Its still seven and a half months until the green flag drops in Maine for the start of the 2014 Great Race, but there are already 64 paid entries in the event.
We are running almost 20 ahead of where we were this time last year, Great Race director Jeff Stumb said. And we still had 99 teams a year ago, so this tells me we will reach our limit of 100 cars by early Spring.
And when you add in the 20 or so regular participants who have said they are coming but just havent sent their entry fee in yet, that puts the number in the mid-80s. So far, 11 rookie teams have signed up and if the trend for the last two years continues with more than 27 rookie teams, someone is going to get cut out, Stumb said. If you are planning on entering the 2014 Great Race and havent already sent your entry fee, please do so as soon as possible so you do not get left out.
Car numbers have been assigned to returning veterans who have entered, and after Jan. 1 all car numbers not assigned will be up for grabs.
The Great Race limits the number of cars to 100 for several reasons, but mostly as a matter of logistics. Feeding 200 racers who are spread out over an hour and half from end to end can be challenging, Stumb said.
The Great Race will start in Ogunquit, Maine, on Saturday, June 21, and traveling nine days and 2,100 miles to The Villages, Fla. The finish, complete with a band and an expected crowd of 20,000, will take place in square at Sumter Landing.
I will not be able to participate in this years race. I would like to know the schedule for your visit to New Bern NC. I am a member of Colonial Capital Rods & Classics car club of New Bern. If we can be of any service to you during your visit to our town, we would be more than happy to accommodate.
Harold, we hate you are not going to be able to participate again, but we look forward to seeing you in New Bern. The stop will be on Middle Street on Wednesday, June 25, starting at 4:30 p.m. Marshall Van Winkle is helping out the local CVB with the stop. I am sure he would love the help.