Wiscasset Raceway will hold its first race day of the year Sat., Oct. 15.
The decision to hold a race day comes after the fate of the Raceway was left open following the bankruptcy of the track’s owners Doug and Becky White.
Though the Raceway is considered a Limited Liability Company, the Whites served as the track’s only shareholders and the track was included in the bankruptcy proceedings. Under the terms of the bankruptcy, the raceway will remain under the ownership of the Whites for 90 days or until they find a suitable buyer for the property.
According to Tony True, of Wiscasset, who is organizing the event with Dale Chadbourne, of Woolwich, the decision to hold the race in mid-October was made in order to have it take place before the 90-day period ends.
Chadbourne said planning for a small race day for local drivers began a few months ago, but quickly grew in scope as word of mouth spread. True said he and Chadbourne were the only ones “dumb and persistent enough” to volunteer to put this event together,
“We’re just a couple of old race car guys not willing to give up,” Chadbourne said.
Chadbourne said that some 100 people attended a meeting Sept 21 for those willing to help plan the race day.
A race has not been held at the Wiscasset Raceway since last November. True said he was afraid the Town of Wiscasset will act to amend the noise ordinance for the area around the track if a race was not held this year, and the raceway remained closed for an extended period of time.
True said he believes that if the noise ordinance is amended, racing will eventually be prohibited at the site.
Race day is being called “a non-profit event with a twist.” The event will depend on sponsorship money to cover necessary expenditures, including liability insurance, a state permit, advertising, and repairs to the Raceway.
According to True, sponsors will be reimbursed for their donations relative to the amount of money made. If admission fees cover 100 percent of the costs, sponsors will be reimbursed their entire investment. If the race day makes a profit, the profit will be split evenly between every participating race car.
The price of admission will be $5 for both grandstand and pit seats. Gates will open at 7 a.m., with races beginning at noon. Race fans can also get up close and watch the pit crews in action.
“At no other raceway can you do that,” Chadbourne said.
The race day will also require the assistance of several volunteers. Because the Raceway has seen little maintenance over the past year, volunteers are needed for weed-whacking, mowing, and repairing equipment, including a light pole knocked down during Tropical Storm Irene.
Though race classes and rules have yet to be determined, spots will be open for any race car that wants to participate, True wrote in a press release.
True said that he is aiming for 12 race classes and 120 drivers from throughout the region.
Though Chadbourne and True will not be racing, they will be represented on the track by their sons Thomas True and Adam Chadbourne.
Despite the hard work ahead, True expressed his excitement that a race day was finally in the works.
“It’s going to be a fun day,” True said. “It’s been a lot of work to get to this point.”
Prospective volunteers and sponsors are asked to call Tony True at 350-0918 or Dale Chadbourne at 442-8489.
