Why wait until you are sixteen to drive a car?

Downhill derby gravity racers where you and your son, daughter, nephew, neighbor study the course, talk about aerodynamics to make the car whiz by the crowd faster. Houton Maine's annual Northern ME race that started in 1996 had the honor for five years of being the largest derby event in the country. The stock, superstock and masters car racing event is held on a specially engineered derby hill designed to prepare racers for the Akron, Ohio Alll American Soap Box Derby Race held in late July each year. I have been past derby race director and lucky enough to have a son Alex and daughter Amanda win the largest local race and head to Akron two times. My job was Mr Goodwrench and 95% is the driver, their focus, consistency. We used to travel to New Hampshire for the kids to race and sharpen their skills.

The Houlton Maine group of workers is over 60 volunteers and that is why the race is so big year after year. Nascar like excitement, graphics, family pit crews, friendly spirited competition with down hill derby cars.

One year nearly 200 kids from Northern Washington, Penobscot, and Aroostook County learned the "Thrill of the Hill."  Watch one of our Houlton Maine derby race videos below. This year's Derby Director Danny Emerson says "Trial run is June, 18^th. Race date June 19^th. Rain date June 20^{th ".}

^{Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers}

 

 

 

Why Wait Until You Are 16 To Drive A Car.

The Video For The Houlton Maine, Derby Hill Northern ME Soap Box Derby Race And We Saved You A Seat Track Side, Under A Tarp With Some Good Food, Friendly Race Fans And Local Community Aroostook/Penobscot/Washington County Family Sporting Fun! This Is One More Local Events That Draws Racers, Their Parents, Supporters From Two Hours Away To Experience "The Thrill Of The Hill!"

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Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers - Maine Families Make Their Own Home Made Local Community Fun.

Visit The Northern Maine Soap Box Derby Website!

Lots and lots of new car racers for the Northern Maine Soap Box Derby Race.

Watch the movie highlights of the derby tech day, trial runs to get the drivers ready for the big race June 20th, 2009.

Houlton Maine's race was the largest in the nation five years running.

Kids in this 14th day of racing on our own engineered hill learn the "Thrill of the Hill. Visit the NMSBD website.

Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers - Maine is local community minded folks who cherish families.

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The warmer days, stronger sun mean time to prepare for the 14th annual Northern Maine Soap Box Derby race. For five years running, the Houlton Maine race was the largest in the country with close to 200 racers each year!

Race directors Danny/Leslie Emerson say its time to start looking for car sponsors, digging out older cars to do the safety updates and to start thinking derby race. "The Thrill Of The Hill" is on a specially engineered hill modeled after the world series of derby racing in Akron Ohio. It makes it so much easier to have rallies in the spring and fall and to run the annual race. This year's race is June 20th.

     Visit the NMSBD Site, All American Soap Box Derby Site and sit back..watch the highlights of the 2008 Northern Maine race below! Designed for racers 8 to 17 with three divisions..it is gravity car racing..like NASCAR but no engines. Kids are lined up with a heat sheet, two trips down the hill with an "A" and "B" phase to race for the best electric eye time. Wheels are swapped after "A" phase to keep it competitive. The 14th races is put on by roughly 60 volunteers and hundreds of racers / families that travel from up to two hours away to "Learn The Thrill Of The Hill!"Mark Bossie has a little talk with each drive to make sure they are ready when the green light turns on and he gets the clear to launch voice signal. This is a trial run for new racers the afternoon before the big race.

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Bonfires, arena and outside skating, ice fishing derby, a snowmobile parade

thru town, free pass to movie theatre, a Moosestomper's Ball, baked bean supper, sled poker run, half dollar scramble, horse drawn sleigh rides, cross country skiing, winter games and sliding down "Derby Hill" .... Maine winters..we celebrate them, not hibernate.  The weather is predicted to be super..blue skies, crisp air and kids laughing as they scramble in the half dollar search in different age groups and play in other family fun games and events in Houlton Maine.  "The Moose Is Loose!" idea came from past Houlton town manager Alan Bean who was the commander of Loring Air Force Base in Limestone where the event first started. With the closure of LAB, the winter celebration moved to the Shiretown as the new venue.  Road signs are put up reminding all to be on the look out for local home grown fun. The best part? It's free and family oriented.  Kids know how to have fun and when they grow up they carry on the local community service event for the benefit of the entire area. Local motels have snowsledders coming in from local Linneus, Littleton, Island Falls and Oakfield Maine snowmobile clubs. With 3500 miles of snow sled trails to see Northern Maine and Aroostook County, this weekend..consider traveling to Houlton Maine. You don't have to have a snowsled to enjoy all the local events either. Drive to the sled club suppers and breakfast and visit the Farmer's Museum in Littleton for a specially planned weekend.

Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers - Maine Real Estate And Area Flavor Coverage