LIMESTONE, Maine – With rainy weather likely ahead, Spud Speedway has moved its first ever BikeBowl to the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone.
On Friday and Saturday, the BikeBowl will happen inside the famous arch hangar, located at 93 Arizona Road at Loring Commerce Center. Events will go from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, there was an 80-percent chance of rain Friday and 90 percent chance on Saturday, with thunderstorms also possible, according to the National Weather Service in Caribou. Organizers decided to move the festivities indoors to avoid canceling most events, said Spud Speedway co-owner Troy Haney.
Standing at 340 feet wide and 314 feet long, the arch hangar is one of Loring’s most iconic structures, having previously housed B-36 aircraft and stored nuclear arsenal materials during the Cold War. The hangar’s massive space makes it an ideal backup venue for the BikeBowl, Haney said.
“It allows us to get everything and everybody under one roof and adds a new element for people who have never been inside [the arch hangar],” Haney said.
The BikeBowl originally planned to host New Hampshire stunt rider Joey Charron, a.k.a. Joey Banana, but the weather has canceled that event. Spud Speedway is looking at how they might reschedule Charron’s show, Haney said.
The motorcycle skills competition might still happen outside the arch hangar Saturday afternoon if the rain holds out long enough and if there is interest among attendees, Haney noted.
Other than that, folks can still expect to see the Battle of the Bands, Food Truck Face-Off, a corn hole tournament and motorcycle displays from Caribou-based retailer Ride North Harley Davidson.
The corn hole tournament will take place Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m. and have a limit of 40 registered competitors. Registration is from noon to 1 p.m.
Ten local food trucks will be present and vying for a People’s Choice Award. Trucks will include Minnie Winnie’s, Smokey D’s BBQ, The Food Dudes, Mimi’s Smashing Food Truck, Nacho Mama’s, Northern Spice, Cheri’s Weiner Wagon, The Maple Moose and Fuel ME Nutrition. Northern Spice will only be at the arch hangar on Friday.
Attendees can scan a QR code into their phones to vote for their favorite food truck. The top three will receive $1,000, $500 and $250.
Seven local bands will take part in the battle for a chance to win the $500 People’s Choice Award. On Friday, Busted will perform at 5:30 p.m. and Wally and the Virginian at 8:00. Saturday’s bands include Roy Tweedie and the Creamers at noon, Dirtbag Jenkins and The Dustpans at 2 p.m., Subject to Change at 4 p.m. and The Echo at 6 p.m. DJ Jake Ball will offer music between the bands’ performances.
People’s Choice Awards will be given Saturday at 8:30 p.m. The Boston-based AC/DC tribute band AD/HD will perform following the awards.
On Sunday, the Brian’s Ride Cancer Fund ride from Spud Speedway to Four Corners Park in Madawaska and America’s First Mile in Fort Kent will go on as planned, Haney said. Temperatures in the mid 70s and sunny skies are expected. Bikers will return to Spud Speedway around 2 p.m. for a Brian’s Ride 10-year anniversary barbecue.
