Category: Maine Small Towns

The Dream Of A Soap Box Derby Racer From Maine Heading To Akron Ohio.

The down hill event that since 1934 has entertained families with gravity racers.

Cars built to be the fastest to the bottom of local hills. To make the big trip to the World Series Of Soap Box Derby Racing in Akron Ohio.

Long Hill, Fast And Smooth. Maine State Soap Box Derby Racing Venue In Houlton Maine.

Maine racers have done very well in the three lane famous race out in Ohio. June 20th is the 20th running of the Maine soap box derby statewide program in Houlton ME.

Watch the video from the 2014 Maine State Soap Box Derby Race to get a gist of what this event is all about, how it runs.

The principles learned through soap box derby racing cause a lifetime of memories. Learning family fun through gravity racing.

Lots of science involved that a kid can apply and benefit from unlike some textbook exercises to teach the same things. Plenty of luck of the who did the driver get paired up with for racing heats all plays into it.

Mechanics, friendly spirited competitive racing all mixed in with being a good sport. Win or lose and learning how to master lane one and two in the big race for the state of Maine. The one at Derby Hill in Houlton Maine’s Community Park.

Started Young, Soap Box Derby Racing In Maine. A Family Fun Sporting Affair.

Soap Box Derby is a national program that operates on the World famous Derby Downs in Akron Ohio.

The local race is annually held to produce a winner, the “Champ’ to be eligible to compete in the AASBD race against other “Champions”.

A rally program allows allows participants to earn points by racing in events around the region closest to the driver and his or her family. Rally Champions compete in the AASBD against other winners in from around the country.

Stock, super stock, master drivers are part of the car racing division breakdown.

Stock racers are 7-13 and the car they drive takes approximately five hours to assemble from a kit. The racer in their stock cars are approximately 5’3″ tall and 125 pounds. The car with out driver or weight tips the scales at around 61 pounds on the dial.

Super stock racers for derby down hill runs have drivers 9-18, the same assembly time as the stock cars. The size is up to 6′ tall, 160 pounds or less.

Happy? I Guess. Drove Hard To Win, Place In The Top Eight For Maine’s State Soap Box Derby Race In Houlton ME.

The masters division of soap box derby racing is for 10-20 year olds. Up to 6′ and 160 pounds in a lay down design. Shields and tucked inside with only the eyes visible in a masters soap box derby car. The assembly time varies on the skill level and imagination, resources of the Master driver and his or her support racing.

All the cars are sold as kits through the International Soap Box Derby.

The kits for cars include everything with the exception of Z-Glass Racing Wheels and weights.

Love to talk about the Maine soap box derby program and here to use as a resource. 207.532.6573 is the daytime number to call with your questions. Work this week to track down empty cars, find derby drivers to wheel them down the big Derby Hill.

Have had two of my own kids make it to Akron Ohio and helped others make it to the prestigious race out west. Will share how to get a program started, what it involves for manpower and resources needed to pull off a local soap box derby race.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573

info@mooersrealty.com

May 13, 2015
You Hear The Wind, No Motor | Maine Soap Box Derby Racing.

This is the 20th year for the Northern Maine Soap Box Derby Racing Program.

Attended a planning meeting for this year’s race in June last night in Houlton Maine, the state race venue for any boy or girl wanting to participate in the downhill event.

The driver learns a lot about mechanics in the process of soap box derby racing.

Along with Dad, Mom, Uncle Bob or a neighbor, big brother or sister, wrenches have to be turned. Wheel pins and spindles discuss. As the build a car from an Akron Ohio kit process unfolds. The large sheet of instructions or online monitor are studied to comply with the rules of racing.

Maine’s Soap Box Derby Racing Program, The Big Race Is In June!

Years ago it was just buy your axles, then on your own with the creative design. Using whatever you had kicking around or wanted. Now to keep it as fair as possible. And to add to the competitive nature of derby racing, a strict set of parts are used by all car sponsors, drivers.

