AUGUSTA — At a time when many are suffering through the snow and cold winds of winter, race fans in central and western Maine are getting ready for a little taste of summer.

They’ll get a visual preview of the 2017 season starting Friday evening, as doors swing open for the 29th annual Northeast Motorsports Expo & Trade Show at the Augusta Civic Center.

Founded in 1989 by the late Tim Attaya, the off-season trade show brings race teams, speedway promoters and fans together to preview the coming season.

“Thanks to our dedicated exhibitors, vendors and race teams, this year’s show has a lot to offer,” show owner and promoter Steve Perry said. “Right now, the weather forecast looks good and excitement is definitely building among racers and fans. It’s a ton of work, but the rewards will come when people tell me they’ve had a good experience.”

This is Perry’s eighth year as organizer of the show after taking it over from Attaya. While the show’s early years centered around a high-profile national star to draw a big crowd, today the focus is on the local short track scene, and those who keep the sport moving forward.  

“The days of having a huge national name here are long gone,” Perry said. “With Maine and New Hampshire having so much high-quality weekly and touring racing going on every year, I choose to focus on highlighting that culture. This show fills a niche for Maine racers, and has done so for nearly 30 years.”

As they do each year, local tracks including Oxford Plains Speedway, Beech Ridge Motor Speedway and Wiscasset Speedway will have displays at the show. Several of the popular touring series that visit local tracks will also be on hand, including the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) and American-Canadian Tour (ACT). 

Among the highlights for this year’s show is the fourth annual Memorabilia Auction. This event raises money for the Maine Vintage Race Car Association (MVRCA) and Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame.

On Friday night, a silent auction will begin at 4:30 p.m., and continues on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The live auction will be held Saturday from 2-4 p.m.

The popular “Heluvagood Pit Stop Challenge” also returns this year, allowing crew members to test their skills against the clock — and each other. New this year is a seminar called “Media Blitz,” designed to educate racers on how to use Social Media to their advantage. The host panel includes Perry and Speed51.com’s Brandon Paul, among others. 

Several local racers have worked tirelessly on their cars in recent weeks to ensure they’re ready for display in Augusta. The pride they show as fans take photos and ask about plans for the new season is part of what makes these off-season shows so special.

A few of those who plan to display include Waterford veteran Jamie Heath (Northeast Mini Stock Tour booth); Jimmy Childs of Leeds (Wiscasset Speedway); Dan McKeage (Beech Ridge Motor Speedway); and Phil Richardson of Bangor (Granite State Pro Stock Series). 

Doors open at the Civic Center at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The show runs until 9:30 p.m., while hours for Saturday are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Sunday, fans will have from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. to tour the show and chat with exhibitors.

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for Seniors, $5 for children ages 6-12, children age 5 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Three-day passes will be available on Friday night for $20.

pwhipple@sunjournal.com