Lime Rock Park Grand Prix
Camping:
Ever since I was 3 I have been going to Limerock Park to watch sportscar racing. My first memories are of the Red Lobster GTP car driven by Kemper Miller and the ever present MOMO Porsche 935. Those were great times. I would stay up late by the fire and roast marshmallows with my parents and believe me life was good. Brushing your teeth with numerous other people in the morning and washing your hair in the community sink outside the bathroom.
As I got older my parents got older as well and we soon were staying in hotels. Sure it was nice to have running water and a TV but it wasn't quite the same. Well now I am older, 24 to be exact, and I still return to Limerock Park to watch sportscars race around the classic circuit. The good thing is I am back to camping. No hotels for me. A recent college grad with bills to pay. Heck, hotels are to expensive. Believe me, it is for the best. There is something about camping at the track. The smell of fires burning in the night. The sound of the music off in the distance. I can't think of anyting better than waking up in the morning, in your tent, with the sound of morning warm up echoing through the hills. It is truely a great experience.
At about 9:00 PM my fiance and I just got done eating a late dinner consisting of burgers on the grill and a bag of Doritos. (fine dining at its best) She was getting a drink and I told her I would be right back. I wondered up over the hill by the camping area right near the concession stand. While standing on the top of the hill I looked down over the paddock, the esses, and the surrounding hills. The paddock was still glowing with a few remaining lights. Teams making a late night set up change or maybe just enjoying a drink or two before they left for the night. The esses were dark and empty. Peaceful. The way they wind through the hills and carve out the valleys is wonderful. It makes for a wonderful noise when the cars are on the track something you must experience once in your life. I was told by my father that the noise through these hills reminds him of the Nurburgring in Germany. For now though, they were silent.
The Paddock:
I would have to say that the best part of going to a race is walking around the paddock and taking pictures of the cars. Thank god sportscar racing is set up this way. Fan friendly. I could never be a NASCAR fan and be excited that I actually got within only 20 feet of Jeff Gordon and his car!
I met up with Jon Field. He is a great guy. A true gentleman and a true fan of sportscar racing. He was very excited to see a picture I had drawn of his car and a model I had painted. He thanked me for my support as a fan and followed it up with numerous signatures on models, drawings, etc. I also met Clint Field. Matured beyond his years I was very impressed with how polite and intelligent he was. Very in tuned with racing and knew quite a bit about the cars. He will be a young driver to watch in the future.
After that I made my way over to the Archangel camp. Talk about great guys. From the crew all the way to lead driver Andy Lally they were very polite and friendly. Andy let me get close to the cars and take as many pictures as I wanted. Mike Johnson was great and I really believe they will be powerhouse for years to come.
I also stumbled across a sad soul. While the other cars were on the track for a practice session the Crawford Judd sat by her trailer just longing to be raced. It was brought out when the Ferrari 333SP was crashed earlier in the weekend but the Crawfords duties were not needed as the Ferrari was fixed in time. A lone crew member left to watch over the trailer let me come check the car out and take pictures. It was the first time I had seen the car up close since Daytona. Hopefully the bugs can be worked out because it truely is a pretty car. Seems to me it is doing no good by sitting still and not being tested but perhaps Crawford has their own chassis and is working on it. None-the-less it is pretty an has some promise once it gets sorted out.
The Race:
Dyson knows how to dominate when it comes to Limerock. Their home track is certainly their strongest. There was quite a bit of talk over the sprint format. The idea was an interesting one and it had potential but for me, I like pit stops and driver changes. Race two was where it was at. Butch Leitzinger up against Field, Theys, Wallace, and Baldwin. With poor Jack starting last due to a spin by Robinson in race one. I do believe Field could have taken it to Butch but a spin while lapping the SRPII leaders foiled that idea. Speaking of SRPII, race two at Limerock was great. The three cars were never more than a stones through away from each other all race long. St. Jacques came on strong in the end when it got a bit damp but lally was able to hold on. Now with Multimatic entered and Pilbeams on the way SRPII looks like the class Grand-Am hopes it can be.
Also, let me reflect on how wonderful the Judd engine sounds at Limerock. Hearing the Field Lola and the Robinson Riley come down the front straight together is something you need to hear. As an old school fan I enjoyed seeing the Ferrari 333SP chassis race again. I know its old but it is a timeless classic. On the flip side, the newer Lola from Intersport is a beautiful car as well. Robinson was not able to enter his new Riley due to a practice crash at the Glen. That was a bummer but even the old car with the new rear deck lid looks cool. Again, the smells, the sounds, and the sites are all things that make sportscar racing great. Whether it is a factory Audi or a privateer Lola I still get chills on the pace lap and I still make memories in the paddock.
Derek M.
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