OXFORD – The TD BankNorth 250 race at Oxford Plains Speedway attracted about 14,000 people Sunday with fans coming from all parts of New England and Canada.
Barbara Fairley, who drove with her family from New Brunswick, justified the trip simply: “We’re just race-crazy people.”
Local retailers see the benefits of the race-crazies in dollar signs, although it takes a lot of preparation on their part. Lisa Annance, who owns Polly’s, a local convenience store and diner, begins preparing with extra beer and extra ice a week before the event.
“Even with preparation, you can’t really prepare. But we thrive on this.”
Dennis Fornier, Annance’s partner agreed. “It’s a great weekend for us and has a positive impact for the entire area.”
The hospitality industry in Oxford Hills also experiences a boom in business every year during the weekend of the 250. Merlene Bishop, manager at Goodwin’s Motor Inn in South Paris, said that their rooms are fully reserved three months before the race and guests often reserve rooms for the following year before leaving.
“They start coming the Friday before the 250, but they start calling for rooms in March and April,” Bishop said.
But all the fans’ advance planning can make things difficult for people who show up without reservations.
Bert Hart of Enfield, Nova Scotia, drove more than 500 miles only to have to settle for a room in Portland the day before the race.
One area where the excitement generated by the event can be challenging is traffic control.
Early Sunday, Sgt. Walter Bean of the Oxford Fire Police flagged a traffic jam of 4 miles along Route 26. The Oxford Fire Police, which is called out for traffic detail and special events, controlled parking and traffic from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.
“I do this every year,” Bean said. “I look forward to it. It’s a giant adrenaline rush.”
Law enforcement and fire and rescue officials see their share of challenges due to the event as well. Sunday’s races were manned by four ambulances, 16 rescue personnel and 12 firefighters.
Scott Hunter, chief of Oxford Fire and Rescue, said that fan-related injuries were at a minimum Sunday.
“We’ve had a few heat-related incidents, burns and some fans too intoxicated, basically the norm.”
Most of the trouble that local law enforcers faced occurred Friday and Saturday night when campers had tailgate parties through the night.
Jon Tibbetts, acting chief of police for Oxford, said the most common problems were disorderly conduct and assaults.
He was overwhelmingly positive, however, about this year’s race.
“Our arrests are down 40 percent. Any time you have an event of this magnitude, you will have some variables.”
Hunter echoed that sentiment, adding, “We all look forward to the race, but it poses some unique challenges.”
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