| Jim
McConnell's interest in auto racing began long before the
Scarborough resident ever thought of building his own track.
While
working as an aircraft mechanic in East Boston,
Massachusetts in the 1930's, he became friends with others
who an interest in racing.
When
'J.B.' returned to Maine, he and a bunch of racers began racing
at several of the fairground tracks. Believing he could build
and operate a race track, 'J.B.' and a number of fellow racing
enthusiasts cleared a parcel of land in Scarborough to build a
track.
On
Memorial Day weekend in 1949, Jim McConnell swung open the gates
for the first auto racing program at Beech Ridge Speedway. 'J.B."
owned and operated Beech Ridge for 24 years, selling the
speedway in 1973.
Jim
founded the Maine State Stock Car Racing Association in 1949 and
served four terms as president.
Jim
McConnell is a member of the Beech Ridge Speedway Hall of Fame.
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