Written with Hal D’Amico, Sports Editor
Gorham High School physics teacher Sally Hatch spends her time outside the classroom racing at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, a local NASCAR affiliate track in Scarborough. She is known on the circuit as Sally Gherardi when her driving skills meet the laws of physics for high speed success on the oval. Gherardi, who regularly competes in the Sport Series division on Saturday nights, controlled the top-spot in the weekly point standings from May through the season’s conclusion in late September. Her 733 points bested runner-up Richard Pelton’s 710 for the Sport Series Champion title. Gherardi previously took the title in 2008, when she was also honored as Driver of the Year.
Photo credit Jamie Williams PhotographySally is no stranger to motor sports action or putting tools to an engine and other parts. That all runs in her family. Her parents, George and Brenda Gherardi, are the former owners of Gorham’s White Rock Outboard, Inc. Sally’s husband, Tim Hatch, who leads her crew, has worked at the company since he was a 16-year-old high school student. Sally and Tim bought the business early this year.
The science of physics and fast vehicles are also wed. Hatch, who has been teaching at GHS since 2004, said, “There are many times where I will apply physics concepts to my racing.” She explained, “Racing is all about forces, angles and such. So, the two correlate quite well! And there are many days where I use racing as an example to reinforce a concept we are covering in class.”
Hatch’s students have a teacher who possesses drive and the tools for the right formula. She will receive her honor at Beech Ridge’s annual awards banquet on November 11.