Race/Park ::: Is it a racetrack...
Race/Park ::: Is it a racetrack or is it a park? Lime Rock is the best of both for car enthusiasts.
The Rolex Vintage Festival at Lime Rock Park was a magnificent feast for car buffs and proved far more diverse than most auto events. Sunday's car show featured 200 vintage and historic racers, including several generations of racing Corvettes, from a C2 Grand Sport to wide-body C3s to Paul Newman's modern-day pavement scorcher. Attendees could inspect the cars up-front and personal because every ticket allowed entry into the open paddock. They could see small details such as how Smokey Yunick trimmed the rain gutters to reduce drag on the Camaro he prepared for the Trans-Am Series.
In addition to an incredible collection of the most famous Trans-Am cars, the progress of automotive racing heritage was displayed, from early racers that appeared like soapbox cars with motorcycle engines to the sultry, streamlined curves of the '30s, '40s, and '50s.
Things heated up on Labor Day as the cars took to the track. In each event, the exhaust notes brought back a different era in auto racing. And the drivers were not just posing-vintage race cars worth a million-plus dollars were side by side in corners with not much more than the thickness of paint between them.
The action on the track was hot, but the northwest Connecticut setting was pastoral. Spectators were not crowded. they sat on lawn chairs under trees or on blankets on the grassy knolls overlooking the track.
Lime Rock is rightfully called a park. It's a beautiful racecourse set in forested, rolling hills with Victorian homes and historic inns. There's simply not another auto event like it.
Lawn Seating ::: Lawn chairs,...
Lawn Seating ::: Lawn chairs, plenty of room to stretch out, and a choice of several hillsides make race-side seating options far better than most other events. The pedestrian bridge provides access to the pits during racing.
Go speed racer ::: Regardless...
Go speed racer ::: Regardless of how much their vintage race car is worth, the drivers go to the limits-and sometimes beyond-competing to win their race.
Vroom! ::: This particular...
Vroom! ::: This particular Rolex Vintage Festival showcased a Who's Who of the most famous cars that competed during the golden era of Trans Am racing.
C2 Racer ::: One of the best...
C2 Racer ::: One of the best things about the Rolex Vintage Festival at Lime Rock Park is that you can inspect race cars up close, both in the show area and in the pits.
Newman's Ride ::: Paul Newman,...
Newman's Ride ::: Paul Newman, in his eighties, has often driven his race car to the front of the pack. A look inside shows a cockpit that is serious business; virtually nothing remains of the original C5 interior.
C3 Showcar ::: Every generation...
C3 Showcar ::: Every generation of Corvette was represented, as was every era of race car. C3s may look dated to some, but they sure aren't timid
Smokey ::: This is more than...
Smokey ::: This is more than just a car show-it's an open-air museum and a detailed display of the history of auto racing. Smokey Yunick's Camaro showed many of the tricks of one of racing's leading innovators.