Grand Marshal and Stellantis Chief Design Officer Ralph Gilles waved the inexperienced flag to kick-off an ideal day of racing at Lime Rock Park on Saturday in the course of the Historic Competition 41. The longstanding Lime Rock Park Labor Day weekend custom continued with a busy day of exercise each on and off the monitor.
An overwhelmingly various subject of automobiles from a 1931 Bugatti Kind 37 Particular, to a 1959 Elva Courier and 1963 Hillman Imp highlighted the record-breaking occasion entry with greater than 300 automobiles taking to the Traditional Course for 18 complete races between 9 completely different race teams. The spirited competitors in the course of the 20-minute races entertained a big crowd.
Nathan Thompson, driving in Group 7 Sports activities Automobiles (Over 2L), had a standout day, setting the quickest lap of the race of 57.843-seconds in his 1963 Lotus 23c. For reference, in 1963, the all-time monitor file was 102.9-seconds set by Jim Haynes in a Method Libra.
Haynes’ legacy was honored this weekend because the Jim Haynes Memorial opened the day with the biggest working of Method Juniors on the East Coast. Haynes, generally higher acknowledged for his possession and promotion of Lime Rock Park, was an excellent driver earlier than he moved to the enterprise facet of racing. In 1959 he received his first SCCA Nationwide Championship in a temperamental Method 3, however he might see the place the long run was headed and shortly thereafter jumped into Method Junior.
Criss-crossing up and down the East Coast and into the Midwest, Jim pursued SCCA Nationwide races in earnest. His efforts paid off with the SCCA’s 1963 Method Junior Nationwide Championship. This was Jim’s crowning achievement as a driver. He would proceed to drive in numerous classes for a number of extra years, however taking up the possession and promotion of Lime Rock Park turned his major focus. Haynes handed away earlier this 12 months however the mark he made on Lime Rock Park will stay without end in historical past.
MG’s centennial celebration continued by Saturday with two very spirited races that noticed greater than 50 MGs spanning all a long time take the inexperienced. Alan Tosler crossed the road first piloting a 1964 MG B.
Featured race group Sports activities 2000 additionally placed on a tremendous present that includes 25 automobiles in each the morning and afternoon races. Two completely different winners emerged with Colin Thompson (No. 11 1988 Lola T88/90) claiming the checkered in Race 1 adopted by Ben Sinnott (No. 5 1991 Lola T90/91) in Race 2.
At lunch, a number of automobile corral and scorching laps had been held together with an on-track occasion that provided followers a singular Historic Competition expertise. The Sounds of Lime Rock presentation featured a symphony of engines from uncommon classic automobiles, together with the 1963 Chrysler Turbine, taking a lap across the monitor.
The day concluded with a dinner overlooking the Sam Posey Straight as VIP festival-goers loved nice meals from Park Provisions whereas listening to particular visitors audio system: HF41’s Honored Collector Lawrence Auriana, veteran historic racer Joe Colasacco and Stellantis Chief Design Officer Ralph Gilles.
On Sunday, the monitor will host The Lime Rock Concours in addition to the Gathering of the Marques automobile present. Monday will characteristic the ultimate day of race exercise. Tickets for each days can be found on the gate.
