Welcome to FantasySpeedway.ME

{Click on any photo to enlarge}

Fantasy Speedway Historical Racing Assn. is an enthusiastic gathering of special folks who love stock car racing as it was back in its formative days here in Maine.  “Fantasy Speedway” is committed to preserving the history of this exciting dirt track racing era, and sharing it with all of you.  Many of us dreamed of a day when flathead Fords, “stovebolt” Chevys, and in-line Mopars might once again join together and replay that beautiful old music on the primitive dirt tracks of yesteryear. Yet it ended 5 decades ago; nevermore to be enjoyed and appreciated for what it was, nor remembered for its contribution to automobile racing history here in the State of Maine.

Automobile production ceased following the attack on Pearl Harbor, resulting in only a few 1942 models making it to showrooms. Leftover 1941 models and the limited production 1942 models quickly became military staff cars, as car manufacturers converted to wartime production.  America’s young men and women committed themselves to achieving victory and freedom for all of us; and times were tough, especially for those risking it all.

With no new cars, nor parts to repair the old ones, wartime workers and their families coaxed, enticed, persuaded, wheedled, and patched the car they had already worn out, in order to make it through the war years.

1946 brought better times for families as military personnel began returning home, and automobile production began anew, primarily with warmed over 1942 model automobiles. The 1930′s thru 1941 model year cars that had managed to get people through the war disappeared down behind the barn or out back into the woods, or sometimes to the local automobile graveyard. And there they sat.

In 1949, auto manufacturers presented America with newly designed cars like nothing that had been seen before. These cars were a major departure from the cars of old, both in styling and engineering, and america was once again on the road !

Our wartime heros were still in the process of extricating themselves from the horrors and pressures of military action, and were game for most anything that could push those unpleasant memories aside, or provide them with an adrenaline “rush”.  Southern boys had already converted some of their old “moonshine” cars for organized competition in a neighbor’s back field, or at an old fairgrounds dirt horse track.

Maine was not far behind, as this sport called “Stock Car Racing” began in earnest during 1949; and Maine’s young men and women were ready. By 1950, Maine may have had as many as 15 dirt tracks operating on a weekly basis.  Those once discarded 30′s and 40′s automobiles again found a place within the family structure, as they were pulled out of the Maine woods, fired up, and converted to racing automobiles in only a day or two. Maine’s dirt ovals soon flourished as old family sedans, farmer’s pickup trucks, and an occasional doctor’s or salesman’s coupe hit the dirt running.  And Mainer’s were rocking !

The 1950′s was the day of the “Jalopy” style racer – the era that began it all – for THESE were the original STOCK CARS.  1936 Chevrolets, ’38 Plymouths, ’40 Fords and an occasional Cord, Terraplane, or Lafayette broadsided their way around Maine’s many dirt ovals.   As stock car racing in Maine “progressed” toward more modern, more sophisticated, and more expensive racing machinery; racing ovals correspondingly evolved toward more professional appearing facilities and efficiencies eventually bringing about the demise of dirt based stock car racing activities, along with the excitement and thrills closely associated with Maine dirt.  In the process of these changes, the greater excitement and enjoyment attached to dirt style racing got lost and nearly forgotten here in Maine.  Many other states, however, never did lose the attraction and enthusiasm for racing on the dirt, and maintain their dirt heritage to this day.  It is reported that dirt tracks still outnumber paved racing facilities in the US.

Speed itself has been for sale for many decades, and can certainly be purchased today if one has sufficient money to invest in race car components.  Race cars now employ sophistication and engineering never dreamed of back in the day when it all began.  Today, race cars often arrive piece-by-piece in brown or white trucks and are merely assembled on site.  Money tends to be the prevalent construction method these days; the end result of which can and too often does result in conflict and animosities taking place both off and on the race track.

But ours was a different time, when you began with an old car, did only what you had to do to get it going, used what you had or “fudged it” in some way that worked, and went racing!  Terms like “tubular frame”, “jacking bolt”, “wedge”, “slicks”, “racing shock”, or “coilovers” did not yet exist.  Fun with your friends, your brother, or your Dad was the motivation and who took home the paycheck was of far less importance.  And helping the other guy was the way it was done.

We hold the same philosophy today as the olde-timers did in the beginning, and continually strive to maintain this historically significant racing era as authentically and as honestly as we are able to do fifty-five years later.

We are indeed most fortunate to have the “funnest” and “cutest” race cars of all time, and we are happy to share with you the sights, the sounds, the excitement, and the action of this almost forgotten stock car phenomenon; so that it may continue bringing understanding, appreciation, and excitement to many generations in the future.

Our “living museum” of racing history is located on Reynolds Road in Unity Plantation, just “down the road a piece” from the Unity Raceway of olde (#139 north) toward Benton/Waterville.  This facility is offered for our use by Mr. Ed Picard; a gentleman, supporter, and fellow enthusiast of true early era stock car racing.

Years of work by our vintage racing enthusiasts and volunteers has succeeded in producing a racing facility reminiscent of the simpler and more primitive times in which our race cars lived and “played”, right down to our era correct track service vehicles.

Although we have been having fun as a club since the summer of 2004, “Fantasy Speedway” officially became available for public enjoyment on July 18, 2010.  This facility appears to be the only racetrack in the U.S.A. operating on a non-profit basis, and as a fully volunteer operation, “just for the love of it”.

There are no purses or trophies for the drivers.  There is no reward beyond a few minutes of celebrity for the first to cross the finish line.  The true reward comes in “turning right to go left”, having fun with one’s family and friends, and sharing all of this with YOU !

Winning, for us, is no longer defined by the car first to take the checkered.  We ALL become winners each time the green flag flies over our vintage race car, regardless of our finishing position.  Spectators too become winners, for one can once again enjoy the experience, the excitement, the music, and the fun these olde race cars still generate today.

We neither choreograph our racing events nor predetermine finishing positions, for our goal is to demonstrate all aspects of 50′s era stock car racing as accurately as possible.  Anything but honest racing would be false. They did not “fake it” then, and we will not “fake it” now.

Over one third of our vintage race cars are original 50′s era stock cars rescued from mother nature and restored as accurately as possible; while the others are newly built in the old fashioned way from antique autos we have found that escaped the racing scene the first time around.

The one exception we make to originality is where safety is concerned.  Roll cages are either new design or significantly upgraded originals; and safety harnesses, seats, and helmets are much different from those fashionable 50 years ago.  We all wish to go home at the conclusion of our race day and experience has already proven that honest racing of our vintage cars means that we WILL encounter hard hits and find ourselves upside down on occasion.

Thanks, Sam

The laughter, the smiles, and the amicable “ribbing” you hear coming from our pit area demonstrates that same joviality and fellowship as was experienced during the 1950′s.  This is, by itself, a welcome relief from the turbulence and animosity that too often appears in today’s racing environment.

Whether it is donating engines or other critical parts to our friends; working  as part of a team to repair a competitor’s car for the feature; encouraging, assisting, and frequently “cheering” for the other fellow; or swapping cars for the next race; sportsmanship is the name of the game here at Fantasy Speedway.

Having this much fun with our olde race cars, as well as enjoying the friendship of those who build and race them with us, was for many years quite improbable at best.  Yet here we are today, a mere 50 or more years later, undertaking this wild adventure together; and sharing our fun with you.  It is a remarkably good day !