But the devil is always in the details. Of a million little things to give the driver and his or her car a little bit of an legal edge. An advantage learned over time.

With each run down lane one or two of the Houlton Maine race track hill.

When you hear the launch operator ask are you ready drivers? And each lane is reminded we have a green up here on topside. For the release on 3,2,1. But more runs down derby hill do make the difference.

That is the magic of anything worthwhile in life.

To study, practice, become more expert in the application. Derby families know from experience what works and why. What does not and to avoid. Just watch, ask them, listen and learn.

So, if you are a business looking for a new “ride” for your advertising, branding, consider buying a derby race car. Having a contest of some type to select a driver. For years of use for this marketing tool. And the goodwill it creates with one driver who sticks with derby racing. Or a series of drivers who slide behind the wheel each year for a turn of finding out. What all this “Thrill Of The Hill” business buzzing around is all about for themselves.

Become a part of the Maine derby racing program and the friendly, spirited competitive downhill gravity racing.

Watch a couple videos for Maine Soap Box Derby Racing.

Please visit the soap box derby website for Maine.

Along with lots of volunteers that have been part of derby racing in Maine for years, I look forward to another June derby event. Feeling lucky to be involved in the 20th Maine State Soap Box Derby Race program for another year.

You might consider doing the same by helping a driver, sponsoring a derby car, working on the racing committee or all three.

Reach out to me and will help explain the neat sport of youth downhill soap box derby racing.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton Maine 04730 USA

March 5, 2015
Best Neighborhoods To Halloween Trick Or Treat In Small Maine Towns.

In many areas of the country the thought of witches, warlocks, goblins of any kind climbing up on your open porch to trick or treat is not happening.

Too much crime, worry about apples with razor blades, etc. All kinds of reasons to avoid the door to door panhandling for treats of any kind.

Maine Small Towns Still Safe To Halloween Trick Or Treat.

Just the transition from gypsy scaling, bounding up the front steps two at a time. To ring the front door bell. Scream trick or treat. To instead having a church or recreation center party on stop shop. All under one roof rather than helter skelter canvassing out in the neighborhoods in places outside Maine.

No danger of someone wearing a sheet or pirate, walking dead zombie being hit by a Halloween night in the dark motorists.

In the dodging across, zigzagging this and that street in the dark.

But small Maine towns are different for trick or treating that still happens. With the fourth lowest crime statistic, and pretty much everyone in a small Maine town knows everyone, it is not a dangerous affair. We know that relative, cousin, whoever.

Behind the gruesome mask, under the gown or white blood stained sheet.

Are his hockey or little league coach. Or know her from church, the neighborhood that is connected. More so than a large sprawling urban area where worry happens when you leave your own backyard. Welcome to Mayberry, welcome to Maine. I’m Andy. Not sure what happened to Opie, Aunt Bea, Barney but you get the drift of the way things roll here.

To outfit, bundle up and get the family of small ones rigged up to trick or treat for Halloween.

To head out starting at 4:30 to look for porch lights left on. The signal we play the Halloween game, are open for visitors. There is candy here. To trick or treat, canvass the neighborhoods in a small Maine town.

Also the best neighborhoods to trick or treat are not necessarily the ones with the highest taxed Maine homes.

No, No, the number of Maine homes per neighborhood. Less busy streets are factors that kids out to collect the sweets quickly figure out. When it is only so much time on the clock before bedtime to ring the bell, open the bag. Holler out trick or treat. Hitting the High Street home example in the video above makes that area popular.

There is a lot of expense and planning to year after year build the trick or treating traffic.

Collecting Candy, Adding To The Trick Or Treat Halloween Stash.

And it is contagious. Others in the surrounding houses up and down, across the street start to ramp up their Halloween game. It takes one to be the red nose reindeer and lead the charge of “trick or treat” heard hollered around small Maine town neighborhood.

