'Gassah Guys' fuel need for speed—no matter the ageSmoke rolls off tires, engines scream and briefly cut off conversation. Welcome to Oxford Dragway, which one day each month, in season, becomes home to the Gassah Guys. They are a car club for drag racers, all of whom compete with cars more than 40 years old. Some of the drivers are far older than that.Last year, club president Dave Hicks said, "We had 80 registered drivers."And age?"Well, from 16 to 70-something, maybe 80," he laughed.AdvertisementAdvertisementAll, he said, are what he calls Car Guys."Once you're a car guy, you're always a car guy," he added.His own car—a red 1937 Chevy called Code Red- roared down the 1/8-mile track in its first time trial at just about 100 miles per hour.Some of the Gassah Guys have been racing most of their lives.Gary Hatch of Owls Head, now 72, says he started when he was a teenager."I was 15, first car I ever built, a '55 Chevy, and a friend of mine went with me because I was on my learner's permit," he laughed.Hatch has at times raced on big stages, including traveling to Florida. He builds his engines and race cars in his garage in Owls Head and now does most of his racing in Maine and New England.AdvertisementAdvertisementHe is always pushing for more speed."With this one," he says, pointing to a panel truck dragster he is presently working on, "I'm doing about 111."He then points to a photo of a flashy-looking car he keeps at the Winterport Dragway."With that one, 127, and then the Corvette that's (in a car trailer) out there, 154, I think. Eighth of a mile."Speed has been part of Mike Whitaker's world for 29 years, as he has built and raced drag cars. He is now focused mostly on the Gasser Guys race circuit. Like Hatch, Whitaker's large garage is filled with cars and engines, as he preps them for the next race.AdvertisementAdvertisementHe points to a customer dragster he built."Around 110 miles an hour, in an eighth (mile), 660 feet. It's a blast," he says with a big smile."I still like it as much as the day I started… I like the competition and the people. You meet some great people out there."They all say the thrill of going very fast, very quickly, is another factor that keeps them racing.There is no prize money, just the pride of taking on the competition and building a good car that goes fast.What does that feel like, we asked, going from a standing start to over 100 in seconds?Gary Hatch had the best answer."Have you ever been kicked in the chest by a cow?" he asked.AdvertisementAdvertisement"That's what it feels like."The Gassah Guys race once a month during the season at Oxford.Some of them may also take part in an event at the Owls Head Transportation Museum from September 10 through 13, called the Pine Tree Jamboree. It's a demonstration show of vintage drag race cars, all 1954 and older and all using old-style flathead V-8 engines.Drag racing also happens at the Winterport Dragway and at Fairfield Field.
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