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:Â 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:Â The Autopian Staff, you, some cool special guests like Parker and The Drive’s Andrew Collins.
When:Â June 30th from noon to 5 pm.
Why:Â 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 only 1438 miles away, but gas for that trip would be way expensive in my truck.
I could ride my Magna 750, but I’d probably be dead or deaf by the time I got there. Then I’d have to ride home. Or not.
You could hold one here at Hallett! Right in the middle of the country!
I just wanted to mention that I was at a track day once that had a motorcycle group running. Most of them showed up with enclosed trailers full of tools, a handful of friends/helpers, and the type of tow vehicle you’d expect from guys with new high-end Ducatis.
And then one guy rode in on his bike, with a spare rear tire around his torso and a small backpack. We thought “oh, maybe he lives close by and didn’t want to bother with a trailer”. Nope, rode almost two hours that morning. Dude was a hero.
That guy was THE MAN.
Dude. Michelin Man-ing it is epic. Bravo.
Oh boy, I’m buying a house about 8.3 miles away, closing June first-ish
Maybe a house party is called for?
Not sure when most of the furniture is arriving.
Lime rock park is lovely.
WOOHOOO!!!!!
Whoa, congrats!
I’d love to come and hoon the MB, but I’d be looking at $700 in gas alone, assuming it didn’t break down several times on the way. Plus it’s in enemy territory.
Have fun, y’all. Get a ride in the 2CV if you’ve never been in one.
Cool!!!!
… can’t make it to Connecticut June 30, dang it.
Plan one at Road America in Wisconsin and I’m totally there with the Crosley Speedster.
Please repeat this somewhere on the left coast. I would love to attend but its a bit too far from Sacramento.
Hope that you can plan a future event at the Corvette museum track in Kentucky. Should have my R5 GTL back in service for autocross. This should be a blast!
Shoot, this would (will) be a blast, but I live 2,996 miles from Connecticut! Juuuust a bit outside.
I won’t have the chance to get there, otherwise I’d bring my home-built full-suspension pedal-electric quadricycle(which is being turned into a velomobile/micro-sports car).
But then again, that probably doesn’t qualify as “safe” at the moment. No seat belts, no roll cage, no body, no crumple zones…
Safety(lack thereof) aside, it WILL do at least 70 mph uphill, 0-60 mph acceleration like a stock Miata NA and corner at over 1g, but thus far I haven’t even topped it out yet. I don’t think the local bike trail would appreciate me flying down at 85+ mph. On jack stands, the front wheels spun to 119 mph, so I think it will hit 85+ as is, and will get a lot faster with an aerodynamic body on it. I’m eventually going to put a 3rd motor to power the rear wheels as well, which will increase my power output another 50% and triple my torque output.
It only weighs 90 lbs at the moment. With 12kW on tap, it’s also absolutely terrifying to push it to its limits, in spite of being very stable and controllable. I don’t like the feeling of wind whipping me around at speed and have an understanding of what the laws of physics will do to me if I fall off from hitting a pothole or get into a collision with something. I already had a close call with a deer at 55 mph, and would like to not repeat that because next time it may not be a miss.
I currently use it as my daily, typically cruising around 30-35 mph with pedal-assist enabled. Autocross might be in its future at least. It’s a lot of fun to ride!
You, sir, are my kind of mad scientist.
Autocross-style lapping is going to be set up with a start and finish line somewhere probably near the pit entrance, so you launch, go around once, then pull off to cool down and get back in line right?
Are convertibles required to have roll bars? This is very tempting, despite being about 900 miles away…
I’ll check, but I don’t think so.
They don’t even require helmets on the auto x course.
Can I drive my mini bike like the one from Dumb and Dumber? Because…
“I can get 70 miles to the gallon on this hog!”
/s
Portland International Raceway next?
Pacific Raceways may very well be cheaper, speaking as someone in the completely unbiased position of living much closer to that one.
Maaaaaaaan, I still have “you graduated from Kentridge and still somehow haven’t driven Pacific yet” on my short-list of problems to fix.
This looks sofa-king fun! No way I can make this one, but is Road America anywhere on the future-possibility list? I’d love to take my ’94 Fleetwood Brougham out for a seasick run.
The CrossCab will also be there! It will be the first vehicle that I’ve ever driven to more or less every coast in America!
Yeah but she can run through Cleveland on the way to Connecticut and from where I’m standing that counts as the north coast.
Brandon and I have been talking about caravanning up from VA for this if the stars align. If anybody else wants to join me and my 80’s Subaru GL hatch for this one, I think it would be cool to get a nice group together for the trip, which I am reasonably confident my little Subi can make.