But experience from the year before of what you got, remembered and wanted to return for another dose. Those Halloween trick or treating hot spots are talked about through the grapevine of kid’s that tramp the small Maine town.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

October 24, 2014
Maine Clothing, No Not Color Blind Or An Anarchist.

What you wear, clothe your body in Maine is a lot like the Frank Lloyd Wright reminder that “form follows function”.

Which actually Louis Sullivan was the brain child of that particular notion. That Frank took from his mentor. And ran with it. Getting all the press.

What To Wear When Driving A 90 Tine Blueberry Rake In Maine.

The Maine wardrobe clothing fits the season and chore at hand.

If you are working in a Northern Maine potato field, the spud house to process the golden nuggets. For the from the harvest farm land, out the door to fresh markets.

Or to store them away for continual winter withdrawals. For dark bin by bin siphoning, then clothing is anything goes.

That is as long as Maine clothing is not stringy, straps, loose. That can get caught in machinery. Sucking the guy or gal wearing the threads into the conveyor belt.

The Oz like wizardry of many noisy, whirling, twirling high RPM spinning cogs. That someone in a hurry sometimes forgets to replace the OSHA approved safety guards. To create an accident waiting to happen situation.

If outside, working on a Maine winter snow storm (AKA “dusting”) removal in a Maine winter. If that is the mission, something warm, layered but that breaths, wicks works best.

So the material trumps the color. Because it does the job. And cold or clammy sweating, getting chills is avoided. Not what Mainer’s put up with, struggle to add to their toil. When chasing the dollar working outside in the Maine weather elements.

Following Strings, Lanes In Maine Blueberry Fields, Raking Up A Storm.

When the mercury sits low in the tube. Wind howls, drifts. Clearing a slow, low pitch Maine home porch or camp roof. That is more like the turtle than the hare in shedding snowflakes.

Or hunkered down, with water repellent fishing gear at the helm of a diesel boat in a north east gale ocean wind.

Hauling in, hoisting up dark green clawed Maine lobsters.

Maine Blueberries, From Downeast Maine. Pick, Rake, Harvest. Clothing Optional.

During the winter months, from the ocean’s floor with locations all marked by colorful floating surface buoys. That salt water keeps from freezing in. Static frozen in still frame.

So color is less a concern in Maine for clothing. No one out to impress. No one seeking to cause any tag left on for shock value price envy.

We don’t name drop in Maine.

That game does not work here in the Pine Tree state. Because Mainers don’t play, care about name brands. We like paid for, frequent good as new, second time around Goodwill type stores. Where wool blend clothing that sets you back a couple bucks a copy works just fine.

It’s all about cool, warm, comfortable and no or low cost when talking, describing Maine clothing. Hand me downs.

The blazer with no bullet or moth holes.

That has the leather elbow patches and exotic far away name, expert tailor stitching. That the original now deceased, passed away Maine owner just left hanging in the closet unworn. Or with very few miles logged. Because his wife like it, he… well, not so much.

Maybe it was the buttoned collar and tie cutting off air to the windpipe, not the blazer. Or the fact that dressing up was just not his forte. Made him feel like a brook trout out of water. Or the center of attention, was seeking mirror mirror on the wall notice. Putting on heirs. Just not the way he, most true Mainers are wired.

Dressed For Fun, The Outdoor Application. Not Being A Clotheshorse. Or Out To Impress. Just Warm, Cool, Comfortable.

As temperatures increase and you find yourself wielding a 45 tine blueberry rake on the barrens in Downeast Maine, less clothing is more like it.

Cool is where it is at. Especially for the NASCAR nimble, skilled, quick imported laborers from Honduras. Who drive 80 to 90 tine Maine blueberry rakes.

The new to the game, less polished players wield the lower number models with small scoops. Taking longer time spent filling boxes. Like small size potato baskets fill cedar or plywood field barrels. Added production time, lower ticket results at sundown of a frosty beginning, hot as Hades tail end of the day field laboring to help an area farmer.

