photo by Donald Rideout

photo by Donald Rideout

story by Chris Roy

This race season Donald Rideout of Washburn, ME., is once again working with Camp Adventure. The Cary Medical Center runs the Camp Adventure Program, which helps teens with type 1 diabetes. At Camp Adventure, the kids participate in all kinds of outdoor activities, like going hiking, canoeing as well as arts and crafts, just to name a few of the activities. The camp also educates the kids on learning things that help to manage their diabetes.

Donald won’t be racing this year but, that doesn’t mean he has stopped working on the race car for 2015 race season. “We are having our 4th annual Camp Adventure raffle this year. Camp Adventure is a camp for teens with type 1 diabetes. It is a chance for them to enjoy all the same activities as other children but with others who have the same thing that they do. They are more comfortable knowing that they are not alone. In fact, most of the staff at Camp Adventure are also type 1 diabetics. This year we will be raffling off our prize baskets that consist of all kinds of items donated by local businesses. We even have an autographed diecast car from local, up and coming NASCAR driver, Austin Theriault. This year we are even trying something new. We are raffling off a race car. It is a 1993 Geo Storm. The car, and most of the items that come with it, were donated by businesses around the state.” Last season Donald was able raised $1500 for the Camp Adventure.

Last race season Donald raced a limited schedule at Spud Speedway in the Northern Lights Series. This season only the kart series will be racing at Spud Speedway. “I think it is sad that Spud Speedway will not be holding weekly auto racing this year. It is very difficult, for the race track and the drivers, to get the support needed to finance racing. I think some of the drivers plan to head down to the southern part of the state to try some of the other tracks. The go kart program is looking pretty promising and I hope to see it grow this year. I think the track owner wants to start over and work on getting the next generation of racers ready in hopes that they will help bring back the auto racing at Spud Speedway.”

The #1 race car will be on display this summer at the local parades and car shows.