OXFORD – New Englanders will be revving their engines and polishing their chrome today for the 24th Annual VIP Show, Shine & Drag at Oxford Plains Speedway and Oxford Plains Dragway.
Tens of thousands of people may show up for the event, which features both a car show and drag races open to anyone with a license and properly equipped vehicle.
“Car enthusiasts will travel anywhere for a nice Sunday afternoon show,” said David Kessler, chief operating officer of VIP Discount Auto Centers Inc., on Tuesday.
At least 800 show cars will be featured on the Oxford Plains Speedway track today, he said.
Behind the speedway, another 250 or so vehicles are expected to participate in car, snowmobile, motorcycle and possibly even ATV races at the Oxford Plains Dragway.
Larry A. White is a VIP employee who restores, customizes and races cars in his free time.
He has both raced and shown at the Show, Shine & Drag event over the years.
“Basically, it’s the biggest car show in New England from my understanding, or at least the biggest in the state of Maine,” he said.
Many of the restored or customized cars on display are stunning, he said.
As for the drag racing competitions, those have an entirely different allure.
Anybody can enter, White said, and “you go as fast as your car can go down there – there’s no speeding tickets or anything.”
Kathy Hyde, who manages the drag racing track with her husband, Jim Hyde, said cars could race snowmobiles or ATVs could race motorcycles today.
“We’re not talking your everyday race,” Hyde added with a laugh. People report to the gates with their vehicles, show their licenses, undergo a quick technical inspection and pay a $10 entry fee, Hyde said. Then they are good to go.
Time trials begin at 9 a.m. for the drag races, then elimination rounds begin at 12:30 p.m.
Prizes range from $500 for first place to $20 for seventh or eighth.
At the car show, entrants are accepted after 7:30 a.m. It costs $10 to show off a vehicle, and prizes range from $500 for Overall Best of Show to $100 for Overall Best Paint or Overall Best Engine.
The 38 show categories include ’50s street machines, Chevelles, street rods, Mustangs, trucks, kit cars, cruisers and imports.
There is a $2 parking fee for the day, and that money is donated to the town of Oxford.
Kessler stressed that Show, Shine & Drag is a family event, and no alcohol is allowed.
Anyone interested in going should get an early start. Lines at the gates begin at 5:30 a.m., Kessler said.
According to Hyde, the lines go quite a distance, too. “Sometimes we’re backed up to Mechanic Falls,” she said.
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