One of the days I’m most looking forward to this summer is our 1rd annual track day at Lime Rock Park on the fantastic FCP Euro Proving Grounds course. It’s looking like it’ll be an incredible day, and the number and variety of cars lined up is astounding. I met with our friends at Lime Rock this week and they’re extremely amused, and provided a few updates and suggestions, all of which I think will make the event even better than I originally thought.
As I mentioned last time, this is our first big event of this type and we’re learning as we go (if you’re just coming to eat lunch, hang out, and spectate then not much of this will apply to you). A few of the expectations that we had for the day have been adjusted in light of a meeting with LRP. One of the big ones is that I put in a bit about needing helmets. According to LRP, helmets are optional for all vehicles unless there’s a specific reason your vehicle requires one (mostly, if it has an unpadded role cage). That being said, if you want to wear a helmet you can, and I’ll probably bring mine if only for the humor of driving a Murano CrossCab with a helmet.
The other fun update is that it looks like, as requested, we’ll be able to do a parade lap around the main course if the course is clear after our event, which it should be around 5:30 PM. This isnt a guarantee, but given we likely have three slow French cars coming, everyone involved would like to see that happen.
Another positive development is that they think having the skidpad and classic course going at the same time will be totally possible, and we’re going to add another instructor so we can run 3-4 cars at a time on the classic course, which means more laps for people who want laps. The skidpad might actually be the highlight of the day, at least for some of the slower cars.
That’s about it for now. More event information below. Can’t wait to see you there.
Everything You Need To Know About The Event
What: A reader meetup/autocross-style track day and lunch. If you don’t want to drive, you can totally just come have lunch and hang out. This isn’t about shaving 0.0001 off your time, this is just about driving spiritedly on a non-public road. Bring your minivan! It’s about fun, not fast.
Where: Lime Rock Park is located about two hours north of New York City where the borders of Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut meet. Inside the track is the FCP Euro Proving Grounds, a narrow and twisty autocross course that’s been recently reconditioned and features a large skidpad. The facility also has a chalet, which is where we’ll be meeting and having lunch at 12:00 PM.
The address is: Lime Rock Park, 60 White Hollow Rd, Lakeville, CT 06039.
Who: The Autopian Staff, you, some cool special guests like Parker and The Drive’s Andrew Collins.
When: June 30th from noon to 5 pm.
Why: Why not?
Great, How Do I Buy A Ticket?
I’m glad you asked. This is a Member event, so you have to be a member, but you can also just sign up for membership and it’s all good. We are doing the pricing in tiers and you need to be a member in good standing to participate. If you’d like to use this as an excuse to upgrade, that’s cool as well. If you’re signing up and are a new member I’d recommend becoming an annual member, as only people who signed up for a monthly membership pre-May 1st are considered a “member in good standing.” This is just so someone doesn’t sign up for a $5 account and then immediately cancel.
Ticket links are below and, then, below that are answers to a lot of your questions.
Lunch/Spectator Ticket -$60
This ticket gets you access to Lime Rock Park, a lunch (sandwich, chips, drink, cookie) with the Autopian Staff, and a chance to laugh at Jason. If multiple people are sharing a car, just have one of you sign up for a car ticket and the rest can get a spectator ticket. It’s the same price for any kind of member. Click the link above, or scan/click the button below:
Cloth Member Participant Ticket – $200
This ticket gets you access to Lime Rock Park, a lunch (sandwich, chips, drink, cookie!) with the Autopian Staff as well as a chance to drive on the FCP Proving Grounds in your vehicle. By purchasing this ticket you are claiming your car is safe and you are agreeing to attend a mandatory safety briefing and abide by all the rules. If you’re unsafe you forfeit your right to drive. The number of laps is not guaranteed and will depend on how many cars we get, but we are capping the number so people get their fair share. You must be a Cloth member to get this ticket. Click the link or scan the button to purchase.
Vinyl Member Participant Ticket – $150
This ticket gets you access to Lime Rock Park, a lunch (sandwich, chips, drink, cookie!) with the Autopian Staff as well as a chance to drive on the FCP Proving Grounds in your vehicle. By purchasing this ticket you are claiming your car is safe and you are agreeing to attend a mandatory safety briefing and abide by all the rules. If you’re unsafe you forfeit your right to drive. The number of laps is not guaranteed and will depend on how many cars we get, but we are capping the number so people get their fair share. You must be a Vinyl member to buy this ticket. Click the link or scan the button to purchase.
