So the wife and I are thinking about moving to Maine after I am done with college. I'm in the Ford ***ET program here. I was wondering how the car scene is over there and if anyone knows how the auto service industry is doing? We're looking to start over on the other coast but want to be into our cars with like minded people. Any insight is appreciated.
if you end up moving there, keep an eye out for my Avatar truck thats where it went, so you know there's at least one hot rod!
If you are bored in Oregon, I dont think Maine will be too much different. Waters on a dif side of the state though.
I live in NH and I can tell you hot rodding is alive and well in New england. I spent last weekend at Milltown5, a ton of maine guys were there. Do a search on here, you'll get tons of hits on new england shows. hope this helps
Bring money we need it and buy our cars. heres some info. http://renyscruisein.webs.com/cruisenightsandtimes.htm
I live in NH but often go to events in So ME. They even have a yearly publication given out free at tourist info spots that lists all cruise nights and shows. They have land speed racing at Loring, ME. So I would think there is plenty to do.
We have Winterport Drag Way that puts on some nice nostalgia meets. There are small shows and cruise in's all over the state.
Maine is a big place, and in some ways divided north vs south. But all of it is nice. You just have to like all four seasons! You'll probably find more opportunities in the south. As to cars, you'll find an active scene no matter what you are into - street rods, sport cars, circle tracks, drag strips, land speed racing, off road. Cost of living in a bit high, but quality of life is very good. Many outdoor activities in addition to cars. And being on, or close to, the ocean is great.
plenty of cars up this way, and mainers have a way of holding onto stuff, cars and parts and lots of barns too. just don't expect to run across any hip socal style greasers round here.
Plenty of cars and folks up that a way. I'm an ex-NH guy, but I get up there from time-to-time and have seen all sorts of stuff. Our friends in Berwick restore old Fords (restore, not hot rod) and I have seen some of his buddies cars as well. There is a guy on lake Winnepasauke who has a Marmon, and all the Tyrod guys from the Worcester M***. area. Plenty of cars and friends. Sorry I don't know how the car MARKET is doing there though.
Maine is a great place to live. There are a lot of people into various car related hobbies. Street Rods, hot rods, stock cars , drag racing ,and most recently land speed racing at Loring . I think the auto service industry is doing as well as anywhere and maybe better since Mainers tend to hang on to their cars. My neighbor owns a large dealership ( GMC,Buick,Chevy,Volvo trucks ,etc ) in Augusta and he is doing very well. When are you moving ? PM me if interested and I'll give you my phone and address. When you get here , if you want stop by and I'll show you around, etc. Or you can call if you just want to talk. John
Jim , you must be a flatlander ! Real Mainers know we have five seasons.....spring,summer,fall,winter and mud season.
There are plenty of car clubs here. A couple of car shows every weekend. Several race tracks. It seems like everyone has either a hot rod, a cl***ic, muscle car or an antique. And you have all winter to work on them.
My wife's grandma lives out there, and when we visit I always see cool stuff driving around. The people are nice as hell too. She's out near Milbridge, beautiful drives to be taken out there. I might send one of my cars to her house so when we visit I'm not stuck in a rental.
Thanks for all the responses guys. Sounds like a great place to live. We probably won't be moving for another year or two....but I like to plan ahead I checked out some housing prices and the Craigslist car postings and things look a little better priced over there than here. And 48FordFanatic, thank you for the offer. I just might take you up on it, if and when we come out there.
You won't just be moving to Maine, you'll be coming to New England. M***, NH and Vermont in particular have a ton of shows and events and rodders. If you're in, say, the Portland, Me area, you can get to the rest of New England in a few hours. Some of the best car shows are in VT with Hemmings being there as well. Oxford Raceway and New England Dragway are good spots. They have nostalgia days at NED for example. Obviously, due to the rust up here, some of the stuff you'll see can be marginal or cobbled together. The flip side, is that you'll see stuff that is so pristine, because the people who had money (in the 40' 50' and 60's)were able to store cars in barns away from the elements. Some good truck shows in NH and M*** every year. Good swap meet in Amherst, NH every month of the summer (APR to OCT) Owl's Head transportation museum in Me has a vintage auction every fall. But keep that to yourself. That's a well kept secret trove of cheap cars. You'll gravitate to the "scene" and get more and more involved once you get here. It sure ain't So Cal, by any stretch. But it's not better or worse, just different. You'll just have to get here and figure it out. Best of luck.
Like Marcia said We get about 4 to 5 months up here that you will not want to drive a cool ride due to salt and snow on the roads, But that gives us time to repair and build cool rides and plow the driveway. But on a good side air conditioning is almost not needed but having a heater and defroster and maybe wipers or at least a good coating of rain-x is needed. I have lived here all my life and seen many people move away but many of them move back after a few years to our slower way of life. During the summer there are many small shows and cruise ins but the big shows are usually a drive of a few hours depending on where you are looking at residing. For me the Milltown show is a drive of 4.5 hours. Also, the garages are busy with repair work from rust to suspension repair work as the roads are a little rough from frost. Just my .02 Mark
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