FREEPORT, Maine — The Great Race, a classic car rally spanning 2,300 miles, entered Maine Friday, drawing crowds to Freeport as drivers and navigators ended their day on Main Street.
Over 130 classic cars began this trek in Owensboro, Kentucky. Without the help of GPS, competitors navigated their way across the country, trying not to be the fastest but the most accurate by adhering to hundreds of daily instructions that regulate things like speed and direction.
No car made after 1974 is allowed in the competition, and the oldest automobile racing dates back to 1912—the year Woodrow Wilson was elected president.
For classic car lovers in the crowd, seeing the procession of chrome hoods and old leather seats was a reminder of a time gone by.
"You drive down the highway today and you can’t tell one car from another. But when you go see classic cars, they all have a unique body style. They’re just beautiful to look at," Jim Stewart, a spectator, said Friday.
In addition to being a visually stunning procession, Mainers can take pride in knowing two locals participated in the race this year.
Greely High School junior Max Flynn, 17, and Biddeford High School junior Cotton Schlaver,16, both docents at the Maine Classic Car Museum in Arundel, won national scholarships to compete this year, driving a 1961 Cadillac Sedan Deville named, "Ruby the Red Lobster."
The Great Race will finish in Gardiner this Sunday, June 30.
For more details on the race, click here.