’81 DL Wagon owner here. Post some pics of your hatch in the Discord!
Sent!
Let me know when you’re coming through. I live near Hagerstown, MD.
3000 miles away.
This is going to be awesome. I’m gonna try to see if I can arrange my custody so I’m back.
“within 2,000 miles of Connecticut”
Oh…well…guess you’re disqualified!
Whats the signup deadline? I may have missed it- im debating on the mustang or vibe, but the vibe wont be racin
Spectators? Three days before. Cars… depends on when we run out, but I’d guess you’ll have a while before it does, if it does.
Rats! 2732 miles away.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm I really want to do this.
I see no motorcycle helmets are allowed, which makes sense for cars but does that also mean no motorcycles?
Lol, you wanna bring a motorcycle? Then I guess a motorcycle helmet is ok? Better if there’s a sidecar tho.
Not even Snell M-rated helmets? SCCA solo autocross does (or did) allow them.
As someone who has a sidecar rig, is this serious? Want clarification before the 3,081 mile drive.
I will look into this.
The only track worthy machines I’d love to bring are dual wheel only. Let us know the verdict Matt!
Two things:
1) What if we forgot what tier of member we are?
2) What’s better, an FF on the track or an Escalade? – for the memes of course
Escalade! Though FF v 2CV is funny. You’re a Vinyl member.
1000 miles from me. I’d love to make it, but I think I’ll have to pray for another event that’s closer to me. I sure hope everything goes great and you make this a annual event in different parts of the country 🙂
Only 1000 miles? In case you missed it when you read the post, this is for people within 2000 miles, so you’re good.
But I don’t wanna push my MGB home 1000 miles after I blow it up at the track 🙂
Gotta say, if you’re gonna have to push a vehicle 1,000 miles, an MGB is a solid choice.
What are the requirements for safe?
Sammies? No shower spaghetti or shrimp in a barrel? What kind of event are you running here?
Oh this looks like a blast. I’m a tad far in Los Angeles but I’ll definitely be signing up if (when?) (when!) you all do one of these out here.
In the works!
Nothing to drive but I’m in to spectate.
Bring your minivan!
I’m going to assume this is directed at me? Probably directed at me.
Boy is this tempting and has me looking at my vacation time situation.
Will there be any lodging reserved for Autopian members (at extra cost, of course)?
That’s a little advanced for us, but if you want to work in the Discord to see if people want to stay at some place nearby I’m down for that!
Hmm, I don’t do the Discord. Maybe I should learn.
We will welcome you with open arms!
When I set up a family slack group to help coordinate with my teenage kids, one said “Oh, Slack is just Discord for people who have jobs”, so you can extrapolate that however you want.
Which is ironic and hilarious since the name is close to “slacker” and every time I hear it I think of Back to the Future:
Strickland: “You got a real attitude problem, McFly. You’re a slacker. You remind me of you father when he went her, he was a slacker too.”
Amusingly, my work uses Discord.
Pain
(Discord for me was “Slack, but not work.”)
Slack is the one with the swasti-cock logo, right?
Never saw it before, never will unsee it now. Thanks
I’ve never used it, I just remember the comments from when they changed to that logo a few years ago.
Lodging is scarce in that part of CT. Torrington is somewhat close.
It’s horse country and private schools & estates, if that helps picture the setting.
Yeah, it’s beautiful. This is the first major race weekend I have missed up there in about 8 years, I’m pretty upset about it.
What’s the deal with Torrington? It seems like a place that used to rely on one big industrial employer that left.
That is how one could describe most of the cities in CT and MA. They all used to support the industrial machine that supplied WW2. After the war, many of the cities collapsed. Then everyone moved operations to China and Mexico, further hurting them. I live(d) in Waterbury for 17 years, and the story is the same there, the former “Brass City”, which supplied a huge amount of gun cartridges to the military. Torrington was all bearings. Danbury was hats, etc… They all did one thing really good.
Thanks for the information. I went to the races last Labor day and ventured into Torrington a couple of times for supplies.
I tried to look up what industry had left, but it’s not like that information is proudly published.
I lived in Norwich, they had a massive textile mill as well as a Thermos factory.
yup.
Norwich, Torrington, Waterbury, Bridgeport, Danbury, Middletown. They all took a long time to reinvent themselves.
New London has EB and the Coast Guard academy, and New Haven has Yale. They didn’t seem to be hit as hard, but they all took a hit none-the-less. Hartford is the capital, and has always been horrible, lol. 🙂