If you live within 2,000 miles of Connecticut and are a member of The Autopian, you should really clear your schedule to make it up to the lovely Lime Rock Park (just two hours from NYC) on Tuesday, June 30th for the greatest* track day ever. Jason will be bringing his 2CV, NASCAR’s Parker Kligerman will be there to give you pointers, and there may or may not be a Murano Cross Cabriolet on the track. Plus, you don’t have to drive at all, if you just want to bring up your car and have lunch with staff and fellow members. Did I mention there will be a goodie bag?
This is our first ever track event, and will be taking place at Lime Rock Park’s phenomenal FCP Euro Proving Grounds, which is a beautiful and compact autocross track with very few things to hit. Because this is members only, and because members have already given us money, we’re going to try to keep this very affordable. Not a member yet? Just become one, it’s chill.
Guests! There will be guests! I am hoping to be able to announce more people in the coming days, but for now it looks like myself, Mercedes, Thomas, Jason, Andrew Collins, and Parker will be there, with more on the way. If you’ve never done anything like this before, we’ll be there to provide guidance. Is your car super slow? Great! Did I mention that we’re bringing a 2CV? That has 29 horsepower? In order to make it more fun, we’re going to cap the number of cars that can drive on track to around 60. We’ll also be giving out special prizes for cars that has nothing to do with how fast they are (though maybe how slow they are).
Below are a bunch of details that are going to be important, as well as ticket information.
What/Where Is This?
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 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. Helmets must be rated SA2015 or later. Motorcycle helmets are not allowed. Eye protection required for open cars. We will have helmets to borrow, but you will use them at your own risk.
*Your version of “greatest” means a 2CV will be there and Jason will be driving it, of course.
I’m pretty sure I’ll be there, but I have a question. How does one define “safe”? I’ll be in my daily driver, that had traveled 226,000 miles mostly on the mean streets of Jersey. I just got the cracked windshield replaced, and will have new tires by then.
I wish I could go, but that’s over 13 hours away from me. 🙁 Think y’all might do something closer to Tennessee in the future? 😀
So, question… if I want to bring a friend, can I buy them a spectator ticket?
Yeah, it’s fine! If they’re with you it’s fine.
With ticket? or not needed for a +1?
Yeah, they just need a spectator ticket (helps cover lunch + insurance), but they don’t need to be a member.
I really want to meet everybody. Is Stef really made entirely of cheese and poots? Does Mack, Hardigrew? Canwill I fix the Z4 (again) in time? And obviously, obviously all the cool-ass NE and northern mid-atlantic members y’all can cram hotdogs into.
9+ hours is a lot though. Ugh.
14 hour drive.
I’ll take a drive along the Michigan coast instead.
That’s a 4 hour drive on a good day from PHL. Driving through the busiest travel corridor in the country on a Tuesday morning, probably 5-6 hours. Taking I-80 to skirt around NYC metro might work.
I signed up, but I’m gonna throw a fit if we can’t do a parade lap on the full track. You’ve been warned.
They are having an event, maybe if it ends early? I’ll see what I can do, but I cannot promise because the full track is booked at least during the day.
Much appreciated, Matt!
????
I’m fully supportive of a no-parade fit. I’ll see your fit, and raise you a mean tweet. Also signed up. Super excited.
3.5 hours and a nice drive through the Catskills away? very tempting…
Briefly thought about trailering the Model T out there, but the inherent oil leaks DQ it. Would be hilarious, though
Dang it…15 hour drive is too much me at the moment, have fun!
You’ll probably beat me.
You’ll still probably beat me.
[FTFY; now I just need to fix a car and see if I can run away that day, I guess.]
Un-freaking-believable…the ONLY time I have a change to meet my heros in the Northeast (I live in Maine) and I’m out of the country that week. F-word! I even have a Miata and have always wanted to drive that track. Dammit!
Can we have another event up this way please. Some kind of winter roast with warm cider and ice driving on a lake or something?
I am bummed by this news beyond anything else this year in 2026.
we’ll figure out something!
I’m imagining that “1rd” is pronounced “furd”
Very interesting, finally an event within striking distance from me. I am seriously considering attending.
Gonna putt-putt around the course in my WRX and take photos!
I have to check on a few things, but I am 99.9% sure I will be there.
Schedule confirmed, ticket purchased.
If it wasn’t on a Tuesday, can’t take time off work.
I’ll write your boss a note. A STERN note.
That wouldn’t help. Stupid Contract work. 🙂 I supposed I could call in “sick” 🙂
Kramer: What’s today?
Newman: It’s Thursday.
Kramer: Really? Feels like Tuesday.
Newman: Tuesday has no feel. Monday has a feel, Friday has a feel, Sunday has a feel…
Define “safe,” please
The $700 auction F150 may make an appearance
In! Now to pick which car – talking some friends into joining both the site and the event
Are roll bars required for convertibles? This is a requirement in some states.
I’ll definitely be there to hoon the ‘Zam for possibly the slowest lap time of the day (narrow+tall+tiny engine). Now if only I had some AC in the thing, really bring those horsepower numbers down…
It’s gotta be a rocket ship compared to the 2CV.
I’d say it’ll be a tossup – the ‘Zam has more power for the straights, but the 2CV isn’t as tall and narrow and will probably corner nicer.
I have a 48hp kei car on 12″ trailer tires… it’d be interesting to see how it compares to the 2CV but I won’t be able to make it. Is your car an Autozam Scrum? That’s about the only thing taller and narrower than a 2CV.
Indeed it is. Mine is on 13’s, but tall, narrow, and low-powered would all be accurate descriptors.
2st Annual Track Day at Willow Springs, and Tracy can hoon the WW2 Jeep.
3th Annual Track Day at Road America, so Streeter can show us what a Smart can really do.
4nd Annual Track Day in Finland in the winter, with Antti and ice racing.
Just planning ahead…
Yes please! Come to WI!
SECONDED
I’m soon to be MPHinMKE – moving to Bay View in June and July. Need to discover the fun car clubs and events in the city.
Welcome! Bay View is a great place. Here’s some helpful information:
https://www.milwaukeemag.com/miltalkee-inside-the-milwaukee-dialect/
I expected an article on car stuff. I got an article on dialects. Lots of fun, and helpful when I need to go by bakery, aineh?
There’s car stuff all around. But you’ll need to know what a bubbler is.
2st Annual Track Day at Willow Springs, and Tracy can hoon the WW2 Jeep.
3th Annual Track Day at Road America, so Streeter can show us what a Smart can really do.
4nd Annual Track Day in Finland in the winter, with Antti leading ice racing.
Just planning ahead…
9,000 miles away as the crow flies 🙁
Might have to skip this one.
Umm, “safe”, compared to what?
No need to answer my rhetorical question. It’s just my standard response to questions about safety.
I don’t even know if I’ll have a car on the east coast. My sort of wife’s car probably would be a bad idea. A friend nearby has a school bus converted into a party bus with black lights etc, and another friend has a wide variety of farm equipment. What’s Lime Rock’s lap record for a hay swather? Maybe just show up for the cookie.
I won’t know my exact schedule for June 30 yet , might be driving 3 geriatric 17 year old cats cross country, but this sounds like fun.
Safe is always relative, but the autocross course is twisty but not particularly fast, and we’re not head-to-head racing.