always happen at many tracks where I have covered races. Thank you, Alecia.
Fort Kent’s McBrearity brings home top prizes
The 3rd Annual Big Woods Grass Drags got underway with 89 registered sleds and over 800 spectators on site. A rainstorm at noon stopped racing which would resume in about an hour and a half under clearing skies.
That is when Fort Kent’s Kyle McBrearity came alive in his ProMod 2013 Arctic Cat 1100 Turbo strutted its stuff. The always competitive class with Ryan Kelly and Andrew Paradis provided the competition for the $2500 top prize. That was also the finishing order for the Pro Mod.
Rossignol takes 4 class wins
Woodland native, Ethan Rossignol showed why he is always a threat when he shows up for the drag races when he took four of the five events he entered, Rossignol described the effort like this, “Yesterday was another fun filled day of racing for Team OCD Racing, We had some strong arms behind both of the machines that were ran, I can’t thank all my help enough!”
“We started out on the right path, everything seemed to be working very well, without making any changes throughout the day (except belt swaps). We conquered 3 out of the 4 classes that were run with the 700. Although we didn’t end up taking home the 800-shoot-out class like we had in the previous race at BIG WOODS GRASS DRAGS, we know we had the potential to do so.”
“Unfortunately, being a little too trigger happy at the line in the quarter-final knocked us right off the podium all together. As they say sometimes the anticipation can just simply get the best of you.”
“For me, the best part about the whole day was coming home to a young boy with a big smile on his face, who just can’t seem to stop talking and asking questions about doing some more racing! You make me so proud Jaxson Lee! Thank you all once again for you lively support and efforts that were had all around! ”
In memory of Dad
Jay Thompson, Caribou, had a special reason for racing his vintage Polaris Centurion. He mentioned that Saturday would have been his father, Wendell’s 90th birthday. I believe this was his first race on grass with the Centurion.
The first run started out fine until he lost the tether and shut off before the finish. Thompson realized that the gear swap made the night before resulted in the gear ratio being too low.
He had to settle for a third in Stock 500 after losing to Woodland’s Jesse Taggett “The day was amazing”, he said!
Long distance win
Rain plays in his favor
First time racers
And the final results:
Beech Ridge Motor Speedway to hold finale
As announced in the last episode of UpNorth Motorsports, Beech Ridge Motor Speedway has been sold to a developer signaling the end of racing at the Scarborough race track. The popular track opened in 1949 as a dirt track before making the transition to pavement.
The following statement was released by race officials about the season finale:
“Beech Ridge is pleased to offer bonus season’s wrap-up special event for Pro Series, Sport Series and Wildcat teams on Sunday, Sept. 26th. The extra-distance races for all three divisions will be highlighted by a $3,000-to-win Pro Series 100 lap main event! Sport Series and Wildcat teams will enjoy 50-lap main events.”
Let’s go racing,
Tom Hale
Soli Deo Gloria (Matthew 5:16)