Ever wonder just how fast that sweet Mopar in your garage can go? Want to see if your brand-new Charger is all it’s cracked up to be? Don’t risk your driver’s license (or, worse, that pricey paint job) by getting into an illegal street race on the parkway after dark. Instead, head on up to Loring Air Force Base in far northern Maine for a weekend like no other.
Everyone knows about the world’s greatest land-speed venue, Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats. But with the salt growing thinner each year, more and more racers are looking for new venues to race and one of the best for hobby racers is also one of the most obscure: Loring, Maine.
North of Caribou and within spitting distance of Canada, Loring Air Force Base offers a great site for racing: the world’s 13th and 14th longest runways. As you zoom down the pavement, you can get your speed checked at both mile and mile-and-a-half traps with a long shutdown and excellent return road. On an average race weekend, racers might get in anywhere from 10 to 15 passes—well more than the two to five runs you might get at Bonneville or another better-known venue.
Maine’s cool temperatures also help the speed machines operate their best. At July’s Maine Event, hosted by the Loring Timing Association, racers set 311 new records over 740 total runs, with an average speed in the vicinity of 152 miles per hour. Event organizers expect conditions for the Harvest Event, held September 4-6, to be even better.
Land-speed racing offers a way to truly test your car’s top speed in a safe, accurate way without the potential for mishaps you might find on the highway, drag strip, or road-racing course. There are no other competitors on the track at the same time as you—it’s just you against the timer in a mile or mile and a half all-out run. Best of all, it’s open to all kinds of cars and motorcycles: You don’t need a custom-made bellytanker or aero bike. Land-speed racers run everything from vintage Plymouths and Chevys to street-legal daily drivers like BMWs and Nissans and high-powered Hayabusa bikes. One racer on the East Coast is well-known for his modified Crosley, while another has a tricked-out Yaris.
You don’t need much to join the fun—just a car or bike that can pass a basic safety inspection, along with some simple safety gear. For car drivers, that means a Snell-rated helmet, natural-fiber clothes (cotton, wool, or silk; polyester and other artificial fibers can melt if there’s a fire), and leather shoes. If you really want to be safe, grab a set of fire-resistant gloves and some Carbonex socks. For bikers, you’ll need a crash-approved helmet and a full set of leathers. If you want to push your car past 135 MPH, you might want to consider a five-point harness and a roll bar, although these aren’t mandatory until the 150 MPH class.
Don’t feel like messing with your car’s interior? If you qualify for the new Supercar class, you may not have to. Modern muscle cars like the latest Camaro, Viper, or Charger may be allowed to run without a harness or cage; check the rule book and with the event organizers before hitting the track to see if your car is eligible.
For more information, check out the Loring Timing Association website, LoringTiming.com. You can get more information on events, registration, classes, and preparation and get directions if you plan to join in.
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