Maine born-and-bred humorist Tim Sample will emcee the Drive In for Democracy: A Rally for the People, on Sunday, Aug. 30 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Wiscasset Speedway. The event, hosted by the Lincoln County Democratic Committee (LCDC), will combine music, Democratic candidates from up and down the ticket, and Sample’s droll brand of Downeast humor for what promises to be a memorable afternoon.

Describing Sample’s work as “humor” rather than “comedy” is, according to fellow Mainer and bestselling novelist Stephen King, an important distinction. 

“He’s a funny guy, you’ll get no argument from me on that score, but no more a comedian than Mark Twain or Artemis Ward,” explains King. “Like, them, Timmy (that’s what I always call him the way folks from up our way are apt to call their friends “dearie”) isn’t acting; he’s just talking in a kind of heightened and gifted way, as folks do when they’re passing on valuable tales about the human condition.”

Sample spent his youth in Boothbay Harbor before heading to Portland to attend art school. During his time in Portland he began to perform with musician friends in what might generously be called ‘alternative spaces.’ His chosen instrument was a crutch slung around his neck. During a recent conversation, he recalled being a member of a band who played the Wiscasset Speedway during the early 1970s, "What nobody bothered to mention when we booked gigs to perform at ‘intermission’ at Maine stock car tracks back in the early ’70s was that the drivers would be taking ‘warm-up laps’ during our set. The combination of loud, three-chord rock-n-roll and the even louder roar of screaming V8 engines was a truly memorable aural experience!” 

Walking a variety of career paths, Sample was a correspondent for CBS news from 1993 - 2004 and a regular contributor of “Postcards from Maine” for the Emmy-winning “CBS News Sunday Morning” show with Charles Osgood. Sample has ‘opened’ for such Democrat notables as Sen. Ed Muskie, Sen. George Mitchell, and President Bill Clinton. He has performed at venues as diverse as The Mall of America, Ocean Reef Club on Key Largo and the Caribou Maine Performing Arts Center. In addition to his performance work, Sample has written and/or illustrated over a dozen books, including regional bestsellers “Saturday Night at Moody’s Diner” and “How to Talk Yankee.”

The Drive In for Democracy will follow guidelines set by Maine’s DECD for drive-in theaters and large social gatherings. Featuring home-grown, Maine entertainment, great music, and the opportunity to hear Democratic candidates, the Drive In for Democracy will provide a chance for folks to come together in a responsible manner, celebrate Democratic values, and to see and hear their future representatives in person. 

Guests will arrive by car and be directed to a parking spot in the infield of the Speedway, a vast, open area that will accommodate not only a number of vehicles but plenty of space for social distancing.

Advance Ticket purchase is recommended per Maine DECD-guidelines and to guarantee admittance. Tickets are limited. VIP tickets are currently being offered with many benefits including primary parking spaces and boxed meals. Online general admission tickets priced per vehicle will go on sale Saturday, Aug. 1, at noon.

Each reservation comes with a chance to win a $150 gift card to the Newcastle Publick House. 

For more information about the Rally or the hosting organization, visit the event website at https://lincolncountydemocrats.com/rally or contact the LCDC by email  info@lincolncountydemocrats.com

The LCDC uses the money raised through this and other fundraising initiatives to support local efforts in Lincoln County. Its grassroots mission is to organize volunteers and communicate with voters in support of candidates who believe in the Democratic ideals and principles of government by, of, and for all the people.