Velour Member Participant Ticket – $100
This ticket gets you access to Lime Rock Park, a lunch (sandwich, chips, drink, cookie!) with the Autopian Staff as well as a chance to drive on the FCP Proving Grounds in your vehicle. By purchasing this ticket you are claiming your car is safe and you are agreeing to attend a mandatory safety briefing and abide by all the rules. If you’re unsafe you forfeit your right to drive. The number of laps is not guaranteed and will depend on how many cars we get, but we are capping the number so people get their fair share. You must be a Velour member to buy this ticket. Click the link or scan the button to purchase.
New Member Participant Ticket – $250
This ticket gets you access to Lime Rock Park, a lunch (sandwich, chips, drink, cookie!) with the Autopian Staff as well as a chance to drive on the FCP Proving Grounds in your vehicle. By purchasing this ticket you are claiming your car is safe and you are agreeing to attend a mandatory safety briefing and abide by all the rules. If you’re unsafe you forfeit your right to drive. The number of laps is not guaranteed and will depend on how many cars we get, but we are capping the number so people get their fair share. If you’ve just become a monthly member this is the one for you, although it makes more economic sense to just buy a Cloth Annual plan, right? Click the link or scan the button to purchase.
RCL MEMBER – It’s Free!
If you’re a Rich Corinthian Leather this one is on us (just another perk!). Email me and we’ll get you registered.
Answers To Your Important Questions
Again, we’ve never done this before, so allow me to answer some very specific questions you might have. I may update this as people ask very good questions in the comments.
Is it cool if I’ve never driven on any kind of track before?
Yes! This is a friendly, not fast event and the FCP Euro PG is a great place to learn. We will keep cars separated and there is no pressure to go fast.
What configuration are you running?
We will be running the lower course and the skidpad separately so that one group can drive on the track and the other the skidpad, and then swap.
What if my car is slooooooow?
Who cares? So long as it’s safe, slow car fast.
What if I’m slow?
So am I, it’s all good.
What about helmets?
It’s great if you can bring your helmet. Specifically, if you bring a Snell 2015 or later one. We’ll have a couple on hand as well to loan, but you may need to share. However, helmets are optional, unless your car has a roll cage or an instructor or official deems your car needs one for some reason.
Is there fuel there?
Yes, Lime Rock has fuel on hand.
Can I share a car?
Yes, but you all must sign the waiver and you all need a ticket, though one of you can have just the lunch ticket.
Can I have passengers?
Passengers are welcome to ride along as long as they sign the event waiver, wear a helmet (if required by vehicle) that meets our requirements, are 16 years or older, the vehicle has the appropriate safety systems to safely carry a passenger, and you understand some people barf in cars.
Event Requirements/Details
This event will run rain or shine.
You are solely responsible for the safety of your car. We may choose to inspect cars for safety at any time for any reason. Any size water, brake fluid, or fuel leaks will disqualify you. You are responsible for any damage you cause to the track or facilities. Any extra charges from the track for cleanup, fire, damage, etc may be charged back to you and we will decide this on a case-by-case basis.
Ugh, just tried to buy a ticket, and got a javascript glitch which gave an error of “either your transaction went through or timed out” Is there a way I can check, so I don’t double-buy a ticket?
I’ll wait until tomorrow and try again.
Ah, I see the charge now, but I didn’t get a confirmation email. In any case, it’s done, hope to see something.
Best of all, hope to see some of you there!
Would love to bring the M35A2 but I don’t think it would pass the safety for leaks hah!
This event makes me wish I still lived in Rochester, NY. Please do your next one in the PNW. There are several venues in WA and OR that could accommodate an event like this.
I remember this as small infield track most often used for charity go-kart events. I’ve seen winter car control classes there too. Limerock is a fun track and definitely in a park like setting. The roads to get there, like RT7, are nice too.
I know they don’t want any drippy stuff on the track surface, but could the parade lap be open to spectator cars as well, provided they don’t leak? Or would that be too much of an insurance nightmare?
