Thanks to the judicious use of whip-cracking by Lime Rock Parks vintage-racing executive administrator, for the first time ever the complete Racing Entry List for Labor Day weekends Historic Festival 31 has been printed and published before the race week begins.
There are more than 300 entries among 10 race groups. Each race group has four races in total: two on Saturday, August 31 and two on Monday, September 2.
With threats of exclusion, swag-bag loss and most importantly, liberal use of the phrase, If you want your nice HF31 commemorative polo shirt, you have to send us your application no later than August 1!, we now have the car-and-driver list of everyone competing August 30 through September 2 at Lime Rock Park, including the pilots of the 30-odd authentic Trans-Am cars that make up Group 5.
Since 1983, the East Coast's premier vintage racing and concours event has been the Historic Festival weekend at Lime Rock Park, held annually on Labor Day weekend. No other venue in the U.S. has three days of on-track racing sandwiching a prestigious concours event all on the same property. Plus, there's the Thursday kick-off vintage and race car parade through the surrounding towns that ends with a "Welcome Party" on the streets of charming Falls Village. For 2013, Lime Rock Park is celebrating the "birthdays" of iconic cars and marques.
Historic Festival 31 celebrates the anniversaries of Aston Martin, now 100 years old; a reunion of the Cunningham marque at 60 years old; the Porsche 911, introduced some 50 years ago, along with the Lotus Elan's 50th.
Of course, the vintage racing on Saturday and Monday is as big and exciting as usual. There will be more than 300 cars and drivers, racing everything from cars built before WWI to the best competition machines from the 1920s to the 1970s. There's even a race group dedicated to authentic Trans-Am cars from 1966 to 1972, including the famous lime-green Dodge Challenger that was raced by Lime Rock's own Sam Posey.
In between the two race days is the prestigious Sunday in the Park Concours. For 2013, expect up to 250 cars comprising the Lime Rock Concours d'Elegance, lining the entire length of Sam Posey Straight, from the Downhill to Big Bend. The cars are judged by eminent experts, by class, on the basis of design, rarity, provenance and condition. The remaining mile of track is completely filled with some 750 additional collector cars, displayed by enthusiastic owners in groups according to marque and origin. This Gathering of the Marques is a fascinating, eclectic display, where you can get right up close to everything brought by the clubs, from the Citroen Deux Chevaux to the 300SL Gullwing.
So mark your calendar and plan a ride through the countryside to Lime Rock Park over Labor Day weekend. It's a weekend full of tradition, beauty and speed you don't want to miss!
Entry list at http://limerockhistorics.com/spectators/
Event Information(schedule + groups)Historic Festival 31 runs from Thursday, August 29 through Monday, September 2, 2013
Thursday 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Vintage & Historic Race Car Parade and Falls Village "Welcome" Street Party (Free to the public)Friday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Practice and QualifyingSaturday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Races, Parade Laps and DemonstrationsSunday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Sunday in the Park Concours & Gathering of the Marques car showMonday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Races, Parade Laps and Demonstrations