Clothing that works in Maine. Why do you think LL Bean is a Maine company and so successful? The guarantee money back or else helps. The fact it works first, looks rugged and appealing making a fashion statement second. Flashy is not the end all with clothing in Maine.

Save that for the polo match, Kentucky Derby, Hollywood film premier.

Looking Like Bank Robbers, But Layered For Maine Down Hill Skiing.

Neither is the color the cat’s meow for clothing. Unless you are a flagger in summer on a busy Maine highway. Then bright colors that glow in the dark work best holding the eight sided red sign to stop and go. To help the motorists caught in road construction project that happens in summer.

Where visibility at the new 75 miles per hour on Maine I-95 roadwork means dress in vibrant color brightly. Stay eyes peeled, nimble running that steam roller, paving machinery while out playing in traffic to avoid life threatening accidents. Be seen or be dead.

Where Maine traffic fines are double in the construction zones. For those who ignore the pedal to the metal reflex.

To zing behind the wheel of paid for hung onto, life long friend like vehicles. With names like boats in a Maine harbor.

Maybe not with all the fenders the same matched color the factory sprayed on, clear coated. To get across Maine, north to south, east to west quickly. And hopefully not make a flagger, other construction worker a casualty, hood ornament. We hang onto our old cars and trucks in Maine and take good care of them liked loved ones.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

August 26, 2014
Visit The Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum In Littleton Maine.

When you live in Aroostook County, farming is part of the rich heritage.

All types of farming and the advances made over the years on display at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton Maine.

Valuable For Heat, For Home Cooking, The Farm House Wood Stove.

If you have never been to a SAAM bean supper, enjoyed socializing, hearing farm stories or touring the newest antique farm displays, you have missed out big time.

The museum is housed in the former Littleton Elementary School.

Is full of household items, farm tools, room displays of the era and a machinery shed.

It is not just tractors of all colors, vintages. More than farming equipment, attachments. But just as much a glimpse at the day to day way of life long ago on the family farm in Maine.

Take a video tour of the Southern Aroostook County Farmers Museum in Littleton Maine right now.

Like many local community activities in small town Maine, you don’t just pay, attend events, go home, that’s that.

No no. You pick your collection of them to work, make the event possible with a home made, hands on approach. Bring whatever talents tap you as the best to pair up with others that have the same interest, background, skills. And then pretty much that group are your buddies for the rest of your life in that small Maine town. Working that activity. This is one of your projects to run, improve, make sure happens yearly. It’s on your shoulders, to do list.

You step up, you feel connected, needed. You contribute your creative spirit, blood, sweat and tears.

Great Food, Friendly Museum Members Serve It Up.

Passion for your Maine town to make it special, unique, what it is. Log on to the SAAM site.

The Southern Aroostook Agricultural museum is located on US Rt 1, Littleton ME.

Like to help them expand, work in the one room school house or new Maine barn project? The small general store display? Your talent is needed. You get back way way more than you put in with the personal satisfaction. That you pitch in to create, keep adding to and improve. That’s the deep satisfaction of living in a small Maine town parked on the New Brunswick Canadian – Aroostook County border.

Plan, scheme, implement. With in this case a neat group of Maine farmer preservationists. That happen to be out of this World cooks, like to put on memorable buffet spreads too. Now I’m pretty hungry and can’t wait for the next Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum public supper.

See 122 images of the Maine farmer’s museum and local farming on Facebook.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

January 20, 2014
Small Maine Towns, What Makes One Great?

Small Maine towns. A rural state with just a tad over a million people.

Actually, to be exact 1.329 million total, revealed the 2012 US Census head count. But what characteristics help make a small Maine town great? For starters a river winding through, a lake in town or nearby or ocean shoreline helps. For recreation, for visual pleasure each of the four seasons. Walking, bike paths and picnic areas with benches along that water front are an attraction to locals and tourists alike. Maine has more land mass than the other New England states combined.

A college or university in that small Maine town adds an educational, cultural gem facet.

Being a county seat with historic buildings contributes to the local charm. Help make it an economic attraction destination. Parks for use for free community band concerts. For green space. For sporting events all intensify the shine, sparkle, luster of the small Maine town jewel. Tennis and basket ball courts, little league complexes, ice hockey skating arenas. That all attract out of towners to tournaments. Help fill local coffers. Bring in a new dollar that turns over six times. Fueling the fierce pride, love and respect the towns people have for their Maine village.

Mountain views, state parks, something to look at with the natural setting adds to the horsepower of the small Maine town too.

Not Just One Shade Of Green Describes Maine.

Hiking, skiing, Maine snow sledding, four wheel ATV trails.

All keep town residents happy, a reason for natives to stay.

Something extra to cause tourists to visit.

And hang around. Happy campers.

Year after year. They let their friends know about the experience.

If the local Maine town economy is diversified, not monoculture but expansive agriculturally, wood industry wise, then local jobs happen.

Border Maine towns enjoy Canadian retail traffic. All those trips across the boundary for milk, gas, turkeys, etc. Eh?

Manufacturing with the cost of fuel for heating, transportation to and fro forces causes challenges. Means being highly creative to maintain jobs, add to that segment of employment. Having the fastest internet connection for telecommuters, local businesses gives the small Maine town higher marks.

Clear vision by the local Maine town fathers laying out the community. Followed up by a sound comprehensive zoning plan. Updated to reflect sound development needs. For success, growth, maintaining the Maine community. Work ethic instilled growing up, low cost utilities, availability of abundant raw natural resources all help the rise and fall of a small Maine town.

But the attitude of the people in small Maine towns.

The tone of their conversations, the way they treat each other. Even when a difference of opinion on the right direction to steer, adjust, guide the small Maine town happens is key. The principles of a winning sports team resonate thru out the successful Maine community. Sensitive to not overspend, waste resources. To keep the tax base high school skinny, highly efficient so the taxpayer feels he, she is getting their money’s worth. And don’t encourage their kids to move anywhere else. Closing the door on the option of sticking around, carrying the passed torch in their small Maine hometown.

A quality health care facility, elderly housing options, a diversity of churches and quality schools are vital building blocks of the Maine town.

Good vets, lawyers, accountants, car repair and tire shops. Often the quality of the local Maine library is one of the first areas a relocating, retiring renter or real estate buyer expects to find. Good banking options, an attitude to help new businesses get off the ground is key in small Maine towns.

Maine is the 4th lowest crime state, public safety is a given compared to urban areas.

The ability to walk to the local movie theatre, downtown to a coffee shop, restaurant is a big plus for a city dweller.

Who worries daily about personal safety.

Or is on house arrest. Jammed sardine tight in a small, sky high level expensive apartment. Too much. Or microscopic house lot. Not able to move around freely without fear in sketchy neighborhoods depending on the time of the day. That’s no way to live. That’s not Maine.

Small Maine towns offer freedom, space, clean natural resources.

The chance to be involved, a part of the community to share talents, to make it greater. The Maine town should be big enough to offer adequate lodging, motel rooms. And bed and breakfasts, inns, camp grounds and cabins for rent on local lakes. Having a local Maine airport, good transportation system for major US highways, Interstate 95 exits help keep people moving. New dollars coming into the local economy.

The civic and social clubs, local railroad, agricultural, lumbermen historic museums all add another Maine small town dimension. Community theatre, other fine performance outlets with local artisans give another boost. Making the small Maine town attractive to all ages means taking inventory of what qualities we have to promote. What we need to develop around that we don’t possess. But could in time with blood, sweat and tears.

Farmers markets, food co-ops, flea markets, car cruise ins, state fairs, antique shops and a variety of small retailers, service providers.

All needed in small Maine towns too. Along with a shop local, close to home attitude from the Maine town residents.

How does your small Maine town stack up? I’m pretty proud of the one I live, work, play and raised a family in.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573 | MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA |
info@mooersrealty.com

November 9, 2013