Of course, all the info about not needing a helmet came out the day after the one I bought arrived… oh well, it’ll be fun to wear regardless.
Now all I have to do is finish fixing up the whip before the 30th… damn stuck tie rod end broke my vice in half trying to get it off… and it’s still stuck!
I will admit that…I totally mis-read ALL of the information about this event and drove over to Lime Rock from Rhode Island this past Saturday (the 30th…it’s a Saturday, my brain just saw the ’30th’ and assumed it was a Saturday, and the next Saturday that was the 30th was this May…).
I felt like an idiot, however, I did get to watch some cool vintage cars run around the track (including a rorty/nasty Volvo 122 coupe tearing it up with a Firebird, some 911’s and a 924). It was cold as all get out, but still pretty neat.
Now I HAVE to be there for the 30th…a Tuesday.
All the cool kids from RI will be there, so you simply must make it down there that Tuesday for it!
I plan on it, I still feel like an idiot.
Lime Rock has gas but it is pricey. https://limerock.com/faqs/can-i-purchase-fuel-at-lime-rock-park/
By my recollection, gas was pricey everywhere in CT. (Not as bad as that, but still pretty high)
How do I pronounce “1rd”? Is it “furd”?
I keep trying to pronounce that in my head and it makes my brain hurt.
‘Firsrdth’
I keep reading it as “word.”
I’d really really like to come (and its not prohibitively far for once) but my firstborn (1rdborn?) is due in a week or two. Probably not the best timing – hope everyone has an amazing time!
Good luck!
Reminder I’m hoping to try and pull together a caravan for anyone coming up the east coast. I’m in southeastern Virginia and will be driving my Subaru GL all the way there. I’m hoping to be a solid contender for “slowest car that isn’t a 2CV”.
I can send you a helmet. You know, for the bit.
Sounds like a blast. Do one in Michigan someday and I’ll be there!
Um…why do I think the “parade lap” for the old French cars will be IDENTICAL to them running all out?
Also, I suggest we call the three “beaux amis” the French Floor It Legion.
French Floor It Legion! I get it!
Waiting for next article from DT now.
“Holy crap! These are all the things I have to fix/do over on my Jeep before I can drive 3,000 miles to go race at Lime Rock!”
Delbert has just agreed to help with the drive out there, but demands a new box Cheerios every 100 miles.
What could go wrong?
Dang! If only I were 3100 miles closer than I am. It sounds like a lot of fun, so do one on the west coast sometime!
> Any size water, brake fluid, or fuel leaks will disqualify you.
ok well there goes like everybody
This is going to be as big a challenge for Jason and the 2CV as building a jeep from scratch was for David.
They should keep some shop towels and tape on hand, before you run a lap, tape a towel to the leaking area, long as it’s not a big leak it should contain it.
it’s an Autopian track day, we’ll be considerate and helpful.
an entire Slateload of silicone gasket-maker, shop towels, pig mats, and brakleen will be on standby
But oil leaks are okay!
au contraire: my 411 is still in Texas
(too bad all of my other vehicles are broken)
Every time I see it referred to as the “1rd” it gives me a little chuckle. Yes, I am easy.
Just wait until the 2st and 3nd ones
I am so excited.
Are motorcycles allowed on the track? I’d love to make it out but my only 4 wheeler is built to haul family and bikes!
So tempted to hop a flight to EWR, rent a car and spend a few days in the area hitting museums like the Morris (weird automata), Motorcyclepedia, Yale Peabody (dinosaurs) and maybe get Dino BBQ in Troy.
I wouldn’t drive a rental car at Lime rock, of course.
This is absolutely begging for some weird, this-can’t-be-a-thing rent-a-Shelby vehicle. “Shelby Escape?! Really?” “Um, sure…stripes and everything. Just promise you won’t race it.”
Pizza at Pepe’s or Sally’s (apizza…) after Peabody dinosaur gawking
Noted for future reference.
I really wish I wasn’t 3400 miles away and the wrong side of an ocean.
I’ve got this special driving technique of “fast car slow” which makes all the spectators feel that they could definitely do better.
I bet you could catch a steam ship across the North Atlantic and make it here in a month. If you agree to work for passage, it’ll be cheap.
Brings something of a new meaning to “steerage class” 🙂
I could be ballast. I’m really good at it.
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