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by Brenda Tredwell
As ever, there is talk of new boats built over the winter. Calvin Beal Jr. plans to have his wooden lobster boat Little Girl ready by the Moosabec Reach Races planned for Wednesday, July 4th. “I’m sure she’ll be done in 2-3 weeks time,” said Calvin, over the phone on June 1st. Little Girl is named for his wife - “It’s what her father called her. I’m waiting on the engine.” Beal was “trying (to be ready) for Boothbay.-..” but it looks like a July 4th start. Thurman Alley, whose wife Melanie chairs the Moosabec races, said Calvin was “Pretty near done” but didn’t have her name on her yet, or the platform. He built her in the traditional way, cedar strips on the trunk and top of her house….” Alley owns the Melanie Jean a custom Willis Beal design and a newly built Crowley 36'. While she’s a lot quicker, “there’s a lot of different movement between a fiberglass and wooden boat.” The ride is different Melanie Alley has volunteered her time to organize the races for almost 10 years. Galen Alley has a new engine for the Lorna R. During the off season, he’s been racing a blue Camaro — yes, a race car — with Stella Ann’s engine. Usually, things are done the other way around. During the 1930’s, retired car engines were put into boats. One fisherman recalls how his “grandmother went out to the car, I think it may have been a Rambler, and it wouldn’t start — wouldn’t turn over. She looked out onto the bay, and there was Pa, running sea trials on this boat of his.” Stella Ann was raced by Benny Beal, and the engine was customized at Richard Weaver’s shop in Steuben. They also do the work on Loma R’s powerplant. It is speculated that Underdog built by Ernest Libby, Jr. will also have a new engine.
The Stonington’s Races will be on Sunday, July 15th. It’s great that Nick Wiberg agreed to run the show. Even mid-season last year, everyone expected Stonington to host but it never happened. Wes Lash in Friendship says that he’s “making preps on getting things together.” Their Committee of around 5 or 6 people has held a couple of meetings. He hasn’t minded the hard work of volunteering his time, because “It’s for a good cause, to help fund our ambulance.” That benefits the entire community, saves tax payers a lot of money and it’s a family event everyone enjoys. Sunday, July 29th races are held at Harpswell. Last year, a short piece of footage covering the races appeared on NESN, which has resulted in the possibility that this year’s events will also be covered, providing that the producer can locate corporate sponsors. The actual Racing isn’t going to be the central theme of the project — it will incorporate the “personalities” involved in the circuit, and the racers. While modem TV producers have found ways to shoot footage and get camera angles inside cars, lobster boats are apparently more of a challenge. Several hosting committee members have said they’ve received calls or messages “from Portland or elsewhere regarding that.”
This year, events close at Pemaquid. “Where the Merritt Brackett Races are a non-points event, there’s no pressure to compete.” says Laurie Crane. Since just after the Fishermen’s Forum, Crane has been working on the planning end, handing out posters, and making phone calls “Things are going well. People are very generous donating prizes.” There are people who look forward to racing and appreciate the work we do, says Crane. At her job as a hospital supervisor, a young fisherman came in whose wife was in labor. He stopped right there in the hall, wanting to know about the racing and if Crane was going to be volunteering another season. Crane is lining up getting trophies from a company in Augusta and typing reminders to everybody. Then there are the tee shirts —“Glen Chadbourne, who’s done a lot of work for Stephen King does such a good job. He gives me 3 designs to choose from and we go from there.”She’s also in the midst of helping Don Drisko paint the boat and potbuoys. Drisko’s Merganser was built 30 years ago by Calvin Beal, Jr. Don noticed it in Calvin’s shop and said “What are you going to do with that boat?” Beal, who had been building it for himself sold it to Drisko, who’s fished it ever since. He’s also won a few races. |
