Top Seven Reasons to head to Lime Rock Park for Labor Day
If you are a fan of all things automotive, then Connecticut’s Lime Rock Park has a host of key attractions that will make the upcoming 30th running of the Lime Rock Park Historic Festival presented by Jaguar a must-do event for the Labor Day weekend.
Located only 100 miles north of New York City, the event runs from August 31 to September 3 and includes some unique highlights which are unlike any automotive historic event anywhere in the US.
#1: Sir Stirling Moss and his carsThe British Formula 1 legend and one of only two racing drivers knighted by the Queen will be the guest of honor for the festival. Although he is now 82 years old, Moss only official retired from active competition last year.
A host of his former winning cars can be seen at the festival including:
1954 Cooper Mark 11 Norton
Innumerable victories at home and abroad
Moss: "Where I learnt the rudiments of racing and discovered the satisfaction of winning."
1950 Jaguar XK 120
1st 1950 International Tourist Trophy, Dundrod
Moss: "In 1950, the epitome of British excellence.”
1952 Jaguar C Type
1st 1953 Rheims 12 hour race.
Moss: "A stunningly beautiful and effective car.”
1955 Jaguar D Type
Moss: "Very much a precision instrument tailor-made for Le Mans.”
1954 Maserati 250F
1st Aintree 200
Moss: “A beautiful, stable, lovely car to drive.”
1956 Maserati 300 S
1st 1956 Buenos Aires 1000 Kilometers
Moss: "One of the easiest, best balanced sports racing cars ever made.”
1957 Vanwall.
1st 1957 Pescara GP
1st 1957 Italian GP
1st 1958 Moroccan GP
Moss: "At last a British built GP car capable of winning against anybody."
1957 Cooper T 43
1st 1958 Argentine GP
Moss: "A car that cast me as un underdog, a role I always relished"
1954 Osca MT4
1st 1954 Sebring 12 Hours
Moss: "A real little jewel, even when it had no brakes."
1960 Maserati T 61 Birdcage
1st 1960 Nurburgring 1000 kilometers
Moss: "A fabulous car, unusually for a Maserati it didn't leak much oil"
1960 Porsche RS 60
This car without Stirling 1st 1960 Targa Florio
"Moral victories don't pay 1st Place Prize money!"
#2: Sunday in the ParkMore than 200 cars have entered the Sunday in the Park Concours de Elegance scheduled for September 2 from Brass Era and pre-WWI all the way through select examples from the 1980s.
While concours are staged throughout America, Lime Rock's is unique; no other venue in the U.S. has three days of on-track racing sandwiching a prestigious concours event - all on the same property.
#3: Gathering of the Marques
An incredible car show featuring examples of virtually every automotive model and marque is also held on the circuit on September 2. Everything from Audi, BMW, Shelby, Chevrolet, Ford, Mini, Mercedes and Lotus to Volvo, Saab, Citroen plus all the Italian, British and Asian marques. If you have a favorite car brand – you’ll find it at the Gathering of the Marques.
#4: Formula 1 – 70s StyleThe F1 Historic Grand Prix (HGP) group at the Lime Rock Historic Festival is certainly going to be one category to watch on Saturday, September 1 and Monday, September 3. Highlights include 11-time Monaco Historics winner Duncan Dayton piloting his Mario Andretti World Championship-winning, Lotus 79. Other cars on track will include a 1971 Ferrari 312 B2, 1974 Brabham BT 42, 1974 and 76 March models, 1979 Shadow DN9B and 1979 models from Ensign and Tyrell.
#5: Vintage Race Car Parade
Lime Rock Park’s "Vintage Race Car Parade Presented by Vintage Motorsport Magazine" is Thursday, August 30. The Race Car Parade starts at the track at 4:00 p.m. and ends, 17 miles later, at the green in the center of Falls Village.
The cars are then parked for display at the green, using the Falls Village Inn as the anchor – then the Street Fair and party starts!
After winding through nearby Lakeville and twice through Salisbury, the Parade At the Street Fair in Falls Village, you’ll find food, ice cream, a live band, games and more.
#6: Historic cars pushed to the limitThey were made to be raced and raced they will be – even 86 years after they were first sold. From John Kerridge’s 1926 Fraser Nash to Dave Handy's 1987 Swift S2000 sports racer – there are more than 300 historic cars spread over 10 grounds in action around Lime Rock's 1.5 mile circuit.
Groups include:
Group 1: Road and Track
An interesting grid of 60s sports racers matched with younger - but less agile - Porsches and Datsuns
Group 2: Monoposto Medley
Formula Fords, Juniors and a smattering of Indy roadsters, F1, F2 - even a Formula Vee
Group 3: True Vintage
The VSCCA have structured a splendid grid of pre-WW II gems, mixed with a few post-war cars in the vintage idiom
Group 4a & 4b: Speed and Beauty
An amazing group of "weapons grade" formula car hardware. The 1966-1983 F1 Historic Grand Prix (HGP) grid is particularly exciting...
Group 5: Wild, Wild Horses
Can cars such as a lithe Lotus and a trim Triumph go at it with the Vettes and Jags on Lime Rock's short but demanding 1.5 miles? This group will tell the tale...
Group 6: Sports Racers of the 50s
These are the cars in which HF30 Honored Guest Sir Stirling Moss excelled in while at the peak of his driving prowess: a stellar grid of iconic marques
Group 7: Sports Racing "Salad" Group 8, Small-Bore Production Cars
Different approaches for the same end result... raw power defines the Chevrons and Lolas, light weight and sophisticated aero for the Sports 2000s
Group 8: Small-Bore Production Cars
As enthusiasts have always done, we make street cars into race cars. This fine collection represents the late 50s through the mid-70s
Group 9: Alfas Galore
Question: Can the delectable Alfas prevail against Spitfires, Sprites and Morgans? Let's find out!
Group 10: Eclectic Sports & GT Cars for the Road
It will be quite interesting to see the Ferrari and a couple of Abarths go head-to-head with the less exotic but certainly effective MGs...
#7: Ready to swap
The Lime Rock Historic Festival also includes a swap meet that takes place in the paddock. Whether you are looking for historic parts, or even an old copy of a magazine - when it comes to all things automotive, the event has something for everyone.
ABOUT LIME ROCK PARK
Lime Rock Park is one of America's most recognized road racing venues and has been continuously operated since its opening in 1957. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places by the National Park Service, the track is 1.5 miles in length, encompassing seven corners and more than seven stories of elevation change. The track is considered one of the most beautiful - and challenging to drive - in the world, constructed in a natural valley in the Berkshire Mountains of extreme northwest Connecticut. Discounted advance-priced tickets can be purchased at limerock.com or by calling860.435.5000
