MEMORIES

NORRIDGEWOCK

RACE TRACK

 

 

 

The Norridgewock Race Track opened for stock car racing on Sunday, May 6, 1951 and operated for only one season. The Farrin Brothers & Smith, a construction company in Brighton, bought the Norridgewock Fairgrounds and converted the half-mile dirt track for stock car racing. Many of the top drivers raced at Norridgewock, including Ray Fanning, George Silva and Russ Longley to name a few.

Even though Norridgewock Race Track was a success in the grandstands, had strong fields of stock cars and was financially successful, owners Tom and Lyman Farrin and Lea Smith elected to sell the track at the end of the 1951 season to concentrate on their construction business. The new owner was more interested in horse racing then stock car racing. The Norridgewock Race Track never held another stock car race.

Norridgewock Race Track was located two miles south of Norridgewock on Route 8 on the left. The track sat only about 50 feet off of Route 8 with turns three and four of the track towards the road. The outline of the half-mile track is still visible.

 

The flagman walks between the row of stock cars before the start of the race. In an effort to keep dust at a minimum, used motor oil was spread on the dirt racing surface on the morning of the afternoon's races.

 

At race tracks all over Maine in the 1950's and 1960's, the flagman stood on the edge of the race track. Norridgewock was no different as the above photo indicates. The job of flagman was dangerous as several flagmen during that time were fatally injured when hit by an out of control stock car.

 

Norridgewock always had good attendance for its stock car race program as evident by the above photo. Notice the piles of dirt in front of the grandstand for a safety barrier as well as the double fence.

 

Armand Sirois was one of Norridgewock's popular drivers. Armand would carry the number '16' on his stock car. Note: Bruce Farrin, son of one of the owners, used to drive the Ford sedan above to high school before the car was given to Sirois for a stock car. In the background is the pit tower.

 

The Norridgewock Race Track braintrust: (L-R) Tom Farrin (owner), Razor Crosman (announcer and well-known auctioneer), Lea Smith (owner), Lyman Farrin (owner) and John Henry (